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Lee Stofer has some very neat instruments available...fyi...

Pre-Owned Instruments | https://share.google/hgiG2hIYVy1UFoYDl

I own a 1935 26J/27J. In fact, I owned two of them at the same time for quite a while. As to playing characteristics, they were remarkably consistent with each other (as Lewis Carroll would say, they were "much of a muchness").

Lee Stofer's text describes my own experience with this model. I would add that it takes remarkably little wind to fill this horn. On the one hand, it can be played down to a mere whisper with no effort. On the other hand, you can play it as loudly as desired and never overblow it. It has good intonation and consistent tone color through the range.

There are only two challenges. One challenge is the weight -- once you sit down with this thing, do not plan to get up until the rehearsal or gig is over. The other challenge is the bulkiness. I cart both cases (plus music stand, mouthpiece kit, sheet music, etc) on a tall hand-truck with lots of bungee straps, so as to move it all at one time and not make two or three trips to the car. The hand-truck method works as long as one is transporting on smooth hard surfaces!

Wow. Between that one piece bell Mammoth, the HB, and the new Rudys, Lee has some REALLY cool stuff for sale! I always say that I wish I didn’t have to sell my old HB2P to have what I have… Ugh. Love those things.

Sousaswag wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:44 pm Wow. Between that one piece bell Mammoth, the HB, and the new Rudys, Lee has some REALLY cool stuff for sale! I always say that I wish I didn’t have to sell my old HB2P to have what I have… Ugh. Love those things.

Oh man - that Chief Kuhn Martin looks like an epic horn. I’d love to try that thing. I hope he doesn’t call me or drop by. That’s so tempting - I need less tubas - not more - and not bigger tubas. That is what a tuba should look like. Just last week my local jazz station was playing some jazz recordings from the 1930’s I think that had been recently found of Chief Kuhn playing with a Traditional Jazz Band.

Lee reconditioned/rebuilt my "real" 36K (pre-Macmillan). You can be assured that his used tubas are the best.

Lots of cool tubas there. I'm most intrigued by that Beuscher 'Custom' CC tuba That big Conn BBb with both bells looks like the ultimate large concert band tuba. I think a previous tubenet member owns/owned that tuba and had it refurbished years ago. Still looks very nice.

The upright bell Martin is the real deal. I had a chance to play it at various stages of the restoration process.

An immense amount of work has gone into it and it plays amazingly.

Damn damny damn dammit.

That Martin is unbelievable. Having played alongside Lenny Jung a million years ago with his big Martin BBb... That's a sound you just don't forget. The world NEEDS to hear this tuba.

Just checked my bank account. I've got $63.

I'll just have to be happy for someone else.

MartinMan wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:05 pm The upright bell Martin is the real deal. I had a chance to play it at various stages of the restoration process.

An immense amount of work has gone into it and it plays amazingly.

What are the ergonomics like? How heavy is it? Were the valves redone? Intonation?

tofu wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:53 am

MartinMan wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:05 pm The upright bell Martin is the real deal. I had a chance to play it at various stages of the restoration process.

An immense amount of work has gone into it and it plays amazingly.

What are the ergonomics like? How heavy is it? Were the valves redone? Intonation?

Ergonomics are relatively comfortable, but it is heavy which is pretty much unavoidable with any 6/4 4-valve BBb. Intonation is just as good as any other Martin Mammoth I've played which I think are the best of the old BATs compared to the Conns, Yorks, Holtons, etc. I do believe the valves were redone as well.