Posted by Art on August 24, 2001 at 19:16:57:
I just played on a marvelous old Conn BBb upright tuba which is in remarkably good condition. The valves are not the "short-action" kind but the real thing. They appear to have been expertly replated not too long ago. They are not as tight as you would find on a new german tuba, but snug enough to play well and to hold a vacuum briefly. (They seem to be just as tight and free-moving as the valves on my brand-new Weril, which is good enough for me.) Although I don't care for top-action tubas myself, I wish someone sat next to me with that horn in a concert band. The intonation is very good, much better than the short-action conns. I played it up to F above the staff and down to D above the pedal note and found no surprises or bad notes. The leadpipe is set high enough for a six-foot person to be comfortable with it. Stu (the seller) is considering some offers but has not yet made up his mind.