Baby Instruments
- Thread starter Di B
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Accidental
Supporting Member
I had to play tuba for a youth band once, and was given what they called a "single Eb" - I have no idea if that was the correct name for it :?
It was basically a mini Eb bass - significantly smaller and only had 3 valves, but sounded ok. I think the make was Westminster.
It was basically a mini Eb bass - significantly smaller and only had 3 valves, but sounded ok. I think the make was Westminster.
twm_trombone
Member
There are argentinian single E flat basses, one of the children in my old youth band had one, BIG GAV was the one who owned it if you fancy sending him a pm.
Despot
Member
Last year I asked a the same question on tMP and got good advice. I can briefly summarize it as follows:
"Sod the small stuff"
I was worried about giving an 11 year old the senior band’s spare Sov EEb as I thought it would be too big, but on advice from tMP, gave it, and the young lad is doing great. Size wasn't the issue I thought it'd be. Also picked up an old Yamaha EEb that received a similar response.
You'll get a full size EEb bass second hand for less than the cost of a 3/4 size new, and is probably a better long term investment. You won't find yourself looking to replace it in a few years time as your players grow. I wouldn't worry, they'll adjust quickly to the size.
But if you have the cash, Jupiter, Besson, Yamaha 3/4 size are all good. Wouldn't turn down a second-hand Amati at the right price. Not great, but they're functional. As Peter was saying, Imperials are quite good and are that bit smaller than newer basses. I have my eye on one at the moment!
Student trombone-wise, we found Bach is v.good, if pricey, and is what we mostly use with our youth band. Have some King 606's which I quite
like. Have one Blessing which is average enough, but does the job. Most of the main brands are safe enough I'd imagine. Can't speak for the Elkhart or new Besson 1000 series trombones.
"Sod the small stuff"
I was worried about giving an 11 year old the senior band’s spare Sov EEb as I thought it would be too big, but on advice from tMP, gave it, and the young lad is doing great. Size wasn't the issue I thought it'd be. Also picked up an old Yamaha EEb that received a similar response.
You'll get a full size EEb bass second hand for less than the cost of a 3/4 size new, and is probably a better long term investment. You won't find yourself looking to replace it in a few years time as your players grow. I wouldn't worry, they'll adjust quickly to the size.
But if you have the cash, Jupiter, Besson, Yamaha 3/4 size are all good. Wouldn't turn down a second-hand Amati at the right price. Not great, but they're functional. As Peter was saying, Imperials are quite good and are that bit smaller than newer basses. I have my eye on one at the moment!
Student trombone-wise, we found Bach is v.good, if pricey, and is what we mostly use with our youth band. Have some King 606's which I quite
like. Have one Blessing which is average enough, but does the job. Most of the main brands are safe enough I'd imagine. Can't speak for the Elkhart or new Besson 1000 series trombones.
Bob Thompson
Member
You could purchase a full size one and also purchase an instrument stand, the stand should remove many of the holding difficulties.
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
The BessonInternational Eb is a decent tuba. It's small, a tad bigger than a full size eupho, but very little backpressure. Teaching kids to play on tubas is bad, as when they go to change toi a full size, their air will just get sucked out of them!!
I don't like many Single Bb's, but yes the Jupiter and a little company called Weril (Brazillian made, owned my a small eropean group) make some nice tubas. However, the silver plates have been known to corrode quickly.....
I hate the Amatis!!!! icky icky icky!!! The yamaha EEb's are light and punchy, good for starting. And I've found a lot of kids grow into their tubas.
I personally like to stay away from smaller basses, but I do see the value in them at time. Hope this helps.
I don't like many Single Bb's, but yes the Jupiter and a little company called Weril (Brazillian made, owned my a small eropean group) make some nice tubas. However, the silver plates have been known to corrode quickly.....
I hate the Amatis!!!! icky icky icky!!! The yamaha EEb's are light and punchy, good for starting. And I've found a lot of kids grow into their tubas.
I personally like to stay away from smaller basses, but I do see the value in them at time. Hope this helps.
Small basses
What you're looking for is called a "3/4 tuba" in the trade. The models vary from instruments intended for children to professional instruments for use in solo or small ensemble applications.
I don't care much for the Besson 700 series (777 Eb and 787 BBb, I believe), as the intonation on these can often present problems. Yet, they're quite small (about a 14" bell). But, if you can find a good deal on one of these (or their predecessors), it might do in a pinch.
Yamaha makes a small 3-valve top-action BBb bass, the YBB-105, that's widely used in schools here in the USA. There is a professional 4-valve model, the YBB-621 that is about the same size.
The Brazilian comapny Weril makes some very respectable instruments at affordable prices. 3/4 BBb basses include the J370 (3 valve) and J680 (4 valve). The also make a 3-valve 3/4 Eb bass, the J330.
If the child has problems with the weight of the instrument, there is a very nice tuba playing stand made by K&M (of Germany) that is a tripod affiar with a cradle for the bottom bow of the tuba.
One of the students here won the 2002 ITEC (International Tuba-Euphonium Conference) Young Artist award using the same 4/4 CC bass that I saw him playing when he was 11 years old. At that time, the tuba completely hid him from view!
Best of luck!
Chuck
What you're looking for is called a "3/4 tuba" in the trade. The models vary from instruments intended for children to professional instruments for use in solo or small ensemble applications.
I don't care much for the Besson 700 series (777 Eb and 787 BBb, I believe), as the intonation on these can often present problems. Yet, they're quite small (about a 14" bell). But, if you can find a good deal on one of these (or their predecessors), it might do in a pinch.
Yamaha makes a small 3-valve top-action BBb bass, the YBB-105, that's widely used in schools here in the USA. There is a professional 4-valve model, the YBB-621 that is about the same size.
The Brazilian comapny Weril makes some very respectable instruments at affordable prices. 3/4 BBb basses include the J370 (3 valve) and J680 (4 valve). The also make a 3-valve 3/4 Eb bass, the J330.
If the child has problems with the weight of the instrument, there is a very nice tuba playing stand made by K&M (of Germany) that is a tripod affiar with a cradle for the bottom bow of the tuba.
One of the students here won the 2002 ITEC (International Tuba-Euphonium Conference) Young Artist award using the same 4/4 CC bass that I saw him playing when he was 11 years old. At that time, the tuba completely hid him from view!
Best of luck!
Chuck
Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
Don't like Yamaha 3/4's......they make decent full sizes,, but suck at the small stuff. PArt of Yamaha's problems is their generalbore size is way too small....shrink it down for the 3/4 Bb and that's a shyte load of backpressure to fight, and when you're playing Bb, you waant things to be with you, not against you!
Itty-bitty yamahas
There are Yamahas and Yamahas. The student-line 3/4s do have a smallish bore (0.651 inch), but the professional 3/4 instruments hae a resptectable 0.689 bore, the same as a full-sized King BBb.
Having said that, I think the best 3/4 Yamaha makes is their little F, the YFB-621. Sadly, they don't manufacture a corresponding Eb bass.
There are also smallish rotary BBb basses; the Joseph Lidl 701 and the Miraphone 184 are examples of basses that are fine instruments for use in small groups.
Best regards,
Chuck
There are Yamahas and Yamahas. The student-line 3/4s do have a smallish bore (0.651 inch), but the professional 3/4 instruments hae a resptectable 0.689 bore, the same as a full-sized King BBb.
Having said that, I think the best 3/4 Yamaha makes is their little F, the YFB-621. Sadly, they don't manufacture a corresponding Eb bass.
There are also smallish rotary BBb basses; the Joseph Lidl 701 and the Miraphone 184 are examples of basses that are fine instruments for use in small groups.
Best regards,
Chuck