I have an old Boosey & Hawkes 788 BBb 3/4 Tuba, and definitely need to get the bow repaired and back to playing condition. I mainly play Eb Bass but wanted to have a BBb for home use.
I hope you can get it repaired. Those classics are harder and harder to find. I wouldn’t mind having a vintage Sovereign BBb or Boosey BBb. They can really put out some sound!
@@buffalobillh I have the besson 994 BBb, it's heavier if you use it for marching . Mainly get lower note options if you play sit-down concerts. On the March most friends or people I know prefer the Eb horn because it's lighter and can still play the money range fine.
How does it compare to your John Packer Eb equivalent? What would be noticeable differences? If you can find an old kosicup mouthpiece I really like them for British shank.
@@kypiper The Packer has the 19” bell, and has a much broader, deeper sound. The Imperial has a much more singing type of tone. The Packer has a wonderfully easy low range, and it is incredibly easy to play. The Imperial has a slightly tighter low range (at least with the DW3), yet it plays and responds very nicely overall. The Packer has a modern 981 leadpipe, whereas the Imperial has the traditional style leadpipe - the angle of the Packer leadpipe is preferable to me for holding it on my lap, but my solution to that with the Imperial (and to avoid the ball on the keel bruising my leg)) was to use a stand. It works well. Overall, the significant difference is the size and color of the sound.
I play an imperial from the early 50s on parade. It plays remarkably well for a horn as worn out as it is. I absolutely love it
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼They definitely have a unique charm to them.
Thank you for calling it a Eb Bass. Too many people call them Tubas and they're not... I would love one of these....
It is a proper Eb bass, for sure.
I have an old Boosey & Hawkes 788 BBb 3/4 Tuba, and definitely need to get the bow repaired and back to playing condition. I mainly play Eb Bass but wanted to have a BBb for home use.
I hope you can get it repaired. Those classics are harder and harder to find.
I wouldn’t mind having a vintage Sovereign BBb or Boosey BBb. They can really put out some sound!
@@buffalobillh I have the besson 994 BBb, it's heavier if you use it for marching . Mainly get lower note options if you play sit-down concerts. On the March most friends or people I know prefer the Eb horn because it's lighter and can still play the money range fine.
It will last a couple more lifetimes!
Yes. It is a well built instrument!
How can you retire and play Brass Band full time if you keep buying tubas? 😂
🤣 I need to buy tubas while I’m still working! Brass band will still be there when I’m ready to slow down.
How does it compare to your John Packer Eb equivalent? What would be noticeable differences? If you can find an old kosicup mouthpiece I really like them for British shank.
Do you mean my Packer Eb? Or the Wessex mouthpiece that came with my Wessex Eb helicon?
@@buffalobillh sorry meant the John packer horn.
@@kypiper
The Packer has the 19” bell, and has a much broader, deeper sound. The Imperial has a much more singing type of tone. The Packer has a wonderfully easy low range, and it is incredibly easy to play. The Imperial has a slightly tighter low range (at least with the DW3), yet it plays and responds very nicely overall. The Packer has a modern 981 leadpipe, whereas the Imperial has the traditional style leadpipe - the angle of the Packer leadpipe is preferable to me for holding it on my lap, but my solution to that with the Imperial (and to avoid the ball on the keel bruising my leg)) was to use a stand. It works well. Overall, the significant difference is the size and color of the sound.