7/31/2024 - 1957 Conn 24j / 25j 4 valve tuba demonstration

I bought this horn last year returning to the first tuba I ever bought. I have both the forward / recording bell and an uglier upright bell. Forward bell is good for outdoors, having a limited number of players, and old style stages. The upright bell is good for performance halls. In this demo I play the same songs on each bell using the same mouthpiece to give you a feel for the difference.

The first horn i had was a 20J the 3 valve version.

The 20/21 24/25 J tuba and K sousaphones use the offset short stroke valves which I find easier to play.

The horn never took much effort to 'get used to it' or to know how it would respond. This one has been refurbished and purchased off of ebay.

I don't have the brains for learning a 5 valve instrument, or a 4 valve with the 4th valve in the left hand.

I demonstrate 2 techniques for playing below the Bass Clef out of the standard range written for the horn. It is a huge instrument. If you can fill it with air and find the right oil to seal up the valves on an older one then I recommend the instrument. It appears in my recent Wylie community band videos where I have also used a 1934 elkhart/pan american sousaphone (one xmas concert), a Czerveny 681a (miraphone 186 copy), and a Wessex Grand. When I can no longer hold this instrument I'll probably play my 1916 York, or break down and buy the best 3/4 sized tuba I have played to date - a Yamaha YBB 620. The 620 sound is a little thin, but a big mouthpiece might help it. I don't fit their other horns.