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Unya
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Couesnon Tuba
May 11th, 2020 at 5:47pm
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Hello!

I recently acquired (found) this instrument and I'm not sure exactly what it is or what to call it. I am completely new to brass instruments, but I have quickly become quite fond of it.

(The forum doesn't seem to allow my to post links to my pictures, perhaps because this is my first post. I will try to in another post.)

Based on my internet research, I think it has 3 top-action piston valves and a forward facing bell. The engraving says. "Couesnon 105 Rue La Fayette Paris made in France 51282." I have looked for that serial number in several places, but I can't find it.

I'm not looking to sell it. I would like to learn how to play it, help function as well as possible and make it look as nice as possible. I mostly just want to know what to call it (BBb something?)

I bathed it and oiled the valves - I've gotten some nice sounding (to me) sounds to come out of it. It has some dents here and there, but they don't seem to be especially big.

Any information/advice/comments would be greatly appreciated. I can post more pictures, of that would help.

Thanks!
  
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Unya
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #1 - May 11th, 2020 at 5:48pm
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pryorphone
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #2 - May 11th, 2020 at 7:44pm
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Based on the length of the valve tubing I think it is a tuba.  What is the diameter of the bell?
  

Michael Keller
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #3 - May 11th, 2020 at 8:07pm
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I think Pryorphone is right, I didn't look closely enough at the valve tubing.
  
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Unya
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #4 - May 11th, 2020 at 9:29pm
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The bell is 15.5" in diameter
  
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pryorphone
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #5 - May 12th, 2020 at 5:39pm
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Unya wrote on May 11th, 2020 at 9:29pm:
The bell is 15.5" in diameter


That sounds appropriate for an Eb tuba, although the doubled 3rd valve tubing would be more appropriate for a BBb.  Definitely a tuba, though!
  

Michael Keller
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The Delaware Symphony Orchestra
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #6 - May 12th, 2020 at 10:49pm
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We have this one in the database, it is actually a horn I had here at one time, but I never bothered to measure it.  Anyway, it does appear that the tubing matches, bell size is hard to compare.  I remember it was a small bell, however,
  
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Unya
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #7 - May 16th, 2020 at 4:33pm
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That looks like it exactly! (With different dents.)

I just read the "Euphonium / Baritone / Bb Tenor / Bb Bass" thread under "definitions" and my brain exploded. Does it even matter what I call it? If I pick up another 3 valved tuba-looking horn (which is clearly a gross oversimplification and perhaps blasphemy), will the fingerings be the same?

Thank you so much for your help!
« Last Edit: May 17th, 2020 at 9:50pm by Unya »  
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #8 - May 18th, 2020 at 5:57pm
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Based on your description of the bell marking, I would guess that your horn was made in the 1950s. The Lafayette name came out around this time as a student level model and they are quite common to find in the US.
  
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Re: Couesnon Tuba
Reply #9 - Jul 17th, 2020 at 1:33am
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FWIW, The above pictured tuba is a BBb.
  
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