![olds ambassador cornet small shank olds ambassador cornet small shank](https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/qLEAAOSwB1RgJbZS/s-l300.jpg)
The only listed difference is the bell diameter, but I've got to assume that the bass probably had a slightly larger bore, similar to today's difference between "baritone" (American, not to be confused with the English "baritone", which on this same page is listed as a "tenor") and "euphonium".īasically, you've got 3 different instruments listed on this page that all have the exact same range, but different sonic qualities, depending on the proportions and bore.Īlso interesting is the "Eb bass" and "Eb Contrabass", which are in essence two horns that also have the exact same range, except for the "extra large proportions" of the "contrabass". The two instruments listed as "Bb Baritone" and "Bb Bass" look almost identical. That's still going on, 92 years later - the bass tuba never really came back, so Eb tubas try to be contrabass tubas in a different key and are hence unnaturally large. That left a lot of Eb tuba players in small bands with a burning desire to sound like a contrabass tuba, and manufacturers sold them great big Eb tubas (like my 1926 Pan American Giant Bass), with mixed results. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, band instrumentation moved towards the contrabass tuba, giving the old bass tubas the upper line in the divisi "basses" part. That seems to have been a kind of transitional era. That's why the instrument is 3/4 the size - it's the natural size, for an Eb tuba. ie why were 3/4 tubas made in this configuration?Īn Eb sound wave is 3/4 the length of the Bb tone below it. So what is the advantage with a small horn like this. Receiver is the small Bass bone type, not sure of the bore but presume its small.