Lee Stofer wrote:
Now that you mention it, if he built a large-bore rotor model with a valveset modeled after the pre-WWII King large-bore rotary tuba, complete with string linkage, that would be extremely sweet - hmmm, think I'd better talk to Mr. Kanstul about that!
You'd definitely have supporters of that idea!: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=47860" target="_blank" target="_blank
Thomas J. Ricer, DMA
Royal Hawaiian Band - University of Hawaii at Manoa - Yamaha Performing Artist
I wonder if it wouldn't be better to keep the ring on the bell.
The bell on my Kanstul F "rings" and I've unfortunately had to take the measure of putting a belt around that lovely looking engraved bell. Now it doesn't ring and I'm still experimenting with what I think it does to the overall sound and response.
It does have a gorgeous open sound and is very well made. I hope that the Grands share this quality.
On the down side, the intonation is almost like many BBb BAT's: real low F and E in the middle register (I HAVE to use alternate fingerings to get them centered comfortably). I bought the horn assuming that my intonation would improve once I got used to playing on a totally different type of F (my other being a B&S F), but I was wrong. I even had to get the main slide shortened.
I also remember the 33-s I tried having some absolutely unworkable notes.
Lee Stofer wrote:Bort,
Kanstul is enough like a custom shop that, if you special-order it, I'm pretty sure they'd build it. One reason this project went ahead of some others is because a tuba player unbeknownst to me pre-ordered and paid for a Grand BBb and a Grand CC, therefore helping to finance the project.
Now that you mention it, if he built a large-bore rotor model with a valveset modeled after the pre-WWII King large-bore rotary tuba, complete with string linkage, that would be extremely sweet - hmmm, think I'd better talk to Mr. Kanstul about that!
Very interesting! I'm not close to making special orders right now, but if you ever talk to Mr. Kanstul about this possibility, I'd be interested to know what he says.
When playing the Grand CC and BBb please bear in mind that you warm up the tuba for about 2-3 min. One observation is that the York Alloy when cold may seem rather ordinary in sound, but when it comes up to body temps, you will hear a rich, complex overtone release that is hard to describe by mere words. Which may explain the illusion of stuffiness in the BBb -- it usually sits cold next to the CC which is played the most at trade shows. When the BBb warms up, it is the equal to the CC in response, just the partials are BBb like. The production BBb will have a tune any note feature (like the 900-4B) but in the very near future will have a spring centered slide connected either to a T-bar or a ring mount so you can raise or lower the pitch and have it automatically return to the preset tuning! The production F tubas will have this feature .(yes plural , a new 5/4 F is coming!) I suspect the production CC really doesn't need this, but Zig may decide to put it on just so the CC players don't feel left out. Cheers!
What's going on with Kanstul? Horn Guys lists some of their remaining stock (popular models, too) as discontinued. It appears they aren't carrying them anymore but discontinued??
To answer Bob Kolada,
My understanding is that Hornguys is moving in another direction with the model lines they offer, and are not planning to continue selling Kanstul tubas at this time. Mr. Ferguson has had a longtime relationship with Mirafone, and I suspect that is at least part of the reason for the change.
Rest assured that I still offer the full Kanstul model line, and can also get factory-custom Kanstuls, too. For instance, there have been enough customers that have ordered a Kanstul 33-S BBb, but wanted 4 valves instead of 5, that I have suggested to Kanstul that this be instituted as a model, designated as the 33-S4. The 4-front-valve version of the model 33 is priced the same as the top-piston model. The tuba has easily-reachable 1st, 3rd and 4th slides on top that move easily, and the instrument sans the 5th valve is lighter-weight and possibly more lively in it's response. In short, it is a lot of tuba for a very reasonable price.
I should also mention that the Kanstul Grand Orchestral CC, the model 5490, is undergoing some minor design changes. I spoke with a design person this week, who said that they were making minor changes in branch lengths and bracing, and in the side-to-side width of one branch. The narrower width will enable the branch to lie inside the body more instead of protruding out the back, and the other changes enable the valveset to sit a little lower in the body. The changes primarily make the instrument more ergonomically comfortable, and if anything make it a subtly even better player than before. The body changes will make it appear slightly smaller, I'm told, as it becomes a little more compact. I certainly had no issues with the original model, but these changes will no doubt lead to an even more universal acceptance of this instrument as one of the standard large orchestral tubas.
Lee Stofer wrote:My understanding is that Hornguys is moving in another direction with the model lines they offer, and are not planning to continue selling Kanstul tubas at this time. Mr. Ferguson has had a longtime relationship with Mirafone, and I suspect that is at least part of the reason for the change.
There are other reasons, probably more important than the relationship with Mirafone. If someone wants to talk about it, Steve Ferguson should do it himself; it would be inappropriate for me to post second-hand knowledge here.
