Matt Ransom wrote:FYI - there are 2 Cerveny 653 F tubas sitting at the Tuba Exchange in Durham, NC. They are nice little tubas, although not really my cup of tea.
The G and F# (flat) at the top of the staff require alternate fingerings. Both tubas are slightly shopworn and may merit a bit of a discount.
Matt
FWIW, I have yet to play an F tuba that didn't require this adjustment on those particular notes (4 for G and 2+4 for F# or something like that), not to mention 2+3 on Ab and 1+2 on the A just above it, especially where those notes are sustained.
If anyone is looking for a 653, sounds like they need to pop into the TubaExchange for a rare opportunity to A/B a couple of them.
The Miraphone Firebird, Meinl-Weston 45SLZ, and my B&S Symphonie F tuba (plus three that belong to friends) do not require those adjustments.
I'd also check the pitch of the C and B natural in the staff to see how sharp they are.
I used to own a Cerveny F tuba (a 654-6). It was very playable. It was a good instrument. Extremely in tune with itself, it was not.
However, there are a LOT of very expensive F tubas which have no better scales than the Cerveny F tubas.
I know the subject is the Cerveny F but the previous post talks about the Firebird.
I just bought a Miraphone Firebird 6 valves (5+1), yellow brass 3 weeks ago.
The G first valve is very flat and playing it with the 4th valve solves the problem.
The low register is easier than the MW 45SLP I just sold but I miss its solid tone. Tuning on the 45SLP I had was very good except for the upper A which I had to play 1+2.
Have fun with the Cerveny.
Sylvain Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
Principal Tuba Kingston Symphony
Music Director, Communications & Electronics Garrison Military Band
Matt Ransom wrote:FYI - there are 2 Cerveny 653 F tubas sitting at the Tuba Exchange in Durham, NC. They are nice little tubas, although not really my cup of tea.
The G and F# (flat) at the top of the staff require alternate fingerings. Both tubas are slightly shopworn and may merit a bit of a discount.
Matt
FWIW, I have yet to play an F tuba that didn't require this adjustment on those particular notes (4 for G and 2+4 for F# or something like that), not to mention 2+3 on Ab and 1+2 on the A just above it, especially where those notes are sustained.
If anyone is looking for a 653, sounds like they need to pop into the TubaExchange for a rare opportunity to A/B a couple of them.
The Miraphone Firebird, Meinl-Weston 45SLZ, and my B&S Symphonie F tuba (plus three that belong to friends) do not require those adjustments.
I'd also check the pitch of the C and B natural in the staff to see how sharp they are.
I used to own a Cerveny F tuba (a 654-6). It was very playable. It was a good instrument. Extremely in tune with itself, it was not.
However, there are a LOT of very expensive F tubas which have no better scales than the Cerveny F tubas.
I am finding that many of the more expensive F tuba's have other quirks about them that I wouldn't say makes it better than the 653. I would say for sure though, that mouthpiece's have a HUGE effect on F horns, especially my little cerveny. I play the G in the middle of the staff with 4 and the F# is spot on with 2-4 or just 3. But when changing mouthpieces, I get a different response.
I would say though, that when using alternate fingerings, the instrument is VERY intune with itself. Not using alternate fingerings is still very workable however, since most notes are within 5 cents of being in tune. (The C in the staff is a bit high though, so it has to be lipped down or played with an alternate, unless your mouthpiece does well with it. I have 2 mouthpieces, and each have a very different C).
Sylvano wrote:I know the subject is the Cerveny F but the previous post talks about the Firebird.
I just bought a Miraphone Firebird 6 valves (5+1), yellow brass 3 weeks ago.
The G first valve is very flat and playing it with the 4th valve solves the problem.
The low register is easier than the MW 45SLP I just sold but I miss its solid tone. Tuning on the 45SLP I had was very good except for the upper A which I had to play 1+2.
Have fun with the Cerveny.
I like the Firebird well enough. It's a fun horn, we have one in our studio and I've tried others as well. It actually plays quite similarly to my Cerveny. I would say however, I really like the sound on the 653 over the Firebird. And one thing that is really really nice on the 653 is the ease at which it plays a very even consistant sound. (Also with the ability to utilize several different colors).
