Yeah, I'm jumpin in...finally.
Not to debate with you, cjk, but many of them actually were prototypes sans model number or serial number; and they were all a little different. Mine has a removeable leadpipe and a factory 1st and 2nd valve trigger - it may be the only one with this combination. There is one out on the left coast that has a noticeably different 3rd valve wrap.
This is not for your average quintet - it is most definitely a full 5/4 horn with a huge sound. I found it to play bigger than the slightly physically larger 5/4 (almost 6/4) Cerveny I tried next to it - and that was a good one.
Joe S had one for a while but it was different from mine. He called it the "loudest tuba in the world" but sold it because of the intonation.
According to those in the know, I think less than a dozen were made and only a handful found there way over to the US.
Pros - huge clear sound; not a foghorn but not a 186 on steroids either.
Excellent low register, but also good in-tune high register for a horn this size. Very resonant despite its heavy weight unlike many "dead feeling" MW's. Decent 5th partial - open E is useable. Large, almost kaiser bore rotors with 4th valve even larger - I will have to get the mic out. The bottom bow on these horns is huge, and the top bow is very high up on the horn, almost like an old Besson. Very reasonably priced when you find one. If the third partial had been good these horns would probably be worth 7-9 thousand. Large bell throat only has a modest flair at the end - so doesn't scare conductors suffering from "big silver tuba" syndrome.
Cons - third partial G is absolutely unuseable. makes sightreading "interesting." but can be easily worked around otherwise - 13 for G, 123 trigger 12 for Gb (or 24 push), 51 trigger 1 (or 23 trigger 2) for Eb. Massive rotors not as fast as on some horns. Not the easiest horn to play pppp on (Joe attributes this to the large leadpipe).
Since my leadpipe was already removeable, I fabricated a bracket to lower it somewhat. I have since removed the screws and soldered the bracket on. I still often sit on a cushion.
P.S. I would ABSOLUTELY not consider this a "one tuba" kind of instrument unless you never played with small ensembles, heard of Brahms Requiem, or even thought about the VW concerto. But, it really is a killer big ensemble horn and even something like the Gregson is doable on it.
There is a
chance I could be talked into selling it, only becase I presently have little large ensemble opportunity.
Here are pics of the bracket and of the horn with people to give perspective - it is a BIG horn.
I wish that girl would learn to keep her finger out of her nose - I had just given her a bath, too!