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Just saw a photo of a CC ST PETE.
I will post the photo later ( as soon as figure out how to post a picture here).

Saw it at the PALACIO DA TUBA web site. ( its written in portuguese) and its a 5 rotary laquer tuba.
I wonder how much would it be?
Any news here in USA?

[img]http://www.palaciodatuba.com/images/tub ... RG_Dó.JPG[/img]

ST.PETERSBURG
Modelo 209


4/4

5 cilindros
Dourada
Tubagem: 21 mm
Campânula: 45 cm
Altura: 95 cm

Peso: 8,8 Kg

wagtuba wrote:Just saw a photo of a CC ST PETE.
I will post the photo later ( as soon as figure out how to post a picture here).

Saw it at the PALACIO DA TUBA web site. ( its written in portuguese) and its a 5 rotary laquer tuba.
I wonder how much would it be?
Any news here in USA?

I played a 4V prototype CC St. Petersburg over at the Tuba Exchange a couple years ago. It was pretty nice -- I've never felt qualified to post any kind of reviews since the only horn I've played regularly is my PT3. I was told it was heavily tweaked with the advice of a well known professional. At that time they were still working on the design of the 5th valve.

-Evan

I spoke with Vince about these about a year ago. At the time, he was willing to let some of the prototypes go for "under $3000". I wasn't in a position to buy one then, and I haven't been up to try them. It seems like a decent price if they are at all similar to the BBb models in sound, response, intonation, etc.

Looking at the photo, my one concern is that they seem to have the same leadpipe as the BBb. My experience has been that both the leadpipe and tuning slide taper need to be shorter on a CC, compared to a BBb built on the same body. I am neither a designer nor a repairman, so I would look for some of them to weigh in on this.

I tested one of those in ITEC 2001 in Lahti, Finland. I probably played it for 10 minutes, so I really can´t say anything certain about it, but at least it felt OK. At the time it felt like an interesting alternative for a cheap CC-tuba.

I wonder if this instrument ever went to actual production?

Sound has never been my issue with St. Pete's.


Unless they drastically change their valves, they will always be thought of as inferior instruments. St. Pete valves are like slapping two chunks of rusted metal together, except the rusted metal would be faster.

tubashaman wrote:I think the waterkey's position could be better, since it is positioned on the side where your not going to get much drainage

Is the 5th valve before the 4th or after

From a users point of view you are right about the placement of the waterkey. However, due to the thin metal it has to be seated on a ferrule for reasons of stability.

Czech/German-style rotary tubas often have their 5th and 6th valves placed right after the leadpipe, also when the bore increases through the valve block (notably the F tubas from B&S).

With this model the placement of the 5th valve doesn’t matter, as the bore is uniform through the whole valve block.

tubashaman wrote:I think the waterkey's position could be better, since it is positioned on the side where your not going to get much drainage

That is a common place to put waterkey on rotary tubas with vertical tuning slides - they are like that on B&S.

I got the waterkey moved on both my Neptune and PT-20 so I can empty with the tuba in its upright playing position - good to clear in a couple bars rest.

I got a chance to blow on the prototype and several of the first few out and my overall take on the horn was a whole lot more positive than some I'm reading here.

I even took the prototype CC to orchestra rehearsal. Believe it or not, both the principal clarinet AND the principal bassoon turned around on separate occasions to compliment the sound. Unsolicited. I think I was playing a bach 7 mouthpiece, and just barking in the low range. It was a lot of fun, good response, fairly even scale, and LOUD when I needed it. I'm sure that it had been tinkered with a lot to iron out the rough spots, and the production horns might have some quality issues, but for the price, it's almost worth getting one and tinkering with it.

Play test one and find a good one, then tinker away. I'm convinced they are a good option for someone looking for a good sounding horn for little money. Of course you WILL have to be a little more vigilant when picking out a horn, but I think it's worth a go.