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For some time I've been checking out getting parts to change the fixed ball linkage system on my '93 Cerveny CC 5 valve 681.
Recently I located the Martin Seibold company in Bayern, Germany who specialize in minibal conversion kits. They only ask you to provide dimensions (length from ball to ball) and any height difference. They also know the screw diameters for the through-the-ball screws. Their kit contains rod(s), screws, nuts and washers. My 5 valver required two kits: one for valves 1-4 at $153.61 and one for the short 5th valve at $40.46. Postage was $12.00. This is in EURO dollars so depending on conversion rates US $ cost will vary.
I am very pleased with this company's service and found the conversion work to only require two tools: socket to remove fixed balls and screwdriver to remove and insert through-the-ball screws.
Here's the web address: http://minibal.de/brass/
Tom Beck II

Anyone speak German?!?

Rats...

BTW; there's another style of metal ball & Socket linkage I've seen which is larger and more robust, but just as quiet, and the screw isn't so week as to allow shearing (which happened on my Conn 52J).

Anyone know what I'm talking about or where to get them? And if I need to study a foreign language to get 'em?

Thanks!

J.c.S.

I've recently had my f tuba done with dubro linkages by Bloke with excellent results.The parts are around 40.00 for the job(maybe a little less).There is fairly significant labor/time/knowhow involved.I think their may be a cottage industry opportunity for someone who could do the measuring,cutting,and other prep work,then just sell that to un-handy tubists like me,to just screw them on.Just about any rotary tuba I've seen over 20 years old could be greatly improved with new,quiet,fast linkages.Anybody?...

I've used the DuBro stuff a lot, but I'm kind of "done" with them. but they can work very well indeed...

J.c.

I'm on board with everything you said, bloke.

However, I tried an experiment. Edwards trombones sells miniball conversion kits for their older plastic linkages. I thought for $50, it was worth a try.

It sounds better, and feels better. Unbeleivable, right? I swear it's true. It's REALLY subtle. But I notice it. So I feel like doing a dew other conversions to test this theory more... Anyway, I like the bigger ones better, but I'll take what I can get.

J.c.

Bloke,
Can you remember the source of your non-minibal linkage?


Sylvain