Jethro's Schillbrunner

[tofu]

[jmerring]

The leadpipe is a different color. It looks to be rosebrass, instead of the yellow brass of the rest. The horn is made in China (mainland), according to the seller (I was looking at a possible purchase). Bloke; what gave you a good feeling about the horn? I am scared to death to buy one, without first play testing it.

[iiipopes]

Good deal with the rose brass leadpipe. More copper = less zinc = less prone to red rot from "natural" acids in saliva residue eating it from the inside out. That one detail in and of itself raises the value of the tuba.

[ken k]

i have seen these shiller instruments on the bay and they look nicer than some of the others and the prices are outrageous. i have also been looking the bass bones, especially a single valve bass for $550!

ken "veeeerrrrryyy interesting..." k

[jmerring]

Please keep us posted ocassionaly as to the strengths and weaknesses you come across. It looks to be a clone of the Miraphone 191. Does it have the double tuning slide for the fourth valve?

[MartyNeilan]

i have seen these shiller instruments on the bay and they look nicer than some of the others and the prices are outrageous. i have also been looking the bass bones, especially a single valve bass for $550!

ken "veeeerrrrryyy interesting..." k

I was thinking the very same thing, Ken.
BUT...
I was able to pickup a vintage single trigger Reynolds that, even with the expected eventual repair price factored in, should come in around that price range. The single trigger Schill I saw online looked like it probably could not get a good pull for low B. Mine has dual pulls that will get you a VERY flat E nearing Eb in first, so low B is readily accessible when needed. Even with the "normal" * trigger tuning, I can snag a low C easily at the bottom of the slide.
Plus, those old tangerine bells have a lot of character to the sound, and I know the horn will last a couple more decades. The Schiller is an unknown in those regards. If you do pick one up, be sure to let us know. (Especially after the "honeymoon" wears off )

* I have decided to tune the trigger so C in the staff is in tune right at first position. This makes trigger low F too flat to be usable, but having a solid low C at the end of the slide without overstretching my arm was a reasonable tradeoff for having to snag low F in 6 pos.

[Bob Kolada]

Assuming the Schillbrunner is the same thing as the similar looking rotary Bb Tuba Exchange sells, it (and the 2341-looking piston horn) play very well indeed.

[Euphistuba]

As a Schiller owner myself CC 5V) Im pleased to hear that another model is gaining some respect! I noticed on Ebay this weekend, that they have another new BB model in the AH line. Its listed as: Schiller AH Tuba Model 4 Valve Piston Tuba Bb/A. Wonder what THIS is a copy of! Its price tag is a little higher 2500 I think. Now if they would just make an Eb!!!