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I'm thinking about a new F helicon, especially playability, availability, and delivery time to the US.

The Cerveny CHL 621-4, 4 rotary valve brass lacquer, is now about USD $3774 (no VAT) [Euro 2742] with a soft case. That quoted price seems reasonable.
http://www.cerveny.biz/helikone/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I would appreciate any opinions on this and other new helicons.

Thanks.

I have had good results with my Cerveny BBb 4 rotor helicon - got it new about 15-20 years ago, un-lacquered (and had a local shop put a clear coat on.) The paddles are a bit easy to bend sideways, but there were no other major mechanical issues. The horn plays solid throughout the range and is pretty comfortable. I do have to rotate my right wrist just a bit more than I would like, but it is not that bad for 3 hour gigs.

I have not seen one of their F helicons in person (not sure of the brand that was being played by the tubist in the Boban Markovic Orkestar when they came to town a few years ago, could have been one - it sounded great!)

I tried an Amati F helicon with 4 rotary valves in late 2008, when Søren visited for comparison of collections. That Amati basically is a less nickel silver, more brass version of the Cerveny. There were two reasons why I didn’t buy it. One is subjective: I didn’t have the space for it. The other is more objective: Is it possible to cover the bass line of even a small ensemble by means of an F bass with only 4 valves? Being an arranger also, I would say no.

I would express the same doubts towards any non-compensating F bass with only 4 valves. Kind of a pity as I liked that Amati F helicon.

Klaus

You could talk to a Cerveny dealer and they might be able order it with a fifth valve. That would be a really fun horn to have!

I've played two of the Cerveny BBb helicons, not the F-helicon, but I would expect it to be a fine instrument, too.

The only F-helicon I have experience with is a real antique that I hope to finish refurbishing this week. If anyone has any information on W. Stowasser's Soehne, Graslitz, ie., when they were in business, or any other information, I would appreciate you sharing it. This F-helicon is a 4-rotor instrument with a .750" valve bore, a fair-sized body and throat, but very little bell flare. The engraving as described above is on the nickel-silver bell rim. It is an attractive instrument, so I'll plan to post photos after it is completed.

imperialbari wrote:I tried an Amati F helicon with 4 rotary valves.

Which could be similar to mine, though if I recall from pictures, Søren's is in much closer to new condition - mine's a little beat up. I'm fairly sure the helicon I've seen on Sasha Alisanovic's (of Boban Markovic) shoulder in a picture is the same, albeit with only 3 valves (!), and for my money he's one of the world's great living tuba players.

I have no complaints about it, that would apply to a new one anyway. It sounds reasonably good, plays in tune and doesn't have any difficult spots in the range, that I've noticed. It's very comfortable - light, and the oval shape makes it rest naturally in position hands free. Unlike a sousaphone, it doesn't have a flexible series of bits in the lead pipe, so the best you can do if it doesn't naturally meet your mouth, is swing the leadpipe to one side or the other and shift the whole instrument accordingly. For me it tends to ride low, probably is fine for average build.

I also have the Eb, which is really quite different - a good deal larger, wraps around instead of doubling back. It has more acute ergonomic issues and more intonation problems, but more of a sound too. I could probably be talked into selling either, by the way - I have an excellent Bb sousaphone, and at this point would rather play that.

Donn wrote:

imperialbari wrote:I tried an Amati F helicon with 4 rotary valves.

Which could be similar to mine, though if I recall from pictures, Søren's is in much closer to new condition - mine's a little beat up. I'm fairly sure the helicon I've seen on Sasha Alisanovic's (of Boban Markovic) shoulder in a picture is the same, albeit with only 3 valves (!), and for my money he's one of the world's great living tuba players.

I will reveal so much that I am not one of the worlds greatest tuba players, so I simply need the valves in a sufficient number.

Klaus

Lee Stofer wrote:
The only F-helicon I have experience with is a real antique that I hope to finish refurbishing this week. If anyone has any information on W. Stowasser's Soehne, Graslitz, ie., when they were in business, or any other information, I would appreciate you sharing it.

Langwell's has this: Stowasser's, Wenzel, Söhne: Graslitz. Founded 1824. Branches at Graz, Verona (at via Stella in 1899 and at via S. Eufemia in 1941, the address of A. Santucci) and at Buenos Aires. Liquidated by Czech government in 1945. Brass at Vienna Exhibition, 1873...

There is also a listing for Stowasser, Wilhelm: Graz. Born 1893 Proprietor of Brüder Stowasser since 1925, but moved to Graz when his firm was liquidated by the Czech government in 1943.
(my edition was printed in 1977, he was alive at that point. There are 5 other Stowassers listed - many different instrument makers in that family going back to 1770!)

There also was a Stowasser making brasses in Budapest. Within the first years of this millennium, there were new Stowasser brasses to be found on German eBay. My German sources were not positive whether these were renamed Amati’s or whether they were mainland Chinese.

Klaus

imperialbari wrote:There also was a Stowasser making brasses in Budapest. Within the first years of this millennium, there were new Stowasser brasses to be found on German eBay. My German sources were not positive whether these were renamed Amati’s or whether they were mainland Chinese.

Klaus

Langwell - Stowasser, Janos, Senior: Budapest Founded 1770. Liquidated 1944

(mostly woodwinds listed - not typing them all in...)

and
Stowasser, Ignaz: Vienna. Founded 1838. ... By 1914 Stowasser no longer appears. Firm dissolved.

(Many brass instruments produced - I am not typing them in, many different Helicons were developed, starting as early as 1855)