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Apparently not satisfied with building 5 new models of tubas in BBb, CC, and Eb in the last year, Kanstul has designed a new F tuba. Here are some shots of the first assembly in progress. The tuning slide is not attached yet.

The tuba is now finished, and several who have tried it say it's very good. I'll visit Kanstul this afternoon to play it.

The bell and bottom bow are based on those from the 3/4 size Kanstul 902 CC tuba. It looks to be about the size of a Miraphone Petruschka, maybe a bit smaller. All the bows on this one are made from sheet, so it should be a bit lighter.

Ferguson

Keep us posted, Steve; it looks very much like the Conn prototype, which played wonderfully (and thus will never see daylight again). I hope I win the lottery soon, then I'm comin' down to buy one of each!

Any news or pics on the new cimbasso from Kanstul?

I enjoy the pics you have posted.

Thanks.

Attaboy Steve!
Thanks for keeping us in the loop. It looks like next year's NAMM show is going to be REALLY interesting. We will stay tuned. BTW did you get your 90-S yet?

Thanks for the good word. There's no update on any cimbassos from Kanstul just yet. And no, I haven't gotten my own model 90 CC. But I will.

I played the F tuba last night. It's incredible. And this is just the first test model. They've got a few things to adjust, but this is one of the great F tubas. If you like a smaller piston F like the Petruschka or the YFB621, you'll love this Kanstul. What you really want to know: Yes, the low C is awesome. Here are some pics of Anthony Parnther and Tony Mazzaferro playing it at the Kanstul factory:





There are a few minor things to adjust: shape of one of the back side branches, a few slide lengths, add gold brass bell, and the 4th piston will get tucked underneath the 3rd a bit more. Otherwise, it's about ready to go. No price is set yet. Note that all slides are accessible from the top. From left to right is 5th, 1st, 2nd, 4th, and the 3rd is behind the 4th.

Here's a pic from Anthony Parnther's Facebook page of most everyone who attended the late night gathering and tried the new tuba:



L to R: Anthony R. Parnther, Stan Freese, Tony Mazzaferro, Stan Freese, Zig Kanstul, John Van Houten, Troy Emmons, Robert Carpenter, Steve Ferguson, (not shown: Justin Jerome)

Best,

Ferguson

Ferguson wrote:If you like a smaller piston F like the Petruschka or the YFB621

Isn't the Petrushka way bigger than the 621?

How about somewhat bigger.

SF

Ferguson wrote:How about somewhat bigger.

SF

I'll take your word for it. It's on my "want to try" list!

Thanks Steve.

I love the pics and info you pass along.

Also the website redesign looks great. I know it is a little late but great none the less.

Thanks to Steve for reporting all that good news! During a couple of brief phone conversations this week, I had heard that the first prototype Kanstul F was together, and that first reports were that it is a great tuba.

After an 8-year absence, Kanstul is planning to be at MidWest show in Chicago this December, and I plan to be there too, working at the Kanstul booth. I find it exciting that, for the first time ever, there will be an American manufacturer there with BBb, CC, Eb and F tubas, and 3+1 automatic-compensating euphoniums. We also plan to show the low brass at the US Army Band's Capitol Tuba Conference in January, 2011. There is a good chance that the cimbasso will be done by then, and if there are sufficient inquiries, I can try to have the double-rotor contrabass trombone there, too.

I've always thought, for optimal performance, an F tuba should be F-tuba sized (and CC, Eb, etc. accordingly). By that I mean an F is between a Euph and a BBb in size and profile. And if you get the proportions right, it'll sound huge, being that the size is right for it's length. With the addition of people in the photos, it's easy to see that this F is F sized... I'l bet it %$#@&ing rocks!!!

J.c.

Got to try it last week at the Kanstul factory, it does rock! It will continue to evolve with the addition of the York live metal formula bell, fifth valve wrapping, and other "hot rodding tweaks ". Hopfully the finished product will be at the NAMM show next January.

Expect to see this horn, as well as the rest of the Kanstul lineup at MidWest in Chicago in December of this year, the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim in January, and then at the Capitol Tuba Conference in late January.