TubeNet

In June of this year, I was intrigued with a Tubenet thread discussing some of Larry Minick's unusual horns. Larry was a brilliant custom horn maker in Southern California for many years. The thread is here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44832&hilit=minick+creations" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Norm Pearson's comment in the thread about a CC contrabass trombone got me thinking. I'd always wondered about pitching a contrabass trombone in CC with a whole step valve to lower it to BBb. The valve could also be turned so the horn stood in BBb, and the valve would ascend to CC.

I'd also had a conversation with Markus Theinert of Miraphone, and when he said that maybe sometime they should build an F contrabass trombone, I thought they shouldn't bother, as there are at least 8 other brands on the market right now. Maybe they could do better with a BBb/CC model.

Something about that Tubebet thread got me thinking, maybe I was drunk or something, but I wrote a note to Miraphone with some specs I wanted, and asked them if they'd make me a couple of CC contrabass trombones. About a month later I got an email saying that they were working on this idea. Here's a quote from Markus' reply:

Thank you for your patience in waiting for our evaluation of your CC contra bass trombone request. This certainly is a very intriguing idea and we haven't hesitated a second to start investigating our options. Now I am writing back to you to let you know that we were able to finish a first prototype of a CC contrabass trombone with slide and body but no valves yet. So far it works great as far as sound, intonation and response are concerned.

I didn't hear much from him again for a while. Then last week I was out of town, and upon return to my office, what should greet me at my desk?

A Miraphone CC contrabass trombone with double rotors.

Behold:



















I'm surrounded by cool horns, but I have to admit that this is the most amazing thing I've seen in a long time.

Here's the first pic of the CC again, along with a pic of the traditional Miraphone BBb contrabass:





I don't know many of the specs, and so far I have no idea exactly what it will cost. Maybe it's about $1000 more than the BBb? We'll see.

Here are a few factoids:

-This horn is awesome. It's not easy to play, but it's a big improvement over the BBb model IMHO.
-The CC slide is 4" (10cm) shorter than the BBb, and each bell branch is about 3/4" (2cm) shorter.
-The hand slide is lighter due to the shorter length, the elimination of several nickel overlseeves, and removal of a needless extra slide handle. The slide action is still fairly awful due to the double sets of tubes. With some cleaning, tuning, and lube, it should be usable. We'll see. The slide only has 6 positions on both the Bb and C sides.
-The first rotor is a standard quart ventil, and pitches the horn into G.
-The second rotor can be tuned several ways. As pictured, it is a whole step, and pitches the horn to Bb. With the slide pulled a bit, it becomes a long whole step like a fifth rotor on most tubas. That way, a low F is played in first position with both rotors.
- A second slide (not pictured) is included to lengthen the second rotor to two whole steps. This is the common tuning for the second rotor on most modern bass trombones. This long slide pitches the horn into Ab, or when used together with the first rotor, in E, a minor sixth down.
-Comparing the CC and BBb contrabass pics, it looks to me like there is less slide and more bell on the CC model, and I think that's the right way to go. Less cylindrical and more conical tubing are the key to making this a better player than the BBb.
-The second rotor linkage was to have been adjustable to let the horn stand in Bb. This didn't happen on this first model, but it's an easy addition. Some double French horns do this so they can stand in either Bb or F.
-The horn needs a few very minor adjustments: adjust linkage to shorten lever throw, add the option to stand it in Bb as above, add a second water key on the slide and another brace at the cork barrels.
-It seems to play well in tune with itself. Any irregularities in valve loop length on different sides (keys) of the instrument are easily adjusted on the hand slide.
-Yes, it's heavy, but workable. It fits on a standard K&M 14990 trombone stand. Note that the slide should touch the floor for stability, and to avoid stress on the bell.
-A TU21 (C3) mouthpiece was included. It works fine. I don't yet know a better choice.
-You most likely won't be a virtuoso on this horn. An F contrabass is still must easier to play, but doesn't have nearly the monstrous breadth of tone that this horn has. It's captivating, and the first player to try it immediately ordered one in gold brass.
-I play slide trombones in Bb, Eb, F, and G. No problem there. But I have no idea how to play one in CC. We'll see when I try to read some sheet music.

Thanks to all Tubenetters for your continued inspiration.

And thank you to Markus Theinert and Miraphone for creating this beautiful horn.

Best,

Steve Ferguson

Thanks Steve! Very interesting and exciting news!

A useful system, which I've built for a client who uses it constantly (he invents opportunities ; ) is a BBb/CC/FFF setup. Similar to this, the ascending eliminates some awkward slide throws, makes a complete chromatic compass, makes some of the most important excerpts a piece of cake, and the descending quart valve is very familiar to the bass trombonist. And most of the time you have the heft of a BBb.

Just my $.02... that Miraphone looks close to the perfect true contra.

I like yours better J.c.-
-Probably didn't cost 7 grand.
-Full length slide, for glissandos(i?) and such.


If you think about it, on a Bb/C/F, you can play just about everything above the 2nd partial no further out than 3rd position. Think of the big spear motif, for example; everything's in 1st or 2nd. It was funny watching J.c. and his buddy playing that on their horns.

Are there any videos/recordings of this horn yet? Would love to hear it.
If not, upload a video =)

So with all the criticism of the Miraphone BBb contrabass trombone vs. the CC, if one is offered a BBb for sale even at a good price, should it be declined and look for another contrabass trombone?

Miraphones CC Contrabass Trombone for sale by owner!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272114764755?ss ... 1555.l2649" target="_blank

Steve Marcus wrote:So with all the criticism of the Miraphone BBb contrabass trombone vs. the CC, if one is offered a BBb for sale even at a good price, should it be declined and look for another contrabass trombone?

I wouldn't dismiss them out of hand; their quality control was very... wide, and some of them can be pretty good. They certainly have the quintessential sound, and our facile for tuba players compared to other contras. I've performed and recorded with one, and they can be made to work quite well… and many have.