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Who built the carbon fiber bell tuba for Chuck Daellenbach? GREAT SOUND! Of the three tubas I have heard him play with CB I loved this one. Why did he stop using it?

See info from this post: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49506&start=13
I think Andy was working for Conn/Selmer back when he posted this. I'd take his word for it.
(Timeline - CB was sponsored by Conn-Selmer starting a few years back, hence the effort to put the entire group on new instruments made by Conn-Selmer. The rest of the group just made the switch sooner. Not the first time they've switched instrument sponsors either.)

Just saw this picture last week, and it looks like Chuck may have a new tuba for him. I have been told there is 0 shot of this being manufactured for anyone else.

Such a shame that they won't consider it. Looks like a nice improvement on a 2J/3J design.

The bells were made by George McCracken. He has done several for Chuck over the years but has never been very interested in producing tuba bells beyond that.

The instruments themselves have been quite a few different things over the years, but the carbon fiber bells started with the Getzen G-50 (aka Canadian Brass CB-50) then went to the Yamaha (several variations of non-production models) and now to the Conn-Selmer not-in-production model he's playing now.

The Conn he's got now, by the way, isn't much Conn at all. It's an 'in development' model that is a mashup of Yamaha, York, and the carbon fiber bell. I've handled it personally several times and talked rather extensively with Chuck Daellenbach about it. Last time I saw him, there were even parts of the instrument held on with tape and wire, yet he was touring with it. They moved over Conn-Selmer a couple years ago, but since Conn doesn't have a CC tuba anymore to even use as a starting point, that is how they had to address his need for a "Conn" CC tuba. The tuba is VERY similar to the Yamaha he had been on the past several years, minus the big "Yamaha" sticker going down the side of the bell.

EDIT - Andy's pictures show a "cleaned up" version of exactly what I am talking about. Last time I saw it (the FIRST crack at it, an obvious prototype - and clearly a different example), it had the carbon fiber bell from the Yamaha, valve set from the Yamaha, some York tubing and bows, and some Yamaha tubing and bows. Some soldered together, some tape/wire.

DP wrote:Be sure that Conn would think there's more business to be made from trumpets and maybe french horns.
...tubas? Not so much...

Unfortunately, this seems to be the case. I talked with a Conn-Selmer representative (and a Getzen one too at one point) shortly after they (Conn) started sponsoring the CB a few years ago about what they were doing with the tuba side of things. DP is right, if they can make 50 trumpets for every one tuba, that's obviously the more cost-effective way to go.

Great reminders of why I went back and finished my Doctorate!

Curmudgeon wrote:

ASTuba wrote:I have been told there is 0 shot of this being manufactured for anyone else.

Which just reinforces the public perception of system stupidity in that organization.

"Sponsor" a group and supply them with instruments unavailable to their "fans."

+1.

DP wrote: yeah well, what would you do ?
tool up this tuba, and then sit back and watch some enterprising **** like Wessex knock it off?

Nothing about this horn looks terribly different or innovative, let alone unique.
Be sure that Conn would think there's more business to be made from trumpets and maybe french horns.
...tubas? Not so much...

Kinda mean but funny at the same time

tuben wrote:

Tubajug wrote:DP is right, if they can make 50 trumpets for every one tuba, that's obviously the more cost-effective way to go.

I find it a shame that business is now seemingly ONLY about $, rather than doing good and improving society. Must everything we do 'make money'?

How would producing a small CC tuba with only 4 valves which only 8 people will buy improve society?

tuben wrote:

Tubajug wrote:DP is right, if they can make 50 trumpets for every one tuba, that's obviously the more cost-effective way to go.

I find it a shame that business is now seemingly ONLY about $, rather than doing good and improving society. Must everything we do 'make money'?

I have found that as long as I am doing something that does make money,

I can afford to do something that doesn't make money!!

One can't to the latter, without the former.

I appreciate all of the philosophy but would somebody please answer the question? Who built the carbo fiber bell tuba??

eupho wrote:I appreciate all of the philosophy but would somebody please answer the question? Who built the carbo fiber bell tuba??

Tom wrote:The bells were made by George McCracken.

Now that THAT is out of the way...

Back to philosophy!!

ASTuba wrote:Just saw this picture last week, and it looks like Chuck may have a new tuba for him. I have been told there is 0 shot of this being manufactured for anyone else.

Such a shame that they won't consider it. Looks like a nice improvement on a 2J/3J design.

If this is the 1140 Bell, they can stop the production at 1. Blech!

J.c.S.

J.c. Sherman wrote:
If this is the 1140 Bell, they can stop the production at 1. Blech!

J.c.S.

Still better than most other 3/4 bells...

I jst wondered who bilt the instrument.