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Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:17 pm
by The Big Ben
Amati-Denak is the umbrella organization for Cerveny, Amati Kraslice and a number of other brands.
Between the two wars, there were approximately 59 different Czech builders of musical instruments. Many of those factories were destroyed during the second war and, due to the process of nationalization of industries in a Communist state, the makers which were left were combined into one organization. There are two factories, one in Kraslice where Amati instruments as well as other brands in the line and a second factory in Hradec Králové where Cerveny instruments are made.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amati-Denak" target="_blank"
http://www.amati.cz/en/company/philosophy" target="_blank"
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:35 am
by toobagrowl
Current Amati-branded tubas are marketed more as the student line, while Cerveny-branded tubas are marketed more as the intermediate and professional line.
Some of the
old/vintage full-size (4/4) Amati tubas can be pretty nice. But most of the
current Amati-branded tubas are the smaller models with fewer valves

Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:50 am
by imperialbari
Destroyed through the war? Quite a reduction of 20th century story.
There are very clear reasons why Bavaria has large brass making companies like Miraphone and Meinl-Weston.
These reasons have repeadtedly been presented here on TubeNet, as have the modular design principles used by Amati/Cerveny and formerly also by B&S/Weltklang and by Miraphone.
Klaus
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:21 am
by AndyCat
All now owned by Geneva Brasswind
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:26 am
by imperialbari
Interesting, Andy!
Are all Geneva models made in Czechia? Or are some made in China?
Klaus
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:31 am
by AndyCat
I don't know anymore, the tenuous links I had via Brighouse are now ceased, as are Brighouse's links with Geneva (or will be).
I now get a Band Neo as well as my own

Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 9:48 am
by bigtubby
lowbrassmaniac wrote:Same machines, tools, builders..etc as Cerveny..just less Nickel Silver and no bell kranz. 2 main ferrules are, and some by the valves..that's about it.
FWIW all of the Amati branded rotary instruments are and have been built by the Cerveny plant in Hradec Králové.
Usually but not always they are the 4xx model of a given line: an Amati branded x81 for instance would usually be the 481 model and so on. Mainly the difference between a 4xx and a 6xx model is brass slide legs vs. NS slide legs. A Cerveny 681 and an Amati Kraslice 481). The differences in bell, paddles, lead pipe and keel have to do with the difference in age (ca 1970s Amati vs early 2000s Cerveny. The Cerveny also has hydraulically formed bows also due to its more recent manufacture.

Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:12 pm
by bigtubby
lowbrassmaniac wrote:I would just like to find a source (that speaks English or types English) that can sell me parts for old Amati and Cerveny horns since even Mr.Oberloh has trouble and has to hand make stuff. Maybe it's a pipe dream..
Amati USA has been very helpful. They closed their US warehouse a few years ago but can still source parts from CZ for you.
This is of course assuming that what you need is still in production or NOS is available. If Dan O. wasn't finding, I am guessing that it was something no longer in production.
http://www.amatiusa.com/
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 4:45 pm
by pjv
The 36cm(14inch) bell on my Amati Arion has a bell garland.
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 1:56 am
by Rick Denney
Tuba factories are small. The only building I can find in a Google search of Hradec Kralove is a small office building with a 2'x3' sign on the adjacent fence--a fence that holds half a dozen such signs, plus the signs on the building itself--that says "Amati-Denak SRO" and under that "V.F. Cerveny". I would guess that facility is easily as small as Rudolf Meinl, Hirsbrunner, and other shops that seem to be out back of the owner's house.
The Amati-Denak building in Kraslice, which is very close to Markneukirchen where B&S instruments are made, is much bigger. The B&S factory in Markneukirchen, the Wenzel-Meinl factory in Geretsried, and the Miraphone factory in Waldkraiburg seem smaller, but still much bigger than Cerveny in Hradec Kralove. Willson in Flums, Switzerland (quite close to Lichtenstein) sits in the middle.
I suspect all the parts are made in Kraslice, and the facility in Hradec-Kralove is just for assembly, testing, and finishing.
Rick "googling around" Denney
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:24 am
by The Big Ben
Stryk wrote:Rick Denney wrote: I would guess that facility is easily as small as Rudolf Meinl, Hirsbrunner, and other shops that seem to be out back of the owner's house.
Rick "googling around" Denney
Interesting. A friend told me a story that happened when he was in WWII, the Alexanders lived in the basement of the store/manufacturing site. Knowing that, I never expected Amati/Cerveny to be big, but I thought it would be bigger than a 2 car garage! Now I wonder what does go on in that building. Is it large enough to finish all of the horns they produce?
There have been some pictures posted showing the inside of the Jinbao factory and the place looks quite large. Maybe the production of all of the rest of the Jinbao brass instruments is done in the same place.
Re: Info wanted: Amati Kraslice
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:08 am
by loran
Are all Geneva models made in Czechia? Or are some made in China?
All Amati models are made in Czechia. We travelled Czech in June and had a chance to visit factory. Turned back home and bougth 2 Creveny tubas with good discount

from their German dealer
Bb Tuba with 5 rotary valves Cerveny CBB 682-5R-O Jubilant and
Bb Tuba with 5 rotary valves Cerveny CBB 686-5R-O Simphonia III