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Has anyone bought one of those USSR helicons with the weird cone-shaped balls? Are they complete crap?
Here is one that's on ebay now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-USSR-Br ... Swx2dYEmj9" target="_blank" target="_blank
Thanks

[quote="sousaphonehero"]Has anyone bought one of those Russian helicons with the weird cone-shaped balls? Are they complete crap?
Here is one that's on ebay now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-USSR-Br ... Swx2dYEmj9" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
Actually I'm pretty sure that is Soviet era Ukrainian built. I have a BBb that I bought for shits and giggles and I love it; play it all of the time. It plays a lot like the York Monster Eb horns - very open and easy, nice big sound. Even has similar intonation quirks.

The one in the ebay auction you linked is Eb FWIW.

[EDIT] The Eb in the ebay auction might be USSR - I'm asking a Russian friend if she can tell from the stampings.

Okay, thanks for the feedback. If you have had a good experience with this type of horn, for around $250 it might be worth the gamble.

sousaphonehero wrote:Okay, thanks for the feedback. If you have had a good experience with this type of horn, for around $250 it might be worth the gamble.

I haven't played an Eb like the one in the auction and was lucky to snag a BBb (from the same seller) that was complete and in surprisingly good condition in that price range. I didn't expect to like it as much as I do.


What had me looking for one was this video of Wolfgang Rabensteiner playing a similar instrument. The one I acquired looks identical except that it isn't nickel plated.

bloke wrote:very low cost for a striking decorator piece..

Look how much those American Pickers guys ~claim~ that people pay for old rusty signs.

I'll take that as a "no" from bloke...

I had one and loved it, but the valves were just too far gone. I couldn't get any repair person to touch it for love nor money (and I was ready to throw some at it).

Sold it as I needed the space.

If I still had it, I would drop new rotors in it at not inconsiderable expense. It had a big sound and was pretty compact.

I mean, tuning was all over the place if you let the instrument take the steering wheel...

bigtubby wrote:I haven't played an Eb like the one in the auction and was lucky to snag a BBb (from the same seller) that was complete and in surprisingly good condition in that price range. I didn't expect to like it as much as I do.


What had me looking for one was this video of Wolfgang Rabensteiner playing a similar instrument. The one I acquired looks identical except that it isn't nickel plated.

That's a big-a$$ helicon!