Cimbasso Bell Question

[Kevin Miller]

First of all, I have never had the chance to hear a cimbasso in action, but a basic question vexes me.

Factory cimbassos I've noticed are equipped with the narrow flare bass trombone type bells. The homemade ones I've seen are mostly equipped with baritone/marching baritone bell sections. Would not the different bells produce patently different tones? Is there a standard timbre that is expected of the cimbasso? Is it the job of the cimbasso to extend the range of the trombone scoring or is it to produce a singular bass voice to the brass?

WHY DO THESE QUESTIONS TORMENT ME???
I think this question elevates my status in the ranks of tuba nerd-dom

[Dan Satterwhite]

I've never played a "frankencimbasso" like the ones made by Sam Gnagey and others, but I would expect the tone would be more mellow(when playing loud) than a factory cimbasso. Factory axes (like my Rudy Meinl F) do have a much more narrow "bass trombone-like) flare to the bell section, especially about 18 inches back from the end of the bell. I have played on a poor attempt by the Edwards factory to make an F contra, using a marching baritone bugle, and the sound was, in my opinion, too mellow.

As to the function of a cimbasso, when playing traditional italian opera and the like, it serves both as the foundation to the trombone section, and frequently as reinforcement to the bass section in parts where the trombones aren't playing. Here is where a more mellow sound, also easily achievable on a factory cimbasso, is apropriate. However, when playing with the trombone section (the opening of Forza del Destino, for example), some snarl is in order.

Here's what Verdi had to say about the cimbasso in LA STRUTTURA DELL’OPERA E L’ORGANICO STRUMENTALE by Enrico M. Ferrando:

"I would love a bass trombone that is of the family of the othersâ€

[Dan Satterwhite]

I never said that the homemade cimbassos was not well thought out and constructed. My term of "franken" refers to constructing an instrument out of parts scavenged from other instruments. Other than that, if a baritone bugle is being used, then the porportions are not similar to that of a factory cimbasso. The throat is much larger. I'm not saying that it doesn't play well. I'm sure it does, and I would be interested in trying one of these one day.

Dan