CL Denver: 4v BBb Helicon

[Donn]

"switch to change to key of A" ... must be this thing

[humBell]

This is kind of cool. Anyone recognize the make?

http://denver.craigslist.org/msd/5098552764.html

Though it has since been taken down, it looked to me like the BBb version of the picture in wikipedia's Helicon article.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... r-Graz.jpg

But of course with that BBb-A adjuster? I'm still curious what situation called for that? And it had what i'd describe as a sardine can key neck.

[Alex C]

It is most likely an adjustment for high pitch / low pitch. I've seen a Cerveny helicon with that setup, it's not common.

[humBell]

It is most likely an adjustment for high pitch / low pitch. I've seen a Cerveny helicon with that setup, it's not common.

Thanks!

It turns out a college friend got this tuba on my behalf. I'd noticed it, and figured it was as good an excuse as any to get in touch with an old friend, expecting him not to have time or inclination to pick it up. Now i'm obliged to make a road trip at some point to pick it up. And in my humble experience, any reason for a road trip is a good reason.

How variable is high pitch and low pitch? The first link i saw looking it up seemed to indicate that at the standardization of a 440, that was pretty close to low pitch, but this adjustment valve would indicate that at the time (or at least the circumstances) this was made for, high pitch was closer to 440...

Anyway, i'll keep wondering about high/low pitch, but i probably won't think about this Helicon until halfway through the undetermined road trip. And that thought will likely be how to pack it...

[Donn]

I don't doubt that pitch standards varied a little, even in the 20th century after attempts to standardize. But if you're wondering whether it could have gone so far that the difference would be a half step ... I don't think so. Standard A 440, high A 452, standard Bb 466. Anything is possible, you never know what a seller is going to come up with, but if someone actually played that thing and checked the pitches, it would be hard to mistake a 452->440 extension sharp Bb to standard Bb, for a standard Bb to A.

In any case, don't remember much about what it all looked like, but I bet a quarter the extension was added later - and removing it would probably be an improvement.

[humBell]

I don't doubt that pitch standards varied a little, even in the 20th century after attempts to standardize. But if you're wondering whether it could have gone so far that the difference would be a half step ... I don't think so. Standard A 440, high A 452, standard Bb 466. Anything is possible, you never know what a seller is going to come up with, but if someone actually played that thing and checked the pitches, it would be hard to mistake a 452->440 extension sharp Bb to standard Bb, for a standard Bb to A.

In any case, don't remember much about what it all looked like, but I bet a quarter the extension was added later - and removing it would probably be an improvement.

I pretty sure your quarter's safe. From the picture above, the joints from the rest of the instrument to that valve are not reinforced.

Will ponder the high/low pitch question for a little while, and probably poke around on the internet, and i still feel i don't understand it, will open a thread on that subject if i think it would be useful.