A 'Schillaphone 1291' BBb copy?

[MartyNeilan]

I haven´t tried on saturday,the last day again but I´m pretty sure that the crowds may have taken some efforts to destroy it completely.unfortunately the Jinbao people didn´t even have some piston valve oil handy so the pistons finally may have seized up...

ANY new /tight pistons will seize up if not regularly lubricated every time the instrument is played. There have been many nightmare stories of Yamaha pistons binding due to the extremely tight tolerance, often only fixed by a competent lapping.

[Dan Schultz]

I haven´t tried on saturday,the last day again but I´m pretty sure that the crowds may have taken some efforts to destroy it completely.unfortunately the Jinbao people didn´t even have some piston valve oil handy so the pistons finally may have seized up...

ANY new /tight pistons will seize up if not regularly lubricated every time the instrument is played. There have been many nightmare stories of Yamaha pistons binding due to the extremely tight tolerance, often only fixed by a competent lapping.

I know Kurt's (belltrouble) comments were from last year. But... some may not know that Kurt Klingspor passed away last Christmas season. He was a good friend.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1371152044

[naplesbobT]

Dan, "The Village Tinker" is correct, about the tuning faults. However, here is a short summary of my experience with the Schillers". My main instrument is the euph. I play a Besson "Prestige", and love the horn. Best one of my long playing career, and I have played many. I play in a number of bands, including a pro band in Florida, and our band comes up short on a tuba sometimes. So I wanted to be able to double to help out the band. I did not want to spend mega bucks on a new horn. So I ended up buying a Schiller. Got the horn, and it played 1/2 tone sharp. Fellow tubist from the Canadian Armed Forces Band, said he solved the problem with a new, longer, tuning slide, got Laab to get me one, and after a tremendous amount of time to get it into the U.S., it, fully extended, still play 15 cents sharp. Ended up getting them to agree to exchange for a new horn. Worked with a fellow over the phone to test intonation (which mea culpa, I should have done the first time) and lo and behold it tunes perfectly. So much
for quality control. The horn is a compact model, American Heritage (AH) BBb, 4 piston, 1 rotary (listed as compensating?), 18.5 in. bell, large bore, brass laquer with silver trim. Tremendous sound, very heavy. The best I can determine it is a knock-off of the Miraphone 191. The 191, per the Woodwinds Brass catalog goes at 18K, full retail, without mpc and case. I realize you can dicker and knock this down about 40%. The Schiller is less than 1/2 that reduced cost, landed, with case and mpc. So, in my case, I should have handled the first part of the deal differently, again Mea Culpa, but I ended up with a horn, that for the cost, and my purpose I am pleased with. It is a beautiful horn, big, full sound that would fill a hall. Play before you buy, and be picky, and you will be satisfied.