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Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:33 pm
by Wyvern
What a sexy looking tuba case - I like it!
If the tuba was made in 1994, that would surely make it too early to be Chinese? The unusual angle the leadpipe entering the 1st valve could give a good clue to the manufacturer.
Could it be by a small German firm which do not usually export?
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:59 pm
by cjk
It looks like one of those VMI/B&S stencils but the pictures aren't good enough to tell.
The case for my B&S F tuba has a similar odd shape.
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:12 am
by WilliamVance
Seems theres more of a fucus on taking pictures including the case/bag than the horn... I vote for Cerveny. Looks like it could be a great horn, but you never know until you actually try it.
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:55 am
by Dan Schultz
Neptune wrote:..... If the tuba was made in 1994, that would surely make it too early to be Chinese? ..... Could it be by a small German firm which do not usually export?
Huh?? .... The Chinese have been making tubas for much earlier than 1994. The Sanders tubas that the folks in Detroit distributed were made in China. I think the horn in question is most certainly of Asian origin. There's a faint chance that it's Czech, but I seriously doubt it.
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:01 am
by Wyvern
Kurt, If you would like to email the pictures to me, I will put up.
Jonathan
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:32 am
by Wyvern
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:37 pm
by Dan Schultz
bloke wrote:.... edit: At this point, does Kurt understand or not understand that I believe that the tuba he is looking at is Chinese?
DITTO DITTO DITTO. Sorry, Scoob.... I don't mean to be augumentive, but the Sanders 'Imperial' (Chinese) tubas have been around for longer than you think. In fact, they are a definite fore-runner of the Chinese tubas we are seeing today. Unfortunately, they weren't much better.
Re: Tuba of even to the seller unknown make
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:25 pm
by WakinAZ
Belltrouble wrote:...cheap idea to lower that leadpipe,the mouthpiece sits nearly above my forehead,not only in front of it.......
Kurt,
Try a stand or rest (K&M, BBC, etc.): cheaper than a leadpipe adjustment and won't screw up the horn. I would only trust the best repair tech you know to do the leadpipe adjustment.
Eric
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:38 am
by Dan Schultz
Scooby Tuba wrote: No, they haven't been around as long as you have sometimes suggested (I don't consider mid-80s much earlier... If I did, I'd have to admit I'm....OLD!!!), but they were some of the first. Sanders Imperials were made by Cerveny first...
Sorry Scoob.... I REALLY wasn't trying to be argumentive... but I misunderstood you when you said that the Sanders Imperials were more recent... by 'more recent', I assumed it to mean within the last ten years or so when we began seeing so darned many of the imports under many different names. Mid-80's is probably a good date.
However, now that the picture of the horn has been posted by Neptune..... judging from the configuration of the thumb-ring back-plate and the style of braces... the horn appears to be of B & S/VMI origin or a copy thereof. Of course, someone could have always changed the thumb-ring. The fact that the valve tubing ferrules are plain is interesting, too! I think I'm going to have to recant my vote and say that I think the horn was probably made in what was then called the GDR.... not China as I previously voted.
Someone mentioned the name 'Sonora'. The tubas that I've seen with that name were made by B & S/VMI and were produced in the 70's.... along with other names like Carl Wunderlich and Gerhart Schneider.... several years before the Asian copies began to appear. Those tubas are nice little secrets. Ed Stregge has had one at auction for months with no takers.
There are certainly a lot of horns floating around out there that promote a lot of questions.
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:25 pm
by Dan Schultz
bloke wrote: IT'S CHINESE.
No need to shout!
You're probably right
I DID say probably
Maybe I'll go work on an oboe or something... for punishment!
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:48 pm
by cjk
Scooby Tuba wrote:I think still think bloke is right (13...).
That aside...
The Chinese have actually picked something pretty smart to copy in these. The B&S/Sonora/etc. was a copy of an Alexander design that by happy coincidence(?) was MUCH more in-tune than most of the originals were....
I agree that they picked an outstanding instrument to copy.
However, what actual proof do you have that the B&S/Sonora/whatever is a copy of an Alexander design
other than pictures that look similar?
