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Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:19 pm
by bort
I don't know, but it looks like it'd be a fun little tuba to pick up...if it stays around $300.
Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:15 pm
by Donn
Bob1062 wrote:Is it just a Giant with less bell flare?
Yes.
Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:40 am
by Donn
Bob1062 wrote:I remember there was one posted on here some time ago that had a similar size bell, but different proportions-
Right, it's smaller.
Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:33 am
by Donn
LJV wrote:Seller is Sam Gnagey.
uh oh - is this tuba in mortal danger, or what? Come forth ye who value Eb tubas. I suppose if he takes his Eb bells from tubas that aren't practically salvageable, it speaks well for this one that he hasn't taken the torch to it ... yet.
Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:37 pm
by DavidK
Sam can give you the ultimate insider info. Condition of instrument, specs, etc..
It is a good optical illusion. The eye wants to 'make' the horn seem like a big 5/4 or 6/4 horn. The proportion of the bell to the body would make it appear to be a larger tuba, as if the bell diameter was 20 inches. This is a modest sized Eb with a nice bore size for an American Eb horn of the non-Monster Eb variety.
Re: Is this a mid-sized Conn?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:35 pm
by Donn
Auction title: "Vintage C. G. Conn Monster Eb Tuba"
Text excerpts: "... monster sized Eb tuba ... someone looking for a big sounding Eb tuba."
I can't verify that the seller is Mr. Gnagey, but if it is, I wouldn't argue with him. If it isn't, I still wouldn't argue with him - it's very clearly a monster size, the only modest sized thing on it is the bell flare.
(Speaking here about tuba 1, pictured in the first post in this thread.)
My ca. 1926 Pan American Eb Giant Bass looks just like this (though with top valves and much shinier), but with a couple inches extra bell flare. It is what it intends to be, a contrabass tuba in Eb, and there's something about such a big, short package that makes it so responsive and sweet sounding, that I'm quite hung up on it, even though my big sousaphone is much more comfortable to play (usually standing) and its range and intonation are more dependable. They're supposedly made for an Eb player to serve as the only tuba in the band, and I think that is indeed their ideal role - the insecure intonation could be annoying in a section, and the expressive qualities and colorful tone wouldn't be much use.