Marzan's Copper Sander CC Tuba Back on the Market

[ValveSmoke]

Just a quick note for those that may be interested that I'm going to skinny down my tuba supply and offer to part ways with what was originally Fred Marzan's copper CC shortly. It will probably be listed on eBay within the next couple of days.

[bort]

[Tom Coffey]

Did it ever get listed ? I have not seen it.

[ValveSmoke]

Thanks for checking. The plan is to post it later today and have it up for about nine days. I've been struggling over whether to start the minimum bid at $20k or $35k.

[Cameron Gates]

Kit,

Do the right thing and put that horn in the car, drive to Bend, and give it to me. In return I will give you the family cat.

[ValveSmoke]

Dude! I didn't realize you were in Bend. Welcome back to Oregon. Does your trade offer include a litter box?

[bort]

I can't imagine how *dark* that must sound. How is the projection on it?

When I see this, I think of two words: "damn!" and "extreme!"

[edsel585960]

I can't imagine how *dark* that must sound. How is the projection on it?

When I see this, I think of two words: "damn!" and "extreme!"

I just drool when I see it.

[Dubby]

I could take out a student loan for this. Hmmm seriously a beautiful horn

[Cameron Gates]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sander-CC-4-Val ... SwsFpWShrp" target="_blank" target="_blank

Linky to Ebay auction.

For you newbies, this horn caused quite a stir last time it was available. Check it out if you have not seen it before. Even though I have never seen this instrument in person, I will vouch for the seller being an actual human being and extremely good tuba player. Just kinda of an ugly guy.

Someone is going to get a gem I'll bet.

[bort]

Can you please post a picture with the upright bell attached?

[HuffPuffTuba]

Any recordings of this tuba in action?

Edit: Found one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StGqlSTQzl8

[HuffPuffTuba]

So, is this tuba more of a collector's item or an actual performance tuba?

[HuffPuffTuba]

So, is this tuba more of a collector's item or an actual performance tuba?

I doubt a "collector's item" would be represented as it has been in this thread and others.

Ok thanks.

[bort]

I think it's both. Frankly, its too much bling for me, even if I wanted it and it played amazingly well for what I needed, I'd probably never feel comfortable with it, because its too showy. In that way, its a collector's item. However, it would be awesome to see it used on a regular basis, it looks amazing.

FWIW, it seems appropriate that it is an immodest tuba, as I had heard that Fred was an immodest man.

[ValveSmoke]

Apologies for not checking this post more regularly. I didn't realize there were some questions floating around.

First, Cam is mostly correct about the ugly part. The rest of his post is suspect.

In regards to projection, it works well for the jazz stuff that I do and I generally don't need to mike the horn, even in a larger venue where the other instruments have electronic reinforcement and the style we play is by nature gregarious. That said, I have had no opportunity to perform on it in an orchestral setting where it is supporting a large ensemble. Someone asked me offline how it compares to modern CC tubas. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I don't have any to compare it to. I found that the sound is rich and consistent and I don't seem to have to worry about overblowing the horn.

The horn was used regularly for the past eight years. Great comments from the audience always, but often they are swayed visually as much as aurally, and seldom are they experts in the nuance of how a tuba "should" sound or how it might sound in a different setting.

I'll try to get around to adding a photo to the eBay post with the upright bell attached. Frankly, I only used the upright bell twice since I purchased it.

[The Big Ben]

Is this horn copper or copper-plated brass?

[ValveSmoke]

I don't know the metallurgy. It has always been presented as a "copper" horn from the time I purchased it from the Marzan estate. My suspicion is that it cannot be pure copper as I think that it would be too soft a metal to hold shape. I suspect that it is brass with a higher than usual copper content (sort of like a red brass bell on a trumpet or trombone), and then lacquered to boot.

[ValveSmoke]

Following up on the request for a photo with the upright bell...this has now been added to the eBay post...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sander-CC-4-Val ... 1712692657" target="_blank?

[Donn]

My suspicion is that it cannot be pure copper as I think that it would be too soft a metal to hold shape. I suspect that it is brass with a higher than usual copper content (sort of like a red brass bell on a trumpet or trombone), and then lacquered to boot.

Beyond red brass, some trombones get copper bells - Conn calls that Coprion, on my Reynolds it's Bronz-o-lyte but (as this was their bass trombone) with much more copper than the bronze alloy they used in smaller trombones. 100%? Can't say that for sure, but far more than just red brass. Has held up OK for half a century.