Who's got a cimbasso?

Dan Satterwhite · Post by **Dan Satterwhite** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:17 pm

So, who here's got a cimbasso?
Do you only use it cimbasso parts, or other stuff too?

Rudi Meinl F. I use it for cimbasso parts and occasionally brass ensemble and trombone choir.

Ideallic other uses -
-I'd get called for cimbasso parts for all the local orchestras (cough shoe-in cough )!

unless you're already the tuba player in these groups, good luck! Many groups will have their tuba player play a cimbasso part on tuba rather than hire a cimbasso player and make the tubist sit it out.

-concert band
-brass quintets
-trombone choir
-Eb part in a brass band?!

Brass quintet, maybe...especially anything that you might want to play on bass trombone. Trombone choir, yes. The other types of groups would probably laugh and ask you where your tuba is!

What's the cheapest decent cimbasso out there? Kalison, MW?

unless you find the deal of the century (and due to the fact that used instruments are now priced like real estate, rather than used cars), expect to pay $5000+ for a used cimbasso.

How does a Cerveny compare to a bigger horn?

Not even close.

Dan

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:03 pm

In the Columbus Day parade in Chicago last week there was what the announcer called an Italian Wind Ensemble from Italy and he was making a big deal out of the fact that they don't march and had to borrow Sousaphones for the parade.

What caught my eye however was a guy marching in the middle of the group playing a Cimbasso!

Sam Gnagey · Post by **Sam Gnagey** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:03 am

I use mine for Verdi, Pucinni and other composers who have written for it. This is the 5-valve Eb that I made:

I also have one in F.

prototypedenNIS · Post by **prototypedenNIS** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:25 am

what kind of euph was that?

jeopardymaster · Post by **jeopardymaster** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:41 pm

I played that one, as well as one in F, when I visited Sam back in July. As I recall, he told me that he had used a DEG marching baritone and some sousaphone valves, among other things.

They both play really well, particularly the F - better than a lot of F tubas I've tried.

Sam Gnagey · Post by **Sam Gnagey** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:25 pm

Just some clarification on my previous post with the picture of the Eb cimbasso. My partner and I made that horn for LV who is a familiar here. He kindly sent us the picture which he took. It now belongs to Phil Sinder. Jeopardymaster actually played my prototype 4-valve Eb horn when he was here and a 5-valve F. I use King 2341 valve sets, Meinlschmidt rotors and Bach marching baritone bell sections; all being more or less modified as necessary for this purpose. The resultant horns come very close to being a larger equivalent in dimension to the Bach 50B bass trombone.

kingrob76 · Post by **kingrob76** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:09 pm

Bob1062 wrote:What does one look for in a cimbasso?

Generally speaking, adequate cover or an easily accessible escape route

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:02 pm

Here's another home-built Eb (mine)

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:51 pm

Bob1062 wrote:Is that a bass trombone bell?

Nope. The last 15cm is a french horn bell, and I hard soldered the rest of the bell together from sheet brass.

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:56 pm

Bob1062 wrote:Why did you choose Eb?

Cuz that's the valve section I had laying around.

I also use it on my Eb tuba, and add longer loops for CC project horns.

Sam Gnagey · Post by **Sam Gnagey** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:29 pm

In the instruments that I've built there is an appreciable difference in sound between the Eb and F. The Ebs have a slightly darker, heavier sound. The Fs seem to have a bit more "bark" to them. There is very little difference between the two in response.
I tried a Rudy Meinl CC for a while and felt that it was not as nimble as I wanted. I also tried the BBb that was on exhibit at ITEC in Denver. It needs some more development for sure. I think there's just too much cylindrical tubing in the CC and BBb to feel good.
It seems that F and Eb work best for cimbassi in general. A 5-valve F covers everything quite well.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:23 pm

So what is a cimbasso--really?

Is it a contrabass trombone? Does the bell have to point forward? What is it that makes a thing a cimbasso and not a trombone?

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:56 pm

You mean this one?

Custom Yamaha F Jimbasso

Yamaha F Cimbasso. Made from Yamaha 621 F tuba parts by Keiji Sone. Shaped like a large euphonium with trombone like bell. Sometimes called the Tubasso or Jimbasso. (One of a kind). (I use a special Yamaha F Tuba mouthpiece on this cimbasso).