Orsi F tuba

[Chuck(G)]

I've got a nickel-plated Orsi Eb that looks like that--very small 0.500 bore, 13" bell, takes tenor-shank trombone mouthpiece. I'd characterize mine as more of an upright valve bass trombone.

Intonation is "interesting".

[Chuck(G)]

Well, mid-tenor-trombone/euphonium range is pretty good, but the low (tuba) end tends to be very very sharp. But then, I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to play something like this much below the staff.

It's a peculiar beast.

[Donn]

I've got a nickel-plated Orsi Eb that looks like that--very small 0.500 bore, 13" bell, takes tenor-shank trombone mouthpiece. I'd characterize mine as more of an upright valve bass trombone.

I believe I have seen it (without the nickel) in Klaus' pictures, where it's a "cimbasso".

I have an Orsi Eb that's a little bigger - bell is 14 or 15", and generally is more in the tuba family, though not a big tuba by any means. Its intonation is OK. I played it only last night in practice, but can't say for sure from memory if it's fatter than the F. The F doesn't look as skinny as yours, to me.

[Chuck(G)]

Like I said, this is a little guy with a tenor-shank receiver. The leadpipe tuning slide is reversible. That F might be a little bigger; it's hard to tell.

When I wrote Romeo Orsi with the photo of the thing, they called it a "cimbasso" also. So mine is probably more of the trombone family than the tuba family.

[Chuck(G)]

Have you thought about using it in the quintets you mentioned awhile ago (the ophicleide thing)?

Yup. I'm going try a euphonium first and then the Orsi thingamajig after that.

It's not the weirdest thingamajig that I have. Here's a photo of a BBb Finke thingamajig with 9" bell and 0.550 bore next my 3400S:

[Chuck(G)]

And I think you win the "small Eb" contest; I bet the pedals on the little Eb are raspy as all get out!

On a 6 1/2 AL tenor mouthpiece? Yeah, it's a little challenging...