Cimbasso prototype in action

Sam Gnagey · Post by **Sam Gnagey** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:42 am

The Verdi BBb upright appears to be a "dual bore" instrument with a larger bore of cylindrical tubing after the valve section and before the final flare. That's what I intend to do with subsequent cimbassi that I build.
After taking stock of what it will take in parts and labor I think that I can build 4-valve cimbassi for $2850 and the 5-valves for $3450.
I'm not convinced that the 5th valve on a cimbasso is at all necessary. It seems from the opera parts that I've encountered that the 4 valve horns are quite adequate. Range on a couple of them seems to indicate that Verdi was writing with a 3-valve Bb (not BBb) instrument in mind. Others seem to be for a 3-valve F. There certainly would have been no benefit from having a 5th valve on my Eb for what I had to play last week on it.

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 12:19 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:I've got one of these strange Italian basses (made by Orsi):

It's in Eb and has a tiny 0.495 bore and takes a tenor-shank trombone mouthpiece. For the bore size, it's surprisingly free-blowing, but takes some real technique getting a good sound down in the lower register.

I can't be sure even what the "authentic" idea of a cimbasso is (maybe a six-valve bimbonifono is also a cimbasso?), but the examples I've seen all have fairly small bores.

And this one has the amazing ability to suspend itself from a (rug covered) ceiling.

Jay Bertolet · Post by **Jay Bertolet** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:27 pm

On an Eb cimbasso, just having the 5th valve to play the Ab below the staff is worth it for me. Plenty of those in the repertoire. Besides, I find it pretty interesting to monkey around with the cimbasso on stuff that it wasn't intended for like solos and the like. Makes for pretty interesting sight reading.

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 4:44 am

I've got one of them home-built jobbies, too. It's in Eb, and I cobbled the bell together from a french horn bell and sheet brass. This thing works great!

Sam Gnagey · Post by **Sam Gnagey** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:18 am

Jay has a valid point about the usefullness of the 5th valve for the Ab if you don't have a first slide to pull. My horn has a long enough 1st slide that is accessable to pull to bring the Ab in tune. Even the low F is workable that way. It does not have a low E-natural. I'd be interested in knowing more about your horn, Jay. Any chance for you to post a picture and details for us?

Jay Bertolet · Post by **Jay Bertolet** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 4:30 pm

I'd be happy to post photos and information regarding my cimbasso. However, I don't have webhosting space set up for the photos. Perhaps someone would agree to post them for me if I emailed them?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:45 am

bloke wrote:Here's a nice F cimbasso for someone...

...only need a "little bit" of work, and on eBay right now!

Looks almost like a bimbonifono! Wonder if it is.