My First F Tuba (Maybe) (Not)

[pierso20]

Very well said! The key is to be happy with your purchase. Just because 5 valves are "better" doesn't mean they may serve your purpose. Definetely get a 5v if it is available at a 4v price, though you will most likely upgrade anyway, so saleability is important.

Good luck with the search!

[PWtuba]

I'm nearly certain that this is a Cerveny, as well. It actually looks a lot like this one: http://www.eng.cerveny.co.at/tuben/f_tu ... 51-4px.php, don't you think?

Gentlemen, I'm pretty sure that this is a B&S tuba. The man selling it is a reputable pro musician/repairman, and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. And it's definitely not the tuba in that picture. The bore on this tuba is .718. The leadpipe is red brass, and is closer to the main tubing at the top. The 1st and 4th slides are positioned differently on this horn as well.

[pierso20]

I'm nearly certain that this is a Cerveny, as well. It actually looks a lot like this one: http://www.eng.cerveny.co.at/tuben/f_tu ... 51-4px.php, don't you think?

Gentlemen, I'm pretty sure that this is a B&S tuba. The man selling it is a reputable pro musician/repairman, and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. And it's definitely not the tuba in that picture. The bore on this tuba is .718. The leadpipe is red brass, and is closer to the main tubing at the top. The 1st and 4th slides are positioned differently on this horn as well.

Well...........I'm not sure what the horn is since it looks like a Cerveny but I can't tell because the pictures don't let me see enough...like the logo..HA!

Anyway, whatever the case.................much of the advice still holds true.


And I'm sure Cerveny did have a revolution 160+ years ago...so let's star it again. It seems the quality is on the rise and price doesn't hurt. Though......I'm not sure I'd spring for a CC because I like my pistons.......and probably because I'm a follower...(piston CC, rotor F)

[pierso20]

I could have sworn there was a 5v piggy for sale here at one point in the past few months. Maybe on another site too...can't exactly remember. You may wanna look a bit..hehe

[Rick Denney]

The finger paddles look distinctly Cerveny/Eastern Europe/Russian. Not like the old B&S paddles that I've seen.

The paddles on my old B&S are quite similar to the paddles that were on my Cerveny Bb tuba of similar vintage. It even has clocksprings. Later paddles have been different on both. I can't conclude anything from that.

I have owned a Musica four-valve F tuba. This doesn't look like it at all. That one had bits that were clearly Amati/Cerveny, including the tall bottom-bow guard, the mouthpiece receiver style, and so on. And thought it's been 18+ years since I traded it away, my recollection is that it had a horizontal main slide. It did say "Made in Austria" on it, but my suspicion is that "assembled in Austria" or "distributed from Austria" would probably be closer to the truth.

Thus, I would be unwilling to assert anything about where this tuba was made.

But I also know that I bought a 5-valve B&S Symphonie, in excellent condition, for the same money only two or three years ago. And I know that maybe 20 years ago I paid $1000 for that Musica F tuba.

Rick "who traded away the Musica because of the limitation of four valves" Denney

[jeopardymaster]

That is a lot of cheese for a 4-valve F. Like Doc, I picked up a 4 valver just to learn to play F tuba, but sure didn't pay so much.

[pierso20]

So, I just noticed scroll bars by the pictures and the bell definetely says "Musica" which is amati/cerveny.....right?????

so......then, not B&S and DEFINITELY not worth 3000...hm....

Unless I have NO clue what I'm talking about....which is a possibility.

[Rick Denney]

Aren't you glad you got that Symphonie?

Uh, yes. It's the only tuba I managed to buy out from under Mike Lynch. That is such an accomplishment that I'm adding it to my resume.

I took it to Bloke for an appraisal, and he pronounced it Good. His play-testing did nothing to undermine that assessment.

I have to admit that I paid about the same for my Yamaha 621, which is just as good for its different purpose. I bought it as a demonstrator at TMEA in maybe 1990 or 1991, after Lee Hipp and Ray Grim pronounced it Good. They were still new and Yamaha was selling them cheap. Not so any more.

Rick "thinking three large should be enough for real F tuba, not a starter F tuba, if you don't mind long teeth" Denney

[Rick Denney]

So, I just noticed scroll bars by the pictures and the bell definetely says "Musica" which is amati/cerveny.....right?????

so......then, not B&S and DEFINITELY not worth 3000...hm....

Unless I have NO clue what I'm talking about....which is a possibility.

"Musica" was a marketing name. Some were indeed made by B&S (who also made Vespro, Meister Gerhard Schneider, F. Schmidt, and a bunch of other stencil names on tubas over the years--even VMI). Some were certainly made by Cerveny or at least assembled from parts made by Cerveny. I know mine was. But mine didn't look like this one. Maybe the couple of intevening decades explains that, maybe not.

Rick "suggesting that you judge it on what it does, not on who made it" Denney

[pierso20]

So, I just noticed scroll bars by the pictures and the bell definetely says "Musica" which is amati/cerveny.....right?????

so......then, not B&S and DEFINITELY not worth 3000...hm....

Unless I have NO clue what I'm talking about....which is a possibility.

"Musica" was a marketing name. Some were indeed made by B&S (who also made Vespro, Meister Gerhard Schneider, F. Schmidt, and a bunch of other stencil names on tubas over the years--even VMI). Some were certainly made by Cerveny or at least assembled from parts made by Cerveny. I know mine was. But mine didn't look like this one. Maybe the couple of intevening decades explains that, maybe not.

Rick "suggesting that you judge it on what it does, not on who made it" Denney

excellent. I never knew that!

And yes, always judge on what it does. I've played enough crap tuba's made by reputable brands and good tuba's made from "crap"....

and by the way, marketing gives me a headache.....

[Rick Denney]

I didn't realize you bought it out from under Mike Lynch.

Neither did I until he mentioned it. Lots of people were oohing and aahing over the Miraphone F tuba prototypes that year, and the B&S just seemed forlorn. And it's not like I was sneaky about it, gathered about six F tubas up in a relatively quiet corner of the Elephant room to try them out and get others to listen for me. And I stood over it while I was thinking about it, radiating ugly vibes on anyone that showed any interest in it. I didn't know Mike was pondering it, too. Was that the year Lee had the Rudy 6/4? Maybe Mike was being forced to make sure nobody put scratches in it, and his attention was diverted.

On the other hand, when I bought the plastic Martin, I was not competing with Mike at all (he was amused, however). But then Art Hovey suggested I'd bought that one out from under him, after talking him out of it.

It can be rough in the Elephant room. We old guys are ruthless. The young'uns should stay away.

Rick "usually not in Mike's league" Denney

[PWtuba]

After some consideration, I'm not buying it. I've decided that I should get a 5v.

One other thing I noticed about it: 1234 valve combination produces an Ab (below the staff), and I thought it should give me a G. It's exactly in tune to an Ab. Is it supposed to be? Are they all that way?