St. Pete is Making a C

danzfat · Post by **danzfat** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:20 pm

http://tubaexchange.com/product-detail.asp?PID=STP-209N" target="_blank
Looks like great horn can't wait to hear some feed back on it.

BriceT · Post by **BriceT** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:44 pm

Wow impressive looking horn. Almost looks like a PT-6!

PWtuba · Post by **PWtuba** » Sat May 03, 2008 1:21 pm

Wish they had a few more pics of it. I just sold my St. Pete 202N. It served me well for the four years I had it. They're good horns, I'm sure the CC will be no exception.

Rommel72 · Post by **Rommel72** » Sat May 03, 2008 2:27 pm

I played the C at TMEA in February. I was not really that impressed with it. The 5th valve was at an awkward angle and not really comfortable to play. The horn play alright, but when trying to play in the louder dynamics, the horn would sometimes rattle. Hopefully they have fixed these issues and will have a good product.

Rommel

T. J. Ricer · Post by **T. J. Ricer** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:52 pm

I got to play the prototype and a couple of the first ones back in Tennessee when Sande MacMorran was helping to develop the model. If the prototype is any indication, this is going to be a great tuba, especially at that price.

--T. J.

kingconn · Post by **kingconn** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:07 am

The first prototypes came along when I was doing repair work full time at Brook Mays, and they played terrible. Vince knew that I liked piecing together old horns and knew a little about acoustics. So I took a couple of the prototypes and figured out that the bore was too large mostly through he 2nd and 3rd branches. When the horn played stuffy they had tried to open up the bore after the valve set as well. I took one horn and made and changed pieces until played pretty well but now the 3rd partial instead of being flat like it was ,was now sharp. I knew I was on the right track so all I had to do was split the difference. That 4 valve horn was the one that Sande had and Gene Pokorny played with the Chicago Symphony.

Toad Away · Post by **Toad Away** » Sun May 04, 2008 11:34 am

It appears that the tuning slide extends below the bottom bow, which would be a big problem for anyone who plays with the horn in his lap.

What's up with that?

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:07 pm

DP wrote:I wonder if that dealer will offer to take my old horn as a trade in, I hear he does that for lots of us old guys and I ain't getting any younger and that big giant heavy horn is hard to carry! Plus now-a-days I worry about the 4 pistons on the front of it, I used to like them but that was the style at the time, like the big 20" bell. Plus I hear they aren't making this tuba in Wisconsin anymore so where could I get spare parts for it? I hear that rotary tubas have perfect pitch and that'd help ever since the howitser accident did something funny to my hearing

wut?

Mojo workin' · Post by **Mojo workin'** » Sun May 04, 2008 11:05 pm

It appears that the tuning slide extends below the bottom bow, which would be a big problem for anyone who plays with the horn in his lap.

Yes, I noticed this. Those who've played one, is this as much of a problem as it looks?

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:22 am

I have never liked any of the St. Petes I have tried, and I have played about a dozen of them through their various versions. They always struck me as a cheap tuba, meaning a way to get a relatively inexpensive tuba but you get what you pay for. Even the new ones are not much better. Their making a CC strikes me as a waste in that their primary market is HS students or amateurs on a budget (although I still think one is better off buying a good used horn than a new St. Pete) and most of them will not want a CC.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:41 am

Mojo workin' wrote:
It appears that the tuning slide extends below the bottom bow, which would be a big problem for anyone who plays with the horn in his lap.
Yes, I noticed this. Those who've played one, is this as much of a problem as it looks?

My Cerveny F actually is sorta that way. The main slide extends a bit below the bottom bow and I hold it in my lap. However, I'm assuming most players don't sit with their legs together, so there is probably space between your legs for the slide. That happens to be how it works with me. (Though my horn is likely much lighter than the Pete....or maybe not..

)

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:24 pm

pierso20 wrote:
Mojo workin' wrote:
It appears that the tuning slide extends below the bottom bow, which would be a big problem for anyone who plays with the horn in his lap.
Yes, I noticed this. Those who've played one, is this as much of a problem as it looks?
My Cerveny F actually is sorta that way. The main slide extends a bit below the bottom bow and I hold it in my lap. However, I'm assuming most players don't sit with their legs together, so there is probably space between your legs for the slide. That happens to be how it works with me. (Though my horn is likely much lighter than the Pete....or maybe not.. )

Mine, too, Brooke. When I practice at home, I mostly practice standing up, so there is no problem with the tuning slide. When at rehearsals or performances, a kind sectionmate made me a tuba "boosterseat" for the little F. His craftsmanship was quite nice, and it lifts the horn up so that the mouthpiece at the right height and allows one hand free to work slides (4th and 5th are in perfect position). If a horn is a good one, the tuning slide thing isn't a problem. An added bonus, though,(at least with the Cerveny F) is that the main tuning slide is within easy reach through the horn, if you feel so inclined to make such an adjustment while performing.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Mon May 05, 2008 7:06 pm

Something I love about that tuning slide too though, is how LONG it is. Even if the temperature dives or boosts during a performance, you don't have to worry because you have tons of room to work with. But position isn't bad on such a little guy.

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Tue May 06, 2008 8:57 pm

My YFB-621 has always posed a problem - my left thigh used to push in the main tuning slide all the time, as well as activating the water key. Fixed it with an Amado and a quick release stop rod I built. Never figured out why Yamaha never worked to correct this...

J.c.S.

k001k47 · Post by **k001k47** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:02 am

Has anyone played or decided to buy one of these from the Tuba Exchange yet?

jeopardymaster · Post by **jeopardymaster** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:16 am

Tried it at ITEC yesterday. Is it in production now? I didn't think to ask. Played OK but for me but not that memorable. I was slightly more impressed with the Jupiter piston CC at the WWBW room down the hall.

I think both are in an awkward niche. They're priced high enough that you can find comparable or better used horns for the same or less, or pay just a bit more and get a better (and better supported?) new one. Maybe that will correct if/when the US Dollar gets its mojo back. Meanwhile, though, Sam Gnagey's creations are still a best buy - at least from my knothole.

Also had my first taste of Fafner, Norwegian Star and Firebird. Now those are impressive!

Jesse Brook · Post by **Jesse Brook** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:58 pm

I played the St. Petersburg CC at ITEC as well. The St. Pete was a good horn, but it's biggest enemy was right in the room with it: a used B&S Neptune. The St. Petersburg played well, and all, but there was no way it could match the value of the tuba right across the room from it.

It was very controllable, and very light, too. I was more impressed by it's response in the forte-to-fortissimo range than I was by the Jupiter, which cracked quickly past forte. The horn felt solid.

I guess this is the horn that you buy if you want new, but don't want to pay new prices. I'd make a comparison with a Lada, but that's not at all fair to this pretty-good tuba.

David Zerkel · Post by **David Zerkel** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:52 pm

I played this horn at ITEC and thought that it really played quite well. I would have no reservations recommending it as a choice for a student on a budget.

Cheers,
DZ

ekwjr · Post by **ekwjr** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:52 am

Just ordered one, will be here Friday June 19th. Will let you all know how it plays, got a killer deal on the price!!

ekwjr · Post by **ekwjr** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:55 am

Just ordered a 209N, will be here Friday. Will Let you know how I like it.

TubeNet

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