686 vs. 681

[sailn2ba]

The Cerveny 686 and 681 appear to differ only in bell diameter. Is that true? What difference might one expect in playing characteristics?

[Matt Walters]

The Cerveny BB686-4PRX does indeed have a bigger bell flair with a nickel silver rim. It comes with a nickel silver "J" bow between the 4th rotor and main tuning slide area. After the leadpipe, the "J" branch is typically the second area to rot out. So, nickel silver is a long term help there. The 686 gets pretty engraving lines in the ferrules plus full nickle silver inner and outer slide tubing (harder to hold tolerances longer). Also, the valve casings are harder nickel silver instead of brass. The most important thing that the 686 gives you is the upgraded double Minibal linkage system that is about a $300 aftermarket upgrade. So for about the price of a 681 and replacing the linkage, you can have the extra bells and whistles with the 686.
We're lucky that the Amati USA / Cerveny warehouse is 40 minuttes from our store here in New Jersey and I have talked to those guys a lot. To keep our costs down, I can swing by there in the morning and pick up 2-3 tubas and save a lot of shipping costs.
It boils down to this. Cerveny is no longer the cheap tuba on the market. So, they've taken to improving the fit, finish, and features of their product. They still offer a stripped down (681) horn because a savings of $300 each to a band program buying 6 tubas means they can also get at least one extra Euphonium.

[wagtuba]

Matt: How abouth the sound? projection between those two?

[jon112780]

I really like my 686 CC. In my last orchestra concert I used it for Act 3 of Lohengrin and Pines of Rome. Usually I play my 983 Eb for 'most everything', but it was just easier to bring one horn for that concert. By the second rehearsal, half the basses were using earplugs on the right side.

On my horn I received longer 8" slides for the 5th valve from Matt Walters and the 5th is now the standard flat whole step.

My only problem (preference actually), is that I really prefer pistons and might be up for a possible trade in the future. It's odd, but I actually play euphonium more than CC...

[pierso20]

It's odd, but I actually play euphonium more than CC...

please say it isn't so.....

I'd trade...but it'll consist of my nothing for your horn.