New horn!!!

[andrew the tuba player]

Hey. Been a while since i've been here. Well i got a new horn to add to my arsenal. This week i got a brand new conn 52j CC Tuba. It's satin silver with a shiny bell. Beautiful horn. Quite a bit smaller than what i'm used to lol. I'll post pictures as soon as i get a chance.

[UTSAtuba]

Congrats on the new horn, Andrew!

[andrew the tuba player]

Thanks. It maybe next week before i have pics though. Got to go to the U of A band camp tommorrow. Will post pics asap

[andrew the tuba player]

ok. so i finally got the pictures of the horn. I know it was several months ago, but i also know that alot of us enjoy seeing beautiful brass and i must say that this is a great example
(not trying to brag on myself but on CG Conn's craftsmanship).
So here it is.






















And here it is next to my 25J just for comparison.

[Bob Kolada]

So Andy... why the new horn?

[andrew the tuba player]

Well, the 25j is a little big for me right now and I'm trying to get into high school all region/state and college. The 52j is so precise and agile it's crazy. I love my 25j to death, but when it comes down to it, the 52j is my favorite. Plus, i like the CC and the 5 valve combination. Although it's different because both of my past CC tubas (the 186 5uc and the Kalison D.S.) have had the 5th valve= 2-3 combination, and my 52j has the 5th= 1-2. But i like it. It's my favortie so far of all of them. And lastly, I've never had a new horn. Although, it was kind of a kill joy because when the horn arrived from shipping, something had been dropped on it and dented the case, broke the brace on the lead pipe and put a small dent in the side of the bottom bow. Thankfully the brace was fixed and due to satin finsh the dent is hardly noticable. I have just started a new season in community band and it is going very well.

[UTSAtuba]

Plus, i like the CC and the 5 valve combination. Although it's different because both of my past CC tubas (the 186 5uc and the Kalison D.S.) have had the 5th valve= 2-3 combination, and my 52j has the 5th= 1-2.

I'm pretty sure the Kalison DS was not a 2-3 combination. In fact, I believe I own the same Kalison DS you had. It's definitely a flat whole step.

Joseph

[andrew the tuba player]

.

[The Big Ben]

ok. so i finally got the pictures of the horn. I know it was several months ago, but i also know that alot of us enjoy seeing beautiful brass and i must say that this is a great example
(not trying to brag on myself but on CG Conn's craftsmanship).
So here it is.

It's a looker, Andrew! It would be great if you could find a way to keep the 25J. A nice pair of horns.

[andrew the tuba player]

Joesph
sorry. after looking at some old posts i noticed that i was mistaken and the kalison was in the 5th valve=1-2 combination. sorry about that.

[David Richoux]

According to the Conn data sheet, the 52J CC 5th valve is a flat 1 step, not a 1+1/2. Still, a nice looking horn - wish it was also available in BBb!

[sloan]

According to the Conn data sheet, the 52J CC 5th valve is a flat 1 step, not a 1+1/2. Still, a nice looking horn - wish it was also available in BBb!

some think the BBb version (AKA King 2341) is better.

[mdc2d]

According to the Conn data sheet, the 52J CC 5th valve is a flat 1 step, not a 1+1/2. Still, a nice looking horn - wish it was also available in BBb!

Isn't the new King 2341 (vs. the old screw bells) basically the same horn just a BBb version?? Someone correct me if I am wrong. I have played several new 2341's and LOVE them!

[iiipopes]

Other way around: the Conn 5XJ series was developed from the King valve block using older patterns for the bugle and bell, with the 5th valve prototyped by Matt @ Dillon Music.

Matt's prototype, according to all who have gotten to play it, plays great. Unfortunately, cost-cutting and production streamlining ruined the 5th valve circuit in the production models. I have a friend who had significant face time and owned one of each over a few years. Invariably, after trying mods, a M-W circuit, and other tweaking, he just ended up taking the 5th valve off and putting in a straight tube to open up the tubas for a more consistent blow, especially in the low register.

[Bob Kolada]

According to the Conn data sheet, the 52J CC 5th valve is a flat 1 step, not a 1+1/2. Still, a nice looking horn - wish it was also available in BBb!

some think the BBb version (AKA King 2341) is better.

I like both of them, but for me the 2341 has a more comfortable valve angle and as well of more of the sound I would want out of a full-size contrabass tuba. I'd really like to try the 18" bell Conn though, as I think that'd be a sweet in-the-middle horn.

[andrew the tuba player]

According to the Conn data sheet, the 52J CC 5th valve is a flat 1 step, not a 1+1/2.

yes when the slide is all the way in it is tuned a flat whole step. I on the other hand have my slide pulled way out so the valve is tuned to 1-2 because it is more useful to me that way. sorry for the confusion. and yes it works very well. I've never had any tuning/intonation issues with it. is this a common practice with 5th valves that are tuned a flat whole step?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

yes when the slide is all the way in it is tuned a flat whole step. I on the other hand have my slide pulled way out so the valve is tuned to 1-2 because it is more useful to me that way. sorry for the confusion. and yes it works very well. I've never had any tuning/intonation issues with it. is this a common practice with 5th valves that are tuned a flat whole step?

Interesting. How do you finger low F?

And to answer your question, no...it's not common. Most people leave it as a flat whole step. To make low F 4-5.

[Bob Kolada]

yes when the slide is all the way in it is tuned a flat whole step. I on the other hand have my slide pulled way out so the valve is tuned to 1-2 because it is more useful to me that way. sorry for the confusion. and yes it works very well. I've never had any tuning/intonation issues with it. is this a common practice with 5th valves that are tuned a flat whole step?

Interesting. How do you finger low F?

Maybe 513?

[djwesp]

Maybe 513?

I love ya, bob!

[andrew the tuba player]

well this is weird. I read this and got my horn out and played some notes. Even with my 5th valve tuned to 1-2, I still use 4-5 as my low F fingering and it is perfect in tune with the first valve F right below the staff. So i tried it the other way around (1-2-4) and the F came out as well.

Maybe 513?

by the way, thanks for making me feel uber dumb. After rereading the page i almost went to get my horn out and try this to see what note would come out...then stopped and actually thought about what i was about to do.you almost got me.