I'll give you a topic... Kanstul or no Kanstul

[TubaRay]

I have been hearing some buzz about Kanstul. I am going to make a trip out to wwbw soon and try out some tubas. What do you think of Kanstuls? Or what tuba would you try if you went.

The last question is an extremely easy one. The answer: ALL OF THEM!
(Duh!)

[bort]

If you're going to WWBW, give Roger Lewis a call first. He will make sure that you start off in the right direction for choosing a tuba, and equally as important, make sure that what you want to try will be available at the store to try on the day you're there. Roger is the man!

[geneman06]

I second TubaRay

[tubademon999]

I went to the Kanstul factory/showroom in Anaheim, CA, and played all of their new tubas. I don't know what they've done, but I have completely fallen in love with their new horns. The only tubas that I could think of that I've played that beat them (IMHO) are something like Gronitz, or the really high end tubas ( meinl Baer, HB, etc.)

[Chriss2760]

Ok. My $.02 worth: I went to Kanstul's showroom in May (June?) of 2009. I called ahead, I thought I had an appointment to play horns. I brought my favorite mouthpiece. (Original SSH.) When I got there there the only guy around was one of the shop guys. Said that the regular guys were at some convention with a most of their horns, but that I could play anything that was left. (!) When we finally found some horns to play, I was NOT impressed by either the response of the horns or their design. (I was trying to be objective.) Bottom line, I was way unimpressed. I thought the horns were too big for tubas to be (their wraps are unnecessarily large) and the feel wasn't solid. Found three or four BBb's and a CC. Nothing special. Played a dual rotor bass 'bone that was just ok. I did find a 4v euph that I liked, but I was so turned off that I wasn't in the mood to buy. And I came from Washington State for this. I was NOT amused. They make nice trumpets and stuff, but I bought a Yamaha 621 instead. At least the seller (Alamo Music in San Antonio) was very professional in all aspects of the transaction.
As I said, just my two cents worth.
Chris.

[Ferguson]

Chris, you got there before the new tubas were finished, so the ones you played were the old models, mostly modifications of their previous marching tubas. Trust me when I say that the new York model Kanstul tubas are a huge step up. I'm buying a model 90 CC for myself.

Steve Ferguson

[Tubacube]

I second that! My 33-s should be at my doorstep any day now. I had three days with the 33-s, 33-t, 66-s and 66-t Eb tubas. Without a doubt the warmest sounding tubas I have tried in years. Those York alloy bells have a large throat and a 19" bell. In spite of the .656 bore , the instrument is remarkably free blowing. If you are going to WWBW phone ahead to see if the have one in stock. Ask for the 33' 66' or 90 series tubas the others are older models that are still in production.
Upper register is sweet on these intruments, such a velvety sound. I feel like an expectant father, maybe it will get here by Thursday or Friday, this instrument is well worth the wait!

[The Big Ben]

And I came from Washington State for this. I was NOT amused. They make nice trumpets and stuff, but I bought a Yamaha 621 instead. At least the seller (Alamo Music in San Antonio) was very professional in all aspects of the transaction.

Glad you found a horn you like.

Regarding Kanstul, sisnce you werre going to come such a long distance, did you call ahead to see what inventory was going to be available?

[Tubacube]

When visiting the factory and showroom, you should first check the website kanstul.com and contact Charles Hargett the sales manager, he can arrange a time to visit the showroom, and also tell you about the latest items on display. The new Kanstul Yorks were built late last month and the BBb and EEb and CC should be on display by now. Bring your mouthpiece, you will feel like a kid in a candy shop. Please remember manufacturing means that one month may be just marching instruments , the next may be cornets or trombones, or just custom orders when enough orders accumulate. In otherwords it could take a while to get to the next batch of tubas. Very important call ahead, it can really pay off.

[kanstulbrass]

Ok. My $.02 worth: I went to Kanstul's showroom in May (June?) of 2009. I called ahead, I thought I had an appointment to play horns. I brought my favorite mouthpiece. (Original SSH.) When I got there there the only guy around was one of the shop guys. Said that the regular guys were at some convention with a most of their horns, but that I could play anything that was left. (!) When we finally found some horns to play, I was NOT impressed by either the response of the horns or their design. (I was trying to be objective.) Bottom line, I was way unimpressed. I thought the horns were too big for tubas to be (their wraps are unnecessarily large) and the feel wasn't solid. Found three or four BBb's and a CC. Nothing special. Played a dual rotor bass 'bone that was just ok. I did find a 4v euph that I liked, but I was so turned off that I wasn't in the mood to buy. And I came from Washington State for this. I was NOT amused. They make nice trumpets and stuff, but I bought a Yamaha 621 instead. At least the seller (Alamo Music in San Antonio) was very professional in all aspects of the transaction.
As I said, just my two cents worth.
Chris.

Hi Chris,

I'm sorry I missed you. As sales manager, I am responsible for your experience. It is likely you visited us while our sales team was away at the International Trumpet Guild last spring. When the sales team is gone, the showroom is closed (or at least mostly unavailable) - sorry for the inconvenience.

The tubas that were on hand were older models geared for the school market. At that time we were just beginning the project that grew into our present tuba line.

One of our new tubas, the Model 90-S 4/4 CC "side action" will be at Dillon Music within a couple of weeks. I encourage you to visit them and give it a try.

In the mean time, I want to share a recent development about about these outstanding new tubas:

Last week, Mike Roylance of the BSO played with the CSO on Orchestra Hall stage in Chicago, with Zig Kanstul tuba bell. According to Bob Carpenter (prinicpal, Orlando Symphony), "it transformed the tuba... into what is probably the easiest to play, clearest sounding tuba anywhere. Mike sounded so incredible in the CSO on this tuba. He is a wonderful musician, and every artisitic detail of every note easily discerened with the sound quality sure sounding like the big CSO York to me!! The spirit of Arnold Jacobs emanated through Mr. Roylance."

We're proud of these new tubas and can't wait for the community to see for themselves this week at ITEA in Tucson.

all the best,

[Donn]

Regarding Kanstul, since you were going to come such a long distance, did you call ahead to see what inventory was going to be available?

And did you remember to ask, `are you by any chance coming out with a whole new and improved line-up that will make my trip a waste of time, since I will have had access to only the old ones?'

[Bob Kolada]

That was quite a post Wade (and spot on, imo)!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

That was quite a post Wade (and spot on, imo)!

Huh?

[Donn]

Huh?

Here one moment, gone the next, the Elephant's posts are like that sometimes - fleeting, ephemeral. Who knows, maybe he decided some things are better left unsaid? Or once Bob had read it, it had served its purpose? Decided it didn't meet his editorial standards and didn't have time to fix it? But I'm here to tell you, among those few who have read that post, it will live on in legend - an epic story of struggle, betrayal, injustices remembered for generations.

[kanstulbrass]

Regarding Kanstul, since you were going to come such a long distance, did you call ahead to see what inventory was going to be available?

And did you remember to ask, `are you by any chance coming out with a whole new and improved line-up that will make my trip a waste of time, since I will have had access to only the old ones?'

Ha ha, sarcasm and humor aside, when Chriss2760 visited, the current tuba project was not quite yet even a consideration!

Last summer, we began working with Bob Carpenter (scientist and principal tubist, Orlando Phil) and scientist, tuba enthusiast, and tuba project catalyst Tom Treece, (along with Tubameister Lee Stofer) who came to us with ideas, designs, information and solutions to encourage Zig to pursue this project. Zig's mentor was F.A. Reynolds, who had worked closely with Pop Johnson, the manufacturing lead at York - Zig Kanstul had direct lineage to the original J.W. York and Sons tuba! It was a perfect storm and great opportunity to pursue this project.

[kanstulbrass]

This is as good a place as any to mention, but next week Gene Pokorny will be conducting a Low Brass Seminar at the University of Redlands. He has offered to show/demo/perform on our new tubas. That should tell you something about the quality of Zig's new tubas!

http://www.redlands.edu/x35340.asp

all the best,