Kanstul new F tuba

[kanstulbrass]

The prospect of a really good American-made F tuba is pretty exciting!

When was the last time this happened?

We've been researching this and found that York, King and Conn might have all made a one-off or two back in the day. Our source tells us that, more than likely, those were cut down from Eb's. I've seen a picture of Bill Bell with an F tuba. However, we're pretty certain that the Kanstul is the first production F tuba ever built in the USA!

[jonesbrass]

The prospect of a really good American-made F tuba is pretty exciting!

When was the last time this happened?

We've been researching this and found that York, King and Conn might have all made a one-off or two back in the day. Our source tells us that, more than likely, those were cut down from Eb's. I've seen a picture of Bill Bell with an F tuba. However, we're pretty certain that the Kanstul is the first production F tuba ever built in the USA!

Thank you for making an American F tuba, I can't wait for an opportunity to play one!

[kanstulbrass]

We finally have a beauty shot of the new F tuba.

[J.c. Sherman]

Very hot

J.c.S.

[Mojo workin']

Will there be a 6/4 version of the CC available in the future?

[Ferguson]

The last few F tubas from the Kanstul shop have had some new variations. Some have a removable leadpipe to allow installation of a different leadpipe with an American or European mouthpiece receiver. Now a couple have a fixed leadpipe with a removable threaded insert in the receiver that's available in both shank styles. A few have an all gold brass body, rather than just the bell and bottom bow.

I'm taking 4 Kanstul F tubas to a masterclass by tubist John Van Houten at Ohlone College in Fremont, California this Saturday 10/16/10 . John's class is 10-12, and the tuba testing will be from 1-3. Kanstul's BBb, CC, and Eb tubas, as well as some cornets, tenor horn, and euphoniums will be displayed as well. I'll bring a few German instruments too.

John Van Houten's and Tony Clements' Facebook pages have a copy of the flyer.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/eve ... 3758217562" target="_blank" target="_blank

SF

[bububassboner]

I bought one of these tubas. A long review and pictures to come soon...

[Bob Kolada]

I bought one of these tubas. A long review and pictures to come soon...

Cool! But how different is it from your old Rusk York F ( I want THAT horn!)?

American built F's and Eb's have a lot of interest from me, but those awkward looking valve angles (especially on the F!) and perpendicular valve slides give me pause. I already am dealing with enough "weirdness" on my Kanstul contrabass trombone (though at $6200-ish new it is probably still the best deal on a contrabone regardless). That this F seems to be based off of their "student" C/Bb tubas with a 621-ish valve angle doesn't help much...


Bob"rockin out on his medium (still very small) 3 front valve H. N. White/King Eb tuba"Kolada

[bububassboner]

Cool! But how different is it from your old Rusk York F ( I want THAT horn!)?

It's better in almost every way.

... but those awkward looking valve angles (especially on the F!) and perpendicular valve slides give me pause.

The valve set up is actually a little different than the picture shown above. The thumb ring and the fifth valve paddle are also both adjustable to make things comfy. The slide set up is nice. All on the top, and you can grab more than one at once if ya want to.

... this F seems to be based off of their "student" C/Bb tubas with a 621-ish valve angle...

Nope this horn is nothing like that. I played it against a 621 and it's way more comfy.

Like I said, pictures and review coming soon...

[Tubawaves]

Subject: Kanstul Model 80, F tuba review

{Please note that I do not mean to diminish bububassboner's upcoming review, but rather augment it! I am delinquent in posting the below review..}

On September 18, 2010, I had the opportunity to play the Kanstul model 80 F tuba with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Having just received the instrument a week prior, I had little time to get acquainted with the instrument. The 9/18 concert, as fortune would have it, included works by Verdi, Puccini, as well as pops works with Mariachi Cobre (what a great group!).

What an honor, and an outstanding experience - first notes ever with an orchestra, on a brand new American design, made of materials harkening back to J.W. York!! The blend was outstanding, and the power and sound was clear and full. I found where to put the tuning slides, and away we went! My friend and tuba expert Tom Treece listened and recorded portions of the rehearsal using a Zoom H2 digital recorder out in the hall to help verify our perceptions, thoughts and comments. Note that neither Mr. Treece nor I are employed by Zig Kanstul, but we have been involved with the development of his recent tubas. It is as a user and professional player that I write these comments on the f-tuba.

The first piece was from Verdi's Nabucco...in the key of F#....tuba being the only moving part in the orchestra, playing arpeggios over strong, forte orchestra chords.....what a great test! Every note is clearly heard. Intonation was never a problem, and the tuba was incredibly responsive, nimble, and easy to play at all volumes and ranges. With a powerful, clear, and even sound, the tuba easily balanced the orchestra in the Verdi Aida overture. The blend with the trombones is excellent; I expect in part due to an even overtone series. Comments from the OPO music director, musicians in the orchestra, and listeners in the hall were immediate and positive.

Moving to the concert's second half, the OPO became a "backup band" for Mariachi Cobre. The music was very loud, and this tuba lit up with a "throaty" bass voice for the low brass section. I had played this show before using various J.W York BBb, C, and Eb tubas...but this F is what I will use in the future.

The other instrument I used on a couple of pieces is my 6/4 Holton CC, with a large Kanstul special alloy bell (see photo). Being fortunate to have these two great instruments, it was a purely musical decision to play the F-tuba on many works, due to its appropriateness of color and blend. The CC has an enormous, clear sound in the hall, now that it has the new bell (another story - a post for another time), but the F was the right tuba for most of the pieces on this concert.

Since this concert, I have used the Kanstul F tuba in my quintet, where I typically use a C and/or Eb tuba. I was surprised to find that the timbre and sound of the F tuba seems more appropriate for many of the pieces we were playing. By this time, it was not surprising that the instrument was easy to play, easy to tune, and sounded great.

The valves on this tuba are quiet and flawless, and the design is ergonomic, with all tuning slides easily reached. Some of you will be pleased to know that this tuba plays a D, C#, C, and B below the staff just like a great C tuba plays an A, G#, G, and F#....EASY! No screwy notes anywhere. This tuba is "even" throughout the range. The high range is sweet. This instrument is made with the special alloy bell that Kanstul has been incorporating. With an original design, this F tuba picks up where J.W. York left off.

I believe this is the first ever production F tuba made in the USA, and I am very excited to say that this American made, Kanstul model 80 F tuba is in my opinion, outstanding!

Best regards,

Robert Carpenter

[Pete Link]

Robert,

Fantastic review! I think it's wonderful that you folks took upon the challenge to creating a true American F tuba. Mike has said nothing but great and positive things about it. I'm looking forward to checking it out in the near future.

Cheers

Pete

[k001k47]

Kanstul tubas haven't had too much presence in Texas conventions, but I sure hope they will this year. I really want to give all these new Kanstul horns a toot!

[UTSAtuba]

Noel,

At the TBA Convention this year they had the prototype #1 CC. Did you try it out? It was an amazing horn.

Joseph

[k001k47]

Noel,

At the TBA Convention this year they had the prototype #1 CC. Did you try it out? It was an amazing horn.

Joseph

I wasn't able to attend TBA this passed summer. Have my fingers crossed for more Kanstul horns this year.

[tubalou]

Hi everybody,

Do you know if there's a recording available on youtube or other, to hear how sounds this Kanstul S F tuba?

I'm living in Paris, France, and Kanstul Tubas are not available to be tryed, here. I've to wait until the beginning of April to go to the Frankfurt Musikmesse in order to try one... And I'm very impatient...
So, it would be very appreciable to be able to hear a "foretaste" of this Kanstul's F tuba sound...

Thanks

Jérémie

[tubalou]

No sound? Really?

[Tubacube]

FYI if you are going to CMEA/CBDA/CODA/CAJ all State Conference in Fresno Feb 17-20th, you can try the F Tuba at the Kanstul booth. Bring your mouthpiece. Hope to see you there! Howard Miyata aka tubacube

[Lee Stofer]

I will have two of the Kanstul model 80 F-tubas at the Army Band's Capitol Tuba Conference later this week. I have the prototype #1, a completely hand-made yellow brass instrument, and will be receiving a new production model today, just in time to pack it in the truck and depart tomorrow.

This instrument is a breakthrough in American-style tuba design, larger than the Yamaha 621 but smaller than the 822 or Hirsbrunner piston F's. Although I have not had the opportunity to play one in an orchestra yet, I have played through a number of excerpts with it and think that it is really well-suited to orchestral F-tuba literature, brass quintet and solo work. It has none of the squirreliness of traditional F tubas, and is not so large that you feel like you're playing a contrabass tuba with F-tuba fingerings.

And, do not be fooled by the smallish appearance of any of the Kanstul York-model tubas. The tubas that possess the York-style bells project like no other. A orchestral tuba professional called me this past week, and told me (again) that, although he owns two 6/4 CC tubas and had bought the Kanstul model 90CC tuba to be his brass quintet instrument, the instrument projects so much sound so well that he is now taking it into the orchestra, where it is very well-received.

The Kanstul model 80 F-tuba and the Rudolf Meinl piston F tuba remain my two favorites.