Amati Kraslice BBb helicon opinions, please.

[Walter Webb]

It looks beauteous, this Amati Kraslice, made in '88 in the Czech Republic, and the swarthy dude holding it (how come his moustache is darker than his hair?) seems pleased to have it perched upon his shoulders: but I wonder, is it a keeper?? The bore is 19mm, and the bell 17 and a quarter, give or take a few for the metric system.

Seeing no springs on the outside, I presume they must be inside the rotors, aka clock springs.

I am in the market for a BBb helicon or souzy, preferably with 4 rotors or pistons, in 90% + condition. Does this one fill the bill? And what about buying something from Sofia, Bulgaria on Ebay? OMG, I have reservations... With no hard case, this could be the preview to a horror movie. So many questions...Gimme your gut reactions, if you dare. This is the pumpkin of which I ask: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMATI-KRASLICE- ... 6rk%3D3%26" target="_blank

[PMeuph]

Personally that's more than I would pay for a helicon, but then again that might just be me. If I were you I would look at the Helicon for sale by Noah Gladstone. It's only a 3 valve, but it's much closer to you. A lot less can go wrong if it has to travel less. For me, the benefit of having a fourth valve is not worth the additional weight. (Especially in long gigs standing up...) Then again, that might just be me.

As for the eBayer, he has a very good feedback record so I wouldn't worry about that. Since he uses paypal, you would be covered there too. However, most of his business seems to have been dealing with people in Europe and, as I don't know how the postal system in Bulgaria is, if it is not packed well, you might end up with a damaged Helicon.

[Donn]

Helicon for sale by Noah Gladstone. It's only a 3 valve, but it's much closer to you.

Yes! Closer to you is very good with a contrabass helicon.

Three valves is good (I have an excellent 4 valve sousaphone, which almost certainly has better intonation than this helicon and I would sell it for less, but no one would buy it, because, trust me, no one is stupid enough to carry around a fourth valve on a BBb tuba.)

Piston valves are also good, because they're ergonomically farther outboard. Look at the guy in the picture, forget about his moustache for a minute and look at where his hand is. Not on the valves. Picture his hand working the valves. It isn't awful, on this BBb model, but pistons are definitely going to give you a better hand/arm position. There are some older Červený Kaiser BBb helicons with right-angle valves, but that apparently didn't catch on.

Also arguably on the plus side is the sousaphone style bits. Maybe it isn't the ideal leadpipe, acoustically speaking, but as a consolation you get to put the mouthpiece where your mouth is.

I'd love to have that helicon, don't get me wrong - I might even trade my 40K for it - but I wouldn't pay $3K to have one sent in a cardboard box from Sofia.

[imperialbari]

Please compare to the specs of the current Cerveny BBb helicon, which are different. Either may be best for you depending on your preferences.

Have you done the full calculation? Auction, shipping, import duties, red tape costs?

I have been in Bulgaria. Practices are different there. Another TubeNetter bought a helicon from there a few years ago, but didn’t get an instrument. Fortunately he got his money back from PayPal. I never imported any instrument from Bulgaria and hardly ever will do that.

I have imported instruments in the opposite direction across the Atlantic. But one only should do that, if one wants something very specific not available in ones own country/continent. There are some smaller accessories I would want from the US for my plucked strings, but when the red tape costs alone would make 30% of the final price, then my sense of proportions is badly offended, and I abstain from such deals.

Klaus

[PaulTkachenko]

I have one and it is a million miles away from a sousaphone in the way it plays and sounds. So, make that decision first ...

These are also not amazing instruments at best - they get the job done though. On THIS instrument 4 valves are essential to play the thing in tune. This is not the case with every helicon though.

If you were to buy it, getting a gig bag and a case is an issue (Cerveney do a really basic 'cover' for it and the hard case is huge).

If you play Balkan music (or similar), go and play Dan's horn and consider that. This eBay horn is expensive for what it is.

If you don't - get a sousa - I think in the long run you'll be happier.

I have both and the sousa is much more useful.

[sousaphone68]

Paul is that you and your Helicon in the advertisement for a British newspaper on TV at moment?

[PaulTkachenko]

Haha, I'm ashamed to say I don't know ... Perhaps!

Most likely my old helicon - one of my bands, Sam and the Womp have been signed by Warner and I seem to be popping up all over the place (that's me riffing on the new Southern Comfort ad ...)