Bielefeld tuba at BBC

[bort]

This is a new one for me... anyone know anything about this?

[imperialbari]

Start researching here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Kuhlo

[tbn.al]

That looks exactly like my old horn but someone has folded the main tuning slide. I sold it to a tubeneter back East.

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[imperialbari]

The folding of the tuning slide could be a conversion to low, now standard, pitch. If so this tuba was made before 1920.

Klaus

[Mark E. Chachich]

I tried this tuba at Baltimore Brass a couple of weeks ago.

my opinions
disclaimer: because I play CC tuba centering tones on a BB flat can be a bit tricky for me, take these observations with this in mind

the low and middle ranges were fairly solid
the high range was harder for me to center, but it was possible with some effort
I did not try the extreme high or low ranges
the sound was small but with a nice warm tone
at soft dynamics the horn played well
I cranked it up to around a solid mf and the tone did not distort
the tuba could handle a f with care
I did not try this tuba at a ff
it did not appear to have any mechanical problems

Mark

[bort]

Thanks!

What is the physical size of the tuba?

[Mark E. Chachich]

Bort,

The tuba is small. It is roughly the size of a Miraphone 184 with a smaller bell. However, it did not play like a 184. I can put the pedal to the metal with a Miraphone 184 and it will get very loud (and with care still sound like a tuba). I felt like Bielefield does not have the dynamic range so I did not bother to try and play ff. I do not know what the bore is. I think that the metal is thinner and softer than a Miraphone. For what it is I think that it a neat little tuba.

regards,
Mark

[tbn.al]

That IS my old Horn! After looking more closely at the pictures I recognize the patches on the leadpipe. The horn was made in the early 20th century. There is one just like it but a size larger in a museum in Germany. This one is very small, almost Eb ish. In fact I replaced my Conn Eb with it. The bore is .690. It plays remarkably well in tune. The last owner must have folded the tuning slide and I have no clue as to what effect that might have. The tuning slide used to stick out in the way, hitting my right leg. Mark is spot on as to the playablitiy. You cannot push this horn but a nice forte is doable. After that the tone quality disappears quickly. I replaced it with a 184 which was not as hard to overblow but had a lot more intonation quirks. This is a nice little horn with a nice little sound, great response and good intonation. My two cents. Check with Lee Stofer. He brought it back from Germany in pieces, put it back together and sold it to me.

[imperialbari]

The Bielefeld maker David worked with the nearby Lutheran hospital Bethel which was at the core of the Lutheran Posaunenchor movement. As the small local brass ensembles had their main function in leading congregational singing, I have a strong suspicion the lack of a powerful sound was considered a positive design feature.

Klaus

[Mark E. Chachich]

Klaus,

With the history that you gave for the maker, the performance of tuba makes a lot of sense. The tone of this tuba would be excellent in a group backing up vocals in a church. Very nice little horn when you think of what it was intended to do.

regards,
Mark

[tbn.al]

I used to have a link to a museum in Germany that had a Ernst David tuba on display. The history page indicated that they were made in various sizes and both high and low pitch. They one they had was the medium size tuba and mine was the smallest. It was hinted that the small ones might have been made for kids. There was a large example mentioned but not pictured. Wish I could find the link. It was even translated into English.

[bigtubby]

The Bielefeld maker David worked with the nearby Lutheran hospital Bethel which was at the core of the Lutheran Posaunenchor movement. As the small local brass ensembles had their main function in leading congregational singing, I have a strong suspicion the lack of a powerful sound was considered a positive design feature.

Klaus

This sounds remarkably like my little late 19th Century Schuster Army model. The Schuster's bore is a bit larger (18.6mm / ~.730") but this was precisely what I was looking for: a small tuba that I could play against one or two acoustic guitars and vocalists. The fact that it starts breaking up at relatively modest volumes is a positive design feature for this situation as well since a full size tuba will drown out acoustic instruments when pushed to make this NOLA sound.