Kanstul 5490 CC Test Trials

[Josh deVries]

Hi all -

Recently, I've received several messages about the Kanstul 5490 Grand CC.

It occurred to me that it is quite hard to track down these horns for interested buyers. I absolutely love my horn and think it's one of the best kept secrets for those who haven't tried one.

I am located in the Chicago area, and would be more than willing to offer my horn for a play test if anyone was thinking about the horn or was just curious about the horn.

You can PM me here, or better yet: just send me an email at jdevries220 AT gmail DOT com

- Josh

[bort]

You should post a picture or two here! The only photo I've ever seen of it is the one on the Kanstul Web site, which frankly, looks kind of wacky and a little out of proportion.

[Untersatz]

You should post a picture or two here! The only photo I've ever seen of it is the one on the Kanstul Web site, which frankly, looks kind of wacky and a little out of proportion.

+1

[bort]

Ok, that looks WAY better. Kanstul should put an *actual* photo up on their website.

What's the horizontal bar(?) that runs across from the leadpipe? The 5th valve linkage?

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

I had a chance to take this model for a spin early this past year. I thought it was okay (soso) but I really was not wowed by it in the least. I really was looking forward to being blown away but alas it was not to be.

I am sure others will find it to there liking but to be honest, I was left unmoved. Bummer!

Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Bandmaster]

I had a chance to take this model for a spin early this past year. I thought it was okay (soso) but I really was not wowed by it in the least. I really was looking forward to being blown away but alas it was not to be.

I am sure others will find it to there liking but to be honest, I was left unmoved. Bummer!

Well, is it any wonder? Look what goes through your shop? The best horns in the world leave your shop, it's hard to compete with that!

To be honest I wasn't that impressed either when I played the Kanstul's over the past couple years. But then I am lucky enough to own three really good playing BBb tubas, including one for your creations and hopefully another one soon, so I am a little spoiled. But since none of mine are still in production and folks can't go to a dealer and buy them, the Kanstul's are some of the best horns available on the market right now! Although I am probably not a good judge of CC horns, since I am a BBb kind of guy and I have not played any CC horn that I like yet!

[pjv]

Probably not relevant to talk about Kanstul's F-tuba, but seeing as the high end line is rather new to the scene, I'll throw this in.

I own a model 90 from 2010. Lovely sound. Plays super easy throughout all registers and sounds rather CC tubaish on recordings. It has a very clear sound. Low register is open open open without giving one thought to how to make it sound. A quite critical colleague of mine heard me play in a quintet for the first time in a year (and had never heard me on this horn) and thought that I'd never sounded better. He also emphasized the great sound of the horn.

Downside; intonation and ergonomics. I can deal with A3 being low and having to work a slide for G1 (rather not, but ok). The real irritation for me is that F2, E2, and Eb2 (just below the staff) are REAL flat, around the 20 cents flat. Now the horn has wide slots so I can buzz them in tune, but then of coarse the horns not resinating were it wants to. This means that all the work that went into designing a tuba to play consistently throughout all registers has been sabotaged by three notes in a very prominent register. Either they're flat or they're sound is different from the rest of the horn. Pity.

Maybe there are similarities between my F and the CC and/or BBb which are interesting for this board but ergonomics probably won't be one of them so I won't go into it.

[Josh deVries]

I wouldn't say that my Kanstul is the most ergonomically friendly horn, that's true.

But - I own one of the prototypes from production. One of the biggest things they fixed in the ones in production now is changing the wrap to make it more ergonomically friendly based on people having that issue.

So, trying mine wouldn't give you a 100% accurate feel to what the ones in production sound like (or feel like in your lap), but it certainly could give you a taste for how they captured the York sound.

I of course know there are folks out there who don't like the horn - just offering for anyone who might be interested in the horn and are curious to get a feel for it.

I will try to post pictures later - though my horn won't look identical to those in production, as it is a prototype.

[bort]

To be honest I wasn't that impressed either when I played the Kanstul's over the past couple years... [snip] ...the Kanstul's are some of the best horns available on the market right now!

Can you clarify these two conflicting statements? Was the "not impressed" that you just didn't like it at all, or that it wasn't your style, but you can see that it might work for someone else?

I've always been curious about the Kanstul tubas, but there's always been something that holds me back from them -- maybe it's because people seem to either love them or think they're just ok. I really need to try them for myself.

[Josh deVries]

Bort - I just saw you are located in New York City. Bummer! I have been home for the last 3 weeks on Long Island. Unfortunately I head back to Chicago tomorrow. If I ever find myself back on Long Island for a time again, I'll let people in NYC area know!

[bort]

Well, if you're flying from NYC to Chicago, you'll probably be stuck a little longer. No worries though, and thanks for the offer, I've been away myself!

[tbn.al]

Wondering how you are going to get from NYC to Chicago, snow plow? I do LOVE the South!!!!!!!!!

[Bandmaster]

To be honest I wasn't that impressed either when I played the Kanstul's over the past couple years... [snip] ...the Kanstul's are some of the best horns available on the market right now!

Can you clarify these two conflicting statements? Was the "not impressed" that you just didn't like it at all, or that it wasn't your style, but you can see that it might work for someone else?

I've always been curious about the Kanstul tubas, but there's always been something that holds me back from them -- maybe it's because people seem to either love them or think they're just ok. I really need to try them for myself.

We all compare a new experience to something we experienced in the past, right? Like I said, I have three REALLY GOOD playing BBb tubas at home, so when I compare a tuba during a test I can't help but to compare it what have experience with at home. I have a Oberloh restored 1966 Holton 345, a 1955 York-Master and a 1927 Conn 38K that all play wonderfully, but there is no dealer where anyone can go to test play or buy these. That sets the bar pretty high when I am testing a new horn, I am spoiled. We all have our own preferences, I can only comment on mine. I am sure there are people that would not like my Holton.

That being said, I have had a chance to test played the Kanstul horns during various stages of their development since I live in SoCal. The improvements they made during development were very dramatic. The horns play very well now, but they are just not to my taste... yet. As I said, I am spoiled. My three horns play with a lot of resonance and with them I can feel the sound with my hands as well as my ears. I have had a chance to play quite a few of the newer horns on the market while attending various trade shows, including the Yamaha 826, and they just don't do anything for me. Maybe that just because I am very used to and like the sound of a BBb horn and a CC horn just doesn't feel comfortable. The Kanstul BBb version of their new line plays very well, but as not as nice as what I have at home. I have had an occasional horn light my fire one year at the NAMM Show only to have it let me down the following year. Inconsistency! Horns that I really liked with a one time experience were a Miraphone 1291, a piston Thor and a surprising little Chinese made 184 knock off. I am hoping to get a chance to play the BMB 6/4 model this year.

[Bill Troiano]

Josh! Fly to Austin first. No snow and 60 degrees today. I'll play your tuba and you can play all of mine and we can drink beer, eat BBQ and go to the gym, and crank up loud music in my house (when Debi isn't home) and stuff!