pocket (travel) tuba as bass bone substitute

[Donn]

What do you think the bore diameter is?

Range I suppose would be about like 4V baritone - you can use the 4th to get at some pretty low notes, but at the cost of sketchy valve combinations that make it fairly useless as a lower bass instrument. Cf. bloke's compensating valves requirement.

[bort]

The Cerveny rotary tenor is a .488 bore, the rotary bass is .559. The one on eBay is a tenor.

[Donn]

Really? With a 9.5" bell? What a weird horn

This summer I happened to meet a gent who used to play trombone in an orchestra in Berlin, probably the well known one but I forget. He left me with the impression that German taste in trombones tends towards very large bells. I believe this makes for a more mellow sound.

[imperialbari]

The German trombones used to have longish slides with a narrow bore and short bell sections with large throats and wide flares.

Klasu

[opus37]

Hauling around a big 5/4 horn can be a pain. It sounds like you are at that time when you need to think smaller. I purchased the Bubbie with the thought in mind, but I'm thinking in my 80's for that. I'm in my 60's now and have no trouble with a 4/4 horn. The mini horns are light and easy to transport. They are great practice horns. They have more back pressure and do have a more trombone like sound. If you like the real tuba sound, you might want to look at a smaller horn, maybe a 12J or the like.

[ghmerrill]

I have done very well playing bass trombone parts with my Mack Brass compensating euph. It helps to have the right mouthpiece -- not really anything that most euph players would use.

For pretending to be a bass trombone (or high tuba), I use a Wick 3AL. I found the 2AL to be just a bit much in producing a ragged sound and losing control in the higher register. I thought the Schilke 60 would be great, but it plays consistently flat. With the 3AL my range on the euph is at least from the F an octave below the bass clef staff to the Bb an octave above it (though above the G I have to be constantly exercising that). Below the staff it really does sound much more like a bass trombone than a euphonium.

Also, it's both a very economical and versatile alternative.

[MackBrass]

The difference is this horn actually exists

Not sure on the horn size, you would think with cerveny having the reputation for super-sized bores, combined with the 9.5" bell, it would be at least the size of a bass trombone

Mine is a Cerveny contra in f with a 10.5 inch bell and the bore in in the .560 area. Here is a video I forgot that I did. Funny thing about the horn is in the video this was the second real time I put into it for about 40 minutes. My back was killing my the next day. Have not played it since I changed the bell. Also, getting used to the intonation was interesting but it does work.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLBD1E4 ... MVnHAUQhqc" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Pete Link]

My bass bone/cimbasso/travel tuba companion in CC. And it fits very nicely in an airplane overhead and on the back of my Harley.

Cheers

[imperialbari]

My bass bone/cimbasso/travel tuba companion in CC. And it fits very nicely in an airplane overhead and on the back of my Harley.

Cheers

What is the story behind that instrument?

Klaus

[Pete Link]

My bass bone/cimbasso/travel tuba companion in CC. And it fits very nicely in an airplane overhead and on the back of my Harley.

Cheers

What is the story behind that instrument?

Klaus

An interesting one as it turns out. This horn has been through some good hands. In order, it has belonged to Richard Frazier, Sam Pilafian, Jon Sass, Mike Roylance and currently me. Sam tells me that Richard had it made several years back while in Chicago playing and studying with Arnold Jacobs.
Apparently it was put together using an Olds baritone and what looks to me to be an old Rudy Meinl valve section. It's got a tight wrap and a custom tuning jigger operated by the left thumb. I've had a few things done to it over here. I'm currently working on an optional upright bell as it's already detachable. It has a gig bag and fits perfectly on the back of my Harley when I'm touring. That was the main reason for me getting the horn.

Similarly, Sam says he used to take it out on week long fishing trips out of Miami to stay in shape.

Cheers

[MaryAnn]

Seems to me what we need is a P-bass-bone. In purple.

[The Big Ben]

Mine is a Cerveny contra in f with a 10.5 inch bell and the bore in in the .560 area. Here is a video I forgot that I did. Funny thing about the horn is in the video this was the second real time I put into it for about 40 minutes. My back was killing my the next day. Have not played it since I changed the bell. Also, getting used to the intonation was interesting but it does work.

Ever thought of putting a prop under it? I'm thinking a monopod like sports photographers use with their huge lenses at football games.

[Bob Kolada]

Cool horn! Here's my funny valve thing-