BBb 4v rotary Kruspe @BBC

[sugawi]

From description:
"Kruspe 4V BBb Tuba. .787"(20mm) bore, 3/4 tuba with 13.5" bell. Clockwork springs and S-linkages."

That's a big bore for 3/4 tuba.

[toobagrowl]

Neat old tuba! The bell diameter seems very small, but keep in mind that the bell is almost all taper with very little flare.
I liked the Kruspe 4rv BBb I tooted on years ago The only thing that concerns me with those old German/Bohemian/Czech tubas
is that sometimes that (thin) sheetmetal has been de-dented, and is sometimes very brittle with little spider cracks. Raw brass patina
can hide those tiny cracks, so be prepared if you are buying one of these old horns!

[sugawi]

Where is this horn being sold? Was there a link missing?

http://www.baltimorebrass.net/index.php?cat=5

[Heavy_Metal]

I played this horn for a few minutes today. They're not kidding about the bore- it's the same as my old Alex. This horn really punches above its weight, and the intonation seems solid.

This would be a great tuba for someone who has trouble carrying a larger horn, yet still wants something powerful.

[sugawi]

I played this horn for a few minutes today. They're not kidding about the bore- it's the same as my old Alex. This horn really punches above its weight, and the intonation seems solid.

This would be a great tuba for someone who has trouble carrying a larger horn, yet still wants something powerful.

I thought this would be more of a collector's horn but after your report it appears to be a quite a player also. How's that bell flare with smaller rim affects the sound?

[Heavy_Metal]

To be fair, I was in one of their little practice rooms. That said, it seems to project more like an Alex-type horn where the bell diameter is smaller compared to the stack height, which would include the Miraphone 186, B&S 101 in its various stencil identities and similar ones. This as opposed to a wide-bell horn with a shorter bell stack like the Miraphone 191, Getzen G50, Cerveny 693, various Bessons and Conns and others that tend to diffuse the sound more than they project it.

So yes, IMHO it plays more than well enough that it's not just a collectible.

Neptune, if you're reading this, this might be an interesting one to copy.

[toobagrowl]

^ Nice to hear that it is a good player. I've only played one Kruspe 4rv BBb (similar to this one) and liked it quite a bit. The sound was dark, 'puffy' and projecting; the response was easy, and the intonation seemed pretty good, from what I remember. It was owned by a mid-major orchestra tuba player who was selling it. I also remember the tuba having string linkage, and was VERY light in weight. Fun tuba Kruspe was mostly known for making f-horns; wish they made more tubas.

[EMC]

......i want it........ but i have the feeling if i buy it i wont use it

[sugawi]

Is there's a way to estimate the age of this Kruspe? Or would it be something general; either pre-WWII or pre-WWI?

[Heavy_Metal]

Only thing I could find was on Horn-U-Copia. Early 20th century is my best guess.

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/display.php ... 2Kruspe%22" target="_blank

[Alex C]

The stop arms on the rotors would put it in the early part of the century, maybe as late at the 1930's.

[Heavy_Metal]

The stop arms on the rotors would put it in the early part of the century, maybe as late at the 1930's.

My Alex has those too...........

[sugawi]

Information on Kruspe tubas hard to find. So far I was able to find old catalog on Japanese website http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicHall-Ho ... rusp3.html
But here's another catalog on eBay with Kaiser in it, I wonder what other ones they got there http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1621936229

[bisontuba]

The seller on eBay also has a B&F catalog for sale....

[Heavy_Metal]

On hold- anyone from here?