Cerveny F-tuba - did bell size increase ??

[marccromme]

I am out looking for a used 4+2 F-tuba and have seen quite some Cerveny's on ebay and other places, all of them with 360 mm bells. Then again I have seen them ( 5 and 6 valves) new with 400 mm bells, for example these:

Cerveny 651-5 F-tuba
Model: Harmonia II CFB 651-5GPRTX
Valves: 5 rotary
Bore: 18.0 mm (.709")
Large bell: 400 mm (14.17") with rim
Heigth: 1020mm (40.16")
Weight: 6,9 kg
Red brass mouthpipe, Nickel-silver valve casings, 5th slide trigger
Minibal linkages, Clear lacquer

Cerveny CFB 851-6GPZX F- tuba Concordia,
6 rotor valves (4R+2L), 4/4 size,
MINIBAL- ball joints, brass body and goldbrass bell,
bore size .756' (Ø19,2mm),
bell size 15.75' (Ø400mm), clear lacquered,
incl. silver plated mouthpiece and case

see also here: http://www.thomann.de/dk/f-tubaer.html? ... nufacturer" target="_blank[0]=Cerveny

Did the Cerveny's grow in bell size over the years, or are the used ones i see different models?

How do the (older?) 360 mm models play compared to the 400 mm models?

Are they different in intonation ? Bottom register? Tonal quality ?

If you know and can compare these models, please feel free to add your thoughts!

Best, MC

[bort]

Interesting! I used to own a Cerveny 653 F tuba, and it had the 360 mm bell. The 653 at Thomann has a 400 mm bell, and from the photo it actually *looks* like a bigger bell. I'm interested to hear if anyone has tried these either. Overall, that 653 looks a whole lot nicer than the one I had (which in itself was pretty good, and maybe from 2005--2010).

[marccromme]

And to add to the confusion, notice that this one from the Cerveny home page can not decide if it's a 360 mm ( = 14.71 ") or a 400 mm bell - I am puzzled ...

http://www.cerveny.biz/tuben/f_tuben/cfb_651_5gprtx.php" target="_blank

Can anybody confirm the size of this instrument - the one way or the other?

[Ulli]

Did the Cerveny's grow in bell size over the years,

Yes, they did.
My opinion to that change: Bigger looks better.

Ulli, playing a Cerveny Harmony 654-6 with 36cm bell

[marccromme]

Thanks Ulli - do we have anybody which has played the 40 cm versions compared to the 36 cm bells? What are the advantages/disadvantages of the size increase? Anybody knows and has tried both?