FrankenContra!

[ContraDude]

Well, in an earlier post, I promised pictures of my frankencontra...

here are a few, :

http://www.geocities.com/cparker710/contraback.gif
http://www.geocities.com/cparker710/contrafront.gif
Let me know what you think

[imperialbari]

The pages linked to are not available.

Is it just a matter of traffic limits of your site, so that I can go there another day?

Klaus

[scottw]

Just hit "refresh" when you get that "not available" warning, Klaus. And, that is one UGLY tuba!

[imperialbari]

Thanks for the advise! It worked even, if it did not confirm with the internet experiences, which i have had hitherto.

And yes it is a biggie.

Does it have a history? It looks like it is nickel plated, which would make me guess that the body comes from DEG-Dynasty.

Klaus

[Joe Baker]

I've refreshed the page at least 100 times, and still can't see it. Can someone that can see it, that has some web space, post it?
_____________________
Joe Baker, who despises GeoCities

[JB]

I've refreshed the page at least 100 times, and still can't see it.

Ditto.

Cannot access it either, despite multiple "refreshings."

.

[Philip Jensen]

I too tried hitting the refresh button with no success.

Then I put the cursor at the end of the address (as if having typed it in) and hit RETURN.

Bingo! This worked for me

[Leland]

Isn't it like making a snowman in hell to breathe properly while playing this thing? With your arms upwards and a heavy weight on your shoulder, I mean?

Hardly. Your arms aren't much higher than a trumpet player's. I've always had an easier time breathing while playing one of these than I've had while using a sousaphone. I even feel that, for marching, it's easier to breathe on these things than either a sousaphone (which puts one arm at your side) or a concert tuba with a harness (not any better than carrying a big bass drum).

Besides, I'll bet that you move your arms up & out when you demonstrate or visualize proper, large-capacity breathing.

Been there, done that, but only since 1988, so I hope I know what I'm doing.

btw: If someone came marching towards me with that particular tuba - I'd be running the other way

Well, that's the bonus...

(looking forward to returning to Oslo someday)

[Leland]

It looks like it is nickel plated, which would make me guess that the body comes from DEG-Dynasty.

It's not that big, weighing about 19 lbs. (maybe 20-22 with the additional valve?) with about a 17-18" bell and a "bottom" bow about the same size as a Mirafone's.

It's not nickel (DEG never made nickelplated horns, although they did offer the option of never-ever-tarnish chrome ). It's just silverplate, tarnished in some areas.

Contradude, that added-in tuning slide (right after the mouthpiece & leadpipe) looks like it came from a King -- is that a correct guess? Where'd the valveset come from?

[Contramark]

Man I cant see it. But If I could I could clear up what it is. I was a nut when I marched and learned a whole bunch about these instruments.

Dynasty and Kanstul now make 4 valve contrabasses. I played on one at the corps that I marched.

[Leland]

What worked for me was mentioned earlier -- go ahead & click on the links, and when the "unavailable" page comes up, click in the address field of your browser, put the cursor at the end of the address, and press return.

Either that, or right-click on the links and download them to disk.

You'll see the DEG main body, with the distinctive bottom bow and collar-type screw-down main bell brace. The valves almost look like a Kanstul valveset, and the additional slide after the leadpipe looks interesting.

EDIT: That 2nd valve tubing isn't Kanstul, though -- that's a DEG wrap. The 3rd valve tubing is definitely not DEG, at least not in stock form, and the leadpipe configuration isn't like anything DEG put on their contras after at least 1990 (they did produce 3v contras with the underhand-routed leadpipe before 1990 -- Beatrix in Holland had some).

[ThomasDodd]

We don't have a tradition for these kind marching-tubas in Norway, so I have never played one. I have seen several pictures of these instruments, and it strikes me: Isn't it like making a snowman in hell to breathe properly while playing this ting? With your arms upwards and a heavy weight on your shoulder, I mean?

Not sure any more, but the specs Leland added, sound lighter than convertible horns.

I marched one of those (Conn, 3 side valves. Haven't been able to find the model yet) in High School. I'me sure it was heaver than 20lbs though.

I would much rather carry a convertible (sholder carry) tuba than a sousaphone which is better than a non converted tuba with a neck/sholder strap.

[Leland]

Yeah, this horn isn't terribly heavy. Plus, they're balanced better than most convertibles that have been made. Yamaha's 3/4 sized convertible, while light, is a bear to carry because it's so short, and therefore most of its weight is out front, being supported by the arms. Larger, longer contras, especially with leadpipes that wrap around the wrist (like on the Marine D&B contra I posted in the "Valves valves valves" thread), actually balance better and are easier to manage while on the shoulder despite weighing quite a bit more.

[ContraDude]

I was away for a little bit... let me try and tell you about the horn (as far as I know...) the lead pipe originally made it extremely front heavy and I had to hold it incredibly far back. the results were that it was almost impossible for me to march for more than 20 minutes of time. That tuning slide... I have no idea where it came from... I've been told it was put together from parts from 4 contras and a few pieces of metal from NASA (they have a nasa old-school surplus store in downtown orlando, so it isn't impossible). I have no idea how they got it too work, but the guy who did it did a pretty good job. It's ugly, but it's pretty playable.

[Leland]

And, of course the next question is,

Was it brought to life by a huge jolt of lightning-charged electricity?

[ThomasDodd]

Yeah, this horn isn't terribly heavy. Plus, they're balanced better than most convertibles that have been made. Yamaha's 3/4 sized convertible, while light, is a bear to carry because it's so short, and therefore most of its weight is out front, being supported by the arms. Larger, longer contras, especially with leadpipes that wrap around the wrist (like on the Marine D&B contra I posted in the "Valves valves valves" thread), actually balance better and are easier to manage while on the shoulder despite weighing quite a bit more.

I'm certain those contra balance well. When I marched that con, it wasn't bad. I marched trombone the year before, and it seamed less balanced than the tuba. The Conn was a 4/4 size horn I'm sure. It was bigger than my Olds, which is a big 3/4 horn. I ended up with the valve cluster over my sholder, and once it was up (not that easy form a H.S. kid) it stayed fine. Now the metal sousaphones in college were another story. Toses beasts are heavy, and kill the sholuder.

I wish the school had used 3 valve contras, or convertible horns. They just bought some new sousaphones, so they aren't going to change any time soon.

And, if any one can help me locate that Conn, I'm looking. again convetible, 3 side valves. All I can find are top valve convertibles. This one was carried on the right shoulder too.

[Jeffrey Hicks]

Conn 15j. Same as the current 12j with a conversion kit. nice sounding but still not as a good as a good sousaphone.

[ThomasDodd]

Conn 15j. Same as the current 12j with a conversion kit. nice sounding but still not as a good as a good sousaphone.

Are you sure? Every time I see a "15j" the pics are top action valves, not front. Like this one

[Jeffrey Hicks]

Yeah. I am pretty sure they were given the same name. That particular 15j is the copy of the King 1140 which is a pretty lousy horn in its own right. The original 15j is just like a 12j with an adjustable lead pipe and switchable first and third valve slide. I have a low opinion of the 1140 and even lower opinion of its Blessing Copy called an Accord.

[ThomasDodd]

Yeah. I am pretty sure they were given the same name. That particular 15j is the copy of the King 1140 which is a pretty lousy horn in its own right.

That sucks. To use the same name on 2 horns that different. Any idea when the switch happened? The horn the school had was new in 1987. How can I find the one I wnat, instead of that one? I asked Conn and got no response.

The original 15j is just like a 12j with an adjustable lead pipe and switchable first and third valve slide.

So the 12j is convertible? Or available as an option? The Conn pages didn't show a convertible front action horn. For than matter no one sems too. I was starting to think I halucinated the horn.

-Thomas