Which large CC do you prefer?

[tbonesullivan]

The Kanstul story is kinda sad. They put a lot of R&D into those Tubas, and at the time were the only U.S. company really making an effort to design and make Tubas. Now, unless B.A.C. decides to go into Tubas, we are once again without any real Tuba industry in the U.S. Looking back at the old King, Conn, Holton, Martin, Etc catalogs, it just makes for disappointment. All of that Tuba knowledge and experience, gone. Kanstul was also the only US company making a British-style Professional Euphonium.

Thankfully their trombones were mostly 'Mature' when I purchased mine, so they are both fine instruments. Far less issues to iron out with a trombone than with a Tuba though. I wonder if B.A.C. got the rights/design to the Kanstul C.R. valve. It's a great valve.

[Matt G]

The Kanstul story is kinda sad. They put a lot of R&D into those Tubas, and at the time were the only U.S. company really making an effort to design and make Tubas. Now, unless B.A.C. decides to go into Tubas, we are once again without any real Tuba industry in the U.S. Looking back at the old King, Conn, Holton, Martin, Etc catalogs, it just makes for disappointment. All of that Tuba knowledge and experience, gone. Kanstul was also the only US company making a British-style Professional Euphonium.

Thankfully their trombones were mostly 'Mature' when I purchased mine, so they are both fine instruments. Far less issues to iron out with a trombone than with a Tuba though. I wonder if B.A.C. got the rights/design to the Kanstul C.R. valve. It's a great valve.

I wonder if BAC bought all of that tooling? Apparently BAC bought all of the trumpet tooling and mandrels. I'm pretty sure that Kanstul had a lot of original tooling and whatnot from Olds and Reynolds. Plus whatever mandrel they were making replacement bells with.

[tbonesullivan]

I wonder if BAC bought all of that tooling? Apparently BAC bought all of the trumpet tooling and mandrels. I'm pretty sure that Kanstul had a lot of original tooling and whatnot from Olds and Reynolds. Plus whatever mandrel they were making replacement bells with.

I believe that some of the Staff at Kanstul also went to B.A.C.. Their former sales director is there now.

Still, I never have been able to get over the hubris involved in literally naming your company "Best American Craftsmen" when he was just out of his apprenticeship at ... Shires? I also recall that he went to Redwing, though none of this is mentioned in the B.A.C. website anymore.

[Donn]

I'm pretty sure that Kanstul had a lot of original tooling and whatnot from Olds and Reynolds.

Though not what they'd need to make an O-99 tuba, right? Bach got that stuff, enough of it to make some identical tubas in their "Mercedes" line. Along with a lot of other tooling, I'm sure. Not that it matters to me - I'm lucky enough to have a Kanstul tuba that's nothing like (and I sure wouldn't trade it for) anything Olds or Reynolds ever made. (Though I will say, it was easier to drain the condensation from my O-99 and Reynolds sousaphone.)

[bort]

I wonder if BAC bought all of that tooling? Apparently BAC bought all of the trumpet tooling and mandrels. I'm pretty sure that Kanstul had a lot of original tooling and whatnot from Olds and Reynolds. Plus whatever mandrel they were making replacement bells with.

I believe that some of the Staff at Kanstul also went to B.A.C.. Their former sales director is there now.

Still, I never have been able to get over the hubris involved in literally naming your company "Best American Craftsmen" when he was just out of his apprenticeship at ... Shires? I also recall that he went to Redwing, though none of this is mentioned in the B.A.C. website anymore.

Every time I see BAC, I think Blood Alcohol Content.

[Ken Herrick]

Every time I see BAC, I think Blood Alcohol Content.

Not necessarily all bad......…..

[bort]

Every time I see BAC, I think Blood Alcohol Content.

Not necessarily all bad......…..

You're right... Maybe they are more into tubas than I realized...

[timayer]

Every time I see BAC, I think Blood Alcohol Content.

Not necessarily all bad......…..

You're right... Maybe they are more into tubas than I realized...

I'll drink to that!