Cerveny Helicon reviews

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:41 am

HI - Im a sousaphone player looking for a new horn and have a limited budget. Im very interested in the Cerveny Helicons. I know most people on here are serious tubists- but has anyone tried these horns? Are there things that you can do with Piston valves (in terms of effects, dirty tones etc) that you cant effect with rotary? Im primarily interested in jazz, folkloric and playing with electric bands. My thinking is that maybe the intonation on the helicon will be at least adequate enough to enable me to use it as a horn under a teacher as well.
Any input appreciated.

Gravid · Post by **Gravid** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:46 am

I played one of these for a couple of years in the USAF Band of the West. It's cute, light, and capable of a very colorful sound -- maybe even a little bright at times. However, it will spout a dent if you even look at it the wrong way, and I had to use several alternate fingerings, particularly in the 5th partial (ex: 1st space c, 1/2).

David Graves

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:20 pm

Thanks alot- Im a little hard on horns so the piece about dents is very helpful.
The brightness comes from the lightness I suppose. I had assumed that a larger bore would give a warmth to the tone. I have also looked at old Conn 20ks as well as Yamahas and the Jupiter Quad University Model . The promo on the last one is mighty enticing - but I have no experience with that type of horns .
Im on a king 2350 (.687) and I feel like Im pushing through a straw.
I want a horn thats lite enough to approximate string bass but l also would like to get nice projection on the low end- Im unsure as to whether I should look at the metal/weight or bore as being the most important factor. How does Silver finish affect tone?
Is sousaphone always inferior in tone quality to an upright? Are the machining processes in use now more exact than in the days of some of the old Conns?
Are naked lady Conns really the bomb?- or is that just some weird form of tuba player erotica?
Thanks for the already helpful advice!!

mTaUrBkA · Post by **mTaUrBkA** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:05 pm

I used to play a cerveny concert tuba.....that dented very easily as well.....it was a school horn but I was the only one to play it and was the first student to use it. If you end up going the sousaphone route......Conns have always been my favorite. I would stay away from jupiter if their sousaphones are as bad as their trombones and concert tubas.....even if you are on a budget you can find somethign that will please you more

dtemp · Post by **dtemp** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:21 pm

Our univeristy has Jupiters because we could get a lot for cheap. I would also not recommend them. The valves are a constant problem, and the tuning is quite "interesting". Just my observations...

tuba kitchen · Post by **tuba kitchen** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:07 pm

does cerveny make a helicon in c?

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:09 pm

tuba kitchen wrote:does cerveny make a helicon in c?

Wish they did -- BBb, Eb, and F, but no CC.