I'm kicking around the idea of building a cimbasso in BBb, using a 4 valve King .687 bore set.
One thing (among others) that has eluded me about these horns is the physics of the mouthpipe, in regard to its layout.
With that in mind:
Is it critical to have it enter the 4th valve, incorporating a long stretch of cylindrical tubing (as is usual on rotary valve cimbassi), or can it enter the 1st valve, as is normal for piston valve tubas? Meaning, does this set up give the horn its characteristic sound, or is it just for reasons of convenience or "tradition"?
What is the "traditional" or "usual" length of the tapered section of the mouthpipe, and what is the taper like?
I know the first question may be difficult to know, but any theories would also be appreciated....
Cimbasso mouthpipe
- roweenie
- pro musician
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:17 am
- Location: Waiting on a vintage tow truck
Cimbasso mouthpipe
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day".
- roweenie
- pro musician
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:17 am
- Location: Waiting on a vintage tow truck
Re: Cimbasso mouthpipe
THIS is why Tubenet is sobloke wrote:My only answer is "because I tried this, and it worked"
The last cimbasso (in E flat) project I tried, had a short "tuba-like" mouthpipe, going directly into the 1st valve - although it worked well and played fine, it did not have the "characteristic sound" I was looking for. It basically played like a weird-looking tenor horn pitched in E flat.
I believe you have the goods here.
It will make the job more difficult (the 1st valve port is "hemmed in" by other valve circuits) but I believe it will be worth the extra effort.
What is the mouthpipe O.D. where it enters the bass trombone receiver, and do you think a small size E flat receiver would work as well?
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day".
- roweenie
- pro musician
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:17 am
- Location: Waiting on a vintage tow truck
Re: Cimbasso mouthpipe
I'm sure the quality of those rotary valves are top-notch (I think I know where you get them) and I could do the same, but I'm not a great fan of rotary valves - and the use of piston valves adds to the challenge
(tubing the mouthpipe into the 4th valve port is no challenge - it's making the connection from the 1st valve to the bugle that is the fly in the ointment, as you already know)
I will have to dig up your cimbasso construction post and study your photos closely
(tubing the mouthpipe into the 4th valve port is no challenge - it's making the connection from the 1st valve to the bugle that is the fly in the ointment, as you already know)
I will have to dig up your cimbasso construction post and study your photos closely
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day".
- roweenie
- pro musician
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:17 am
- Location: Waiting on a vintage tow truck
Re: Cimbasso mouthpipe
Hmmm.....bloke wrote:That severely-bent crook (the same one that causes water-drainage problems from the #4 circuit of King tubas) could be used (no?) as part of the routing to get the air column exit (from the #1 casing) over to the "bell side"...??
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day".