Re: Geib and Conn rotary CC tuba

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:38 am

Here's a picture of Geib himself with a Geib Conn. I've never played one, but have played Warren Deck's souped-up model. It had a broad sound, but some devilish quirks.

Matt Walters · Post by **Matt Walters** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:35 pm

Barry,
You need to keep tabs on that Conn tuba. Gus Helleberg's Conn only had 4 rotor valves. Who knows?

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:48 pm

That old Conn on e-#%y was listed as a Helleberg Conn, but it wasn't. Helleberg, according to reliable sources, only played rotary valved instruments, ERGO that couldn't have been an instrument built for Helleberg. There are still some questions about the name as far as I'm concerned.

...ahem

Confusingly, those particular tubas are still often referred to as Helleberg Conns and Rudy Meinl even makes a "Helleberg Conn" copy.

I have never played the Conn version but the Rudy "Helleberg Conn" was good, with some ($10,000 worth of) reservations. It's a smallish 4/4 size, not large at all. Similar to (not the "same as") the CB-50.

Sorry to be a little off topic.

Art Hovey · Post by **Art Hovey** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:44 pm

Geib's first name was Fred; his nickname was Fritz.