Kanstul Grand CC

[Lee Stofer]

To answer Bob Kolada,
My understanding is that Hornguys is moving in another direction with the model lines they offer, and are not planning to continue selling Kanstul tubas at this time. Mr. Ferguson has had a longtime relationship with Mirafone, and I suspect that is at least part of the reason for the change.

Rest assured that I still offer the full Kanstul model line, and can also get factory-custom Kanstuls, too. For instance, there have been enough customers that have ordered a Kanstul 33-S BBb, but wanted 4 valves instead of 5, that I have suggested to Kanstul that this be instituted as a model, designated as the 33-S4. The 4-front-valve version of the model 33 is priced the same as the top-piston model. The tuba has easily-reachable 1st, 3rd and 4th slides on top that move easily, and the instrument sans the 5th valve is lighter-weight and possibly more lively in it's response. In short, it is a lot of tuba for a very reasonable price.

I should also mention that the Kanstul Grand Orchestral CC, the model 5490, is undergoing some minor design changes. I spoke with a design person this week, who said that they were making minor changes in branch lengths and bracing, and in the side-to-side width of one branch. The narrower width will enable the branch to lie inside the body more instead of protruding out the back, and the other changes enable the valveset to sit a little lower in the body. The changes primarily make the instrument more ergonomically comfortable, and if anything make it a subtly even better player than before. The body changes will make it appear slightly smaller, I'm told, as it becomes a little more compact. I certainly had no issues with the original model, but these changes will no doubt lead to an even more universal acceptance of this instrument as one of the standard large orchestral tubas.

[Bob Kolada]

Thanks Lee. I'd heard about that, but noticed Hornguys had a few of the models described as discontinued (bass and contrabass trombones).

[ralphbsz]

My understanding is that Hornguys is moving in another direction with the model lines they offer, and are not planning to continue selling Kanstul tubas at this time. Mr. Ferguson has had a longtime relationship with Mirafone, and I suspect that is at least part of the reason for the change.

There are other reasons, probably more important than the relationship with Mirafone. If someone wants to talk about it, Steve Ferguson should do it himself; it would be inappropriate for me to post second-hand knowledge here.

[cle_tuba]

Talk more about the 5490 ...