DEG Willson-made 4-valve shoulder-mount contra

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Dan Schultz
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Re: DEG Willson-made 4-valve shoulder-mount contra

Post by Dan Schultz »

I cut a GG to BBb a few years ago as and converted it to a concert tuba. Pretty good player. I don't think the school uses it much but it always shows up for Merry TubaChristmas!
Dan Schultz
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Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
hduong
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Re: DEG Willson-made 4-valve shoulder-mount contra

Post by hduong »

I can think of at least 12 that are still being used within a drum corps brass ensemble in Stockton, CA/Madison, WI. They are all 4 valve Willsons in GG. I played on one a year or two ago, pretty damn good horn.
aqualung
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Re: DEG Willson-made 4-valve shoulder-mount contra

Post by aqualung »

All GG contrabass bugles were made from existing tuba components. There never was any special tooling for the bells and branches.
The original Getzen "baby" contra was made from an Eb body and whatever (undersize) tubing was lying around the factory on any particular day.
The venerable King K90 was made from re-wrapped 2341 tapers.
The Whaley-Royce, Smith Music, and assorted Kanstul and DEG/Dynasty contras are all BBb bodies that had cylindrical tubing added to lengthen them to GG.
So they really aren't great candidates for a CC cut.
aqualung
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Re: DEG Willson-made 4-valve shoulder-mount contra

Post by aqualung »

hduong wrote:I can think of at least 12 that are still being used within a drum corps brass ensemble in Stockton, CA/Madison, WI.
The Jim Ott Brass Ensemble bought just 7.
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