Contrabass Digest
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2000-08-18

 
From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 19:12:53 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] Contrabass trombone

Hello Noel,

> Hi all,
> I am a tuba player and new to the list.  I have become interested in the
> contrabass trombone.  I was wondering if anyone on the list has had any
> experience with it, especially how it compares to tuba (as far as
> mouthpiece size, embouchure, etc.)  Also, is the only contrabass trombone
> currently manufactured the Miraphone contrabass found at the Woodwind and
> Brasswind?  And is the Miraphone an F or a true BBb contrabass?

There are probably 25 different "Contras" out "there".

There are others I can't remember at the moment.

I use a Tuba mp on mine (custom dupe of a Mt Vernon 25), the same mp I use
on Bass & CB Tubs. I'm also a "doubler" on all the other Trombones and other
brasses, but I use Doug Elliot mps on those--all using a Bass Trb rim,
changing cups, shanks, throats, & shanks.  (This includes my TRombones all
the way up through the Piccolo [7 inches long] ).
Most CB Trombonists are also Bass Trb'ists, so they use something closer to
a Bass Trb size, but much deeper cup. Those Tubists who double tend to use a
Tuba rim, but shallower cup. Obviously a bigger mp sounds more "Tuba-like"
rather than brighter as the Trombone should.

For many years, I would have agreed with you, that the F "Contra" was really
a Bass Trombone, but today's F Contras really are Contrabasses. A True F
Bass Trb is infinitely smaller in bore & size than the F instruments
marketed today.

Some of my Trombones can be found here:
http://www.Geocities/com/Vienna/Studio/7875/

Hope this helps.

Tom
(who conducts a Large Trombone Choir which incluses FIVE Contrabass TRombones)

---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 16:45:24 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: [CB] End of Survey
 

Hi,

I've decided to end the survey, mainly for lack of time to keep it updated properly.  To that end, I've removed the link to the survey page.  If anyone is interested in submitting an entry, I'll leave the page itself up for a few more days: you can access it at http://www.contrabass.com/pages/survey.html.  After that, there will just be the results page, and possibly the survey portion of the subscription form.

A few notable results: of 112 respondents, 50% play/played bass clarinet, 42% play contra clarinet, 34% play bassoon, and 23% play tuba.  Only one respondent (that would be me) admitted to playing (or having) sarrusophone or reed contrabass.  As far as the instruments people actually have, the greatest number (37, 33%) have a bass clarinet, followed by bassoon (21, 19%), contra clarinet (20, 18%) and tuba (16, 14%).

The instrument most desired was the contra clarinet (40, 36%) followed closely by the contrabassoon (39, 35%), and the contrabass sarrusophone (32, 29%).  29 wanted bass (or lower) flutes, bass sax, or contrabass sax, followed by bassoon (26) and bass oboe/heckelphone (24).

Of course, this is far from a scientific survey, especially when one considers the "pre-selection" that occurs just from people (a) chancing on the contrabass.com site, and (b) feeling like filling out a survey.  Still, some interesting results, and some interesting write-ins.  I'm still trying to find out what a dopplerphone is...

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green
ecode:contrabass       http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 19:58:34 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] End of Survey

Grant,

> I'm still trying to find out what a dopplerphone is...

A Dopplerphone is a variation in the Horn family, The valves are usually pistons, tho some rotary models exist.
It is played by the right hand (as oppsed to the left hand as in the F Horn).

Tom

---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 07:54:14 +0100
From: David Bobroff
Subject: [CB] RE Contrabass trombone

>I am a tuba player and new to the list.  I have become interested in the
>contrabass trombone.  I was wondering if anyone on the list has had any
>experience with it, especially how it compares to tuba (as far as
>mouthpiece size, embouchure, etc.)

My perspective is that of a bass trombonist.  On my (Thein) contra I was
recently using a Thein C1 which was a bit bigger than my bass trombone
mouthpiece.  I'm now using a Thein MC contra mouthpiece.  The inner rim
diameters are:

My bass mouthpiece: 29.4mm
Thein C1:  29.8mm
Thein MC:  31.5mm

Since you are a tubist I don't think mouthpiece/embouchure would be much of
an issue.  For me, the larger mouthpiece means more distance between my
anchor points on the rim.

>Also, is the only contrabass trombone
>currently manufactured the Miraphone contrabass found at the Woodwind and
>Brasswind?

No, there are numerous makers in Europe.  Most of them are in Germany but
Haag is one Swiss maker.  German makers I can think of are, Thein, Voight,
Egger, and L=E4tzsch (there are probably more).  Most, if not all, of these
are in F although Thein made one in Eb for Dick Tyack of the Royal Opera at
Covent Garden.  The Edwards division of Getzen has a prototype F-contra
bell which attaches to a regular bass trombone slide.  They are not
producing any at the moment and the one they have needs work.

>And is the Miraphone an F or a true BBb contrabass?

The Miraphone is in BBb.

Cheers,

David Bobroff
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Spencer Parks"
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 17:09:02 CDT
Subject: Re: [CB] End of Survey

>.  I'm still trying to find out what a dopplerphone is...
>A Dopplerphone is a variation in the Horn family, The valves are usually
>pistons, tho some rotary models exist.
>It is played by the right hand (as oppsed to the left hand as in the F
>Horn).

How big is it?  If it's about 10-12" in diameter and basically looks like a
mini frenchhorn, I know someone who owns one.  He bought it in either
Germany or Austria a little over 4 years ago just before out Junior year in
High School.

SPeNCeR PaRKS
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