Contrabass Digest
To subscribe or unsubscribe, email gdgreen@contrabass.com

 
 

2001-03-01

 
From: LeliaLoban
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 19:27:57 EST
Subject: [CB] whatziz

Jim Lande wrote,
>  http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1413237772
>  seller don't know what it is, but has a reserve over a thousand.
>  clue me in, please

Other people have already identified this as an ophicleide, but I'm just
writing to mention that I hope people noticed that it's going to have to do
some serious travelling unless a South American buys it, because it's located
in Uruguay.  Is the mouthpiece right?  I don't know anything about
ophicleides except that they came in several sizes.  This mpc looks huge in
proportion to the instrument.  Has anyone asked the seller to measure the
horn?  It looks as if it has a beautiful natural patina.

I'm curious -- do people leave a natural patina alone on old brass musical
instruments?  I've never bought an instrument made of raw (non-lacquered)
brass.  I clean dirty instruments and polish silver-plated ones (all mine are
20th C), but I know that among collectors of antique metal artwork, removing
a natural patina from brass, copper or bronze is a major no-no that reduces
the value.  How do you folks feel about darkened brass on old horns?

Lelia
---------------------------------------------------------

From: "Tom Izzo"
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 20:10:24 -0600
Subject: Re: [CB] whatziz

Lelia,

> in Uruguay.  Is the mouthpiece right?  I don't know anything about
> ophicleides except that they came in several sizes.  This mpc looks huge in
> proportion to the instrument.  Has anyone asked the seller to measure the
> horn?  It looks as if it has a beautiful natural patina.

Yes, it was asked by a member of the Trombone-L. It measures 93 cm, so
presumably it would be pitched in C. Most of the Bb models are 112-118 cm.

Tom

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

From: Heliconman
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 23:41:55 EST
Subject: Re: [CB] Patina or NOT Patina

In a message dated 2/28/01 7:42:56 PM Eastern Standard Time, LeliaLoban writes:

<< I'm curious -- do people leave a natural patina alone on old brass musical
  instruments?  I've never bought an instrument made of raw (non-lacquered)
 brass.  I clean dirty instruments and polish silver-plated ones (all mine are
 20th C), but I know that among collectors of antique metal artwork, removing
 a natural patina from brass, copper or bronze is a major no-no that reduces
 the value.  How do you folks feel about darkened brass on old horns?
 
 Lelia >>

One of my favorite words! Patina is right up there with vintage and elite.
Patina on a horn for me might be a good thing if I'm looking for a darker
sound on a cornet, flugelhorn or an alto horn or perhaps for some smaller
bore tenor horns or trombones. I think removing the
tarnish/rust/cancer/patina tends to allow a horn to resonate better and
particularly in the higher frequencies. I clean up trumpets in a heartbeat!
Large bore tenor trombones, bass trombones, french horns need the high
frequencies to balance out the sound and cut through the mix, at least to my
ears! Then there are the low quality horns that are better off hung on the
wall you might as well leave all the crappy rusty patina or barnacles or
whatever. And then there are those who purposely add oxidation to the finish.
The worst offender around here is the Buescher trombone that hangs over the
bar and bears the logo of Ryles jazz club in Cambridge, MA. This club is also
on my beeyatch list for the raincatcher sousaphone taken out of circulation,
only to hang over the entranceway! Grrrrrr!

Heliconman (I polish the 1890 Conn beast at least twice annually)

PS...Museum curators please save your flames and preserve your instruments by
removing the patina/rust/cancer from your historical pieces. Just my 2 shiny
pennies' worth.

"PATINA NEVER SLEEPS!"
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 00:29:56 -0500
From: Michael C Grogg
Subject: Re: [CB] whatziz

It is an ophicleide.  From the looks of it a very nice one.  Reserve has
been met so it is now a matter of having enough cash and a high enough
bid when the auction ends.

mg

On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 21:21:45 -0500 jim lande & joyce mason writes:

> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1413237772
> seller don't know what it is, but has a reserve over a thousand.
> clue me in, please

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

Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 00:37:10 -0500
From: Michael C Grogg
Subject: Re: [CB] whatziz

> Other people have already identified this as an ophicleide, but I'm
> just  writing to mention that I hope people noticed that it's going to
> have to do some serious travelling unless a South American buys it, because
> it's located in Uruguay.  Is the mouthpiece right?  I don't know anything about
> ophicleides except that they came in several sizes.  This mpc looks
> huge in  proportion to the instrument.  Has anyone asked the seller to
> measure the  horn?  It looks as if it has a beautiful natural patina.

The mouthpiece looks very authentic.

> I'm curious -- do people leave a natural patina alone on old brass
> musical   instruments?  I've never bought an instrument made of raw
> (non-lacquered)  brass.  I clean dirty instruments and polish silver-plated ones (all
> mine are  20th C), but I know that among collectors of antique metal artwork,
> removing a natural patina from brass, copper or bronze is a major no-no that
> reduces  the value.  How do you folks feel about darkened brass on old horns?

Leave it alone.  The only thing I might touch would be the mouthpiece,
which I would probably copy, and use a plated copy when playing the horn.
 

Michael Grogg
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 15:37:42 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: [CB] Concert Time!

The San Jose Wind Symphony, the Silicon Valley's premier wind ensemble, with
Founding Conductor Darrell Johnston will perform in concert on Sunday, March
11, 2001 at 3 PM at the West Valley College Theater, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.,
Saratoga.  Special Guest soloist will be Rufus Olivier, Jr. Principal
Bassoonist with the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet.  Tickets
are $15 General and $12 for Seniors/Students.  Call for special group and
children's rates.  Parking fee 8 quarters.  For more information concerning
this concert or the San Jose Wind Symphony, please call 408 927 7597, or
visit us on the World Wide Web at <http://www.sjws.org>

PROGRAM

Contact: Jan Turnage 408 927 7597

I'll be playing bass and Bb contrabass clarinets on this one.  Should be a good concert :-)

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green
ecode:contrabass       http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
***End of Contrabass Digest***

 
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top