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Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 16:58:40 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] helicon cases
>How do I get in touch with Walt?
>It seems that NOBODY builds helicon cases anymore!The website for Walt Johnson is http://www.johnsoncases.com. Amati
still makes helicons: I wonder if they provide cases?Grant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
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---------------------------------------------------------From: LeliaLoban
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 20:21:26 EDT
Subject: [CB] Ophicleide (not!)
Why do they do what they do...?
At the Georgetown Flea Mkt. in Washington, D. C. yesterday, I saw a 3"x5"
card labelled, "OPHICLEIDE". For some reason the card propelled itself
forward on the space-time continuum considerably earlier than the instrument
to which the card was attached: a perfectly ordinary, student-quality, black
plastic bassoon (Fox). I asked the dealer how much he wanted. US $1,200.
This seemed rather a lot for a somewhat beat-up student bassoon in need of a
full re-pad and some other stuff--but then I'm a single reed person and I
don't know from bassoons. Without editorial comment, I asked the dealer why
he thought this instrument was an ophicleide. He shrugged and grinned. He
said, "I dunno." I waited. He shrugged again and added, "Maybe it's a
bassoon."I said, "Well, yes, it's a bassoon." And I waited for him to say something
else.And waited. And smiled. And waited.
And he shrugged and grinned, and I shrugged and grinned, and that was the end
of that highly educational exchange.In the summer of 1999 and again in the summer of 2000, this same dealer
offered an American Standard metal clarinet (Conn's student brand), tagged
$295, with no takers. It was banana-shaped and needed everything, including
dent work, and was worth less than US$50 IMHO. This summer, he's no longer
offering the clarinet. I wonder what became of it?So where did this guy ever pick up the word "ophicleide" and why would he
give that name to a student bassoon?--when he *knows* it's a bassoon?!Life's little mysteries. :-)
Lelia
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 02:38:33 +0200
From: "Klaus Bjerre"
Subject: Re: [CB] helicon cases>From: Grant Green
>>How do I get in touch with Walt?
>>It seems that NOBODY builds helicon cases anymore!
>
> The website for Walt Johnson is http://www.johnsoncases.com. Amati
> still makes helicons: I wonder if they provide cases?Sorry not to have followed this thread from the beginning.
Helicons are nightmares when it come to transport. Their construction calls
for very unwieldy cases.Joe Salesmansburger has come up with a solution:
<http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/apr2001/messages/52438.html>
Another poster on the Chisham TubeNet also had a helicon case question, to
which I attempted an answer:<http://www.chisham.com/tips/bbs/apr2001/messages/50892.html>
As I have read the Amati site, really the Cerveny brand, they do not make
cases for their hugamonsters:<http://www.amati.cz/english/production/instruments/files/chl/chl_631g.htm>
Klaus
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 21:16:27 -0700
From: David Richoux
Subject: Re: [CB] helicon casesThe one man who probably put more air miles on his helicon than anybody else in the world was Allen Jaffee of the Preservation Hall Jazz band. He and I discussed cases when his band played in Palo Alto many years ago and this was he did.
You can make a very ugly but very sturdy fiberglass case yourself. (I made one for a small tuba and another for a sousaphone because I didn't like those fiberboard boxes that were the only thing available at the time - they survived several trips to Europe and Japan)
This is a rough outline for the process. (It works for any large instrument, BTW) (I am leaving a lot of little stuff out - either you get the idea or don't even try it!)
What you will need (besides basic skills in working with fiberglass ):
access to a fiberglass "chop shop," auto body shop or other similar facility is handy but not absolutely vital.
- 1 large sheet of half inch to 5/8th good quality plywood (marine grade is best)
- large sheets of fiberglass cloth in a medium weight (enough to drape over the horn)
- a thick plastic garbage can liner or tarp (enough to drape tightly over the horn)
- a dozen "T-Bolts" and thumbscrews with rubber and metal washers - #10-24 minimum
- soft blanket or old sleeping bag to cover horn drill, staple gun, saws, hammer, etc.
here is the basic process:
use the blanket or sleeping bag to wrap the horn each time and remember exactly how it is re-packed to avoid damage to delicate bits.
- disassemble the instrument (if possible) and arrange in the most compact shape.
- wrap the horn in the blanket and place it on the plywood sheet.
- Drape the plastic tarp over the bundle tightly but do not tuck under the horn - you are making a shell that will be pulled off of the horn so you cannot trap it!
- use the staple gun to attach the tarp tightly to the plywood all around the edges. be sure to reduce any folds or lumps as much as possible.
- using your skills with fiberglass (or taking the whole thing to the "chop shop") make a layered half shell with a large flange all around the horn. Small pieces of plywood can be used as reinforcement and handle mounting points.
- Cut the shell and plywood all around the flange (3 to 6 inches works well) If you can make a thin shell yourself and then pull it off the horn you can take that to the fiberglass shop to be made thicker - this is what I did.
- After the shell is done it is a quick process of drilling holes through the flange and plywood all around, hammering the T-bolts into the bottom of the plywood and fitting the thumbscrews with washers to hold the cover on.
- Add some handles and away you go!
I have watched airline baggage handlers and customs agents puzzle over the beast but they could not break it...
The case Allan Jaffee used resembled a large lumpy green boulder on wheels.Dave Richoux
---------------------------------------------------------From: Heliconman
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 11:40:38 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] helicon cases
In a message dated 7/23/01 8:38:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, K-Bone writes:
> As I have read the Amati site, really the Cerveny brand, they do not make
> cases for their hugamonsters:
>
> <http://www.amati.cz/english/production/instruments/files/chl/chl_631g.htm>
>
> KlausI forwarded several of the recent postings on helicon cases to my
buddy/fellow helicon player Phil, to which he replies......According to the conversation I had with Amati's HQ in Florida, they only
made six helicon cases and abandoned the project because the cost was
prohibitive.
I absolutely LOVE the sousaphone case that SKB makes. I wonder how much it
would cost to have them custom build a helicon case (they probably would not
be interested in even speaking with individuals).
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 11:31:39 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: [CB] Contrabass sarrusophone FS
There is a Gautrot Eb contrabass sarrusophone for sale right now on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1449633003). Looks a lot like mine, but with a better finish. I'd guess that this model was made later than mine (maybe 1925) as it has rollers on the little finger keys (although for some reason it appears not to have the RH1 high D alternate key). The seller is Music Treasures, who often sell antique and 2nd hand instruments (usually through eBay).
Looks like a great horn. There are currently 6 bids, and the bid is only up to $1,026 (reserve not yet met). :-)
Best of luck!
Grant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
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