Did someone claim that these are unicorns?

[bloke]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143875424106

[tofu]

.

[bisontuba]

Ask Rob Philips of Buckeye Brass, who is the new Cerveny U.S. distributor....

[DonO.]

I have said this before, I will say it again. This is my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Sometime during the winter of 1975 I was shopping for my first “good” tuba. I was in my freshman year and had just completed my first semester on a borrowed school horn. I desperately wanted my own but didn’t know where to acquire one. So I attended the Mid East band conference in Pittsburgh, PA. It may have been the first one, I’m not sure about that. I know that the Mid-West conference was a huge deal, and some promoter was trying to establish an event with that kingpin of vibe in our part of the country. I don’t think it lasted many years though. Mid West is just too big to compete against, and people are willing to travel there. But I digress.

In the vendor area there was only one display with a large number of tubas to try, Custom Music. I was in heaven! I told the sales guy what I was looking for. Ideally, I wanted a Mirafone or Meinl Weston, in Bb (my teacher wasn’t on board with the “you must play CC” movement of the time). Why learn new fingerings if you don’t have to? So, they didn’t have those brands, but he asked if I had ever heard of Cerveny. I hadn’t. He proceeded to give me horns to try. Of everything I tried, I liked the Piggy best. It WAS a Piggy, I remember that clearly, and it had to be Bb, otherwise I would not have considered it.

I wasn’t ready to purchase yet, but he asked me to fill out a card with my name and address for their customer file. I made it clear I wasn’t ready to purchase yet. I didn’t have the money yet but I was hopeful that I would find a way to get the money in the not too distant future. So I left it at that, or so I thought. Several days later I received a letter from Custom stating that my new Cerveny Piggy was being prepared for shipment. After an angry phone call a stop was put to this. I should have let them ship it. I believe that is a business ships you something and you didn’t order it, you get to keep it for free. On the other hand, I don’t think I would have been able to prove I didn’t order it.

The last time I told this story, there were those on this forum who told me this was impossible, that I must have been mistaken, that this particular horn was not available in the USA then. That it must have been either an Arion or a CC Piggy. But that’s not what I remember. I am sure it was the elusive Bb Piggy.

[LeMark]

The BBb piggy wasn't even an option on the cerveny website until a decade ago. Didn't exist

The interesting thing is, when they DID put it on the website, the photo they used had a vertical MTS. it might still be pictured that way.

If there ever was a BBb piggy with a vertical MTS, that really is a unicorn. What really probably happened was thet were just lazy and used the wrong photo

[DonO.]

With all due respect, my experience was in 1975, when there was no internet to speak of. Just because it didn’t appear on their web site until 10 years ago does not mean it never existed. Custom Music was a big tuba source in those days. Is it possible they were big enough to ask Cerveny to make a special proprietary model just for them? My memory on the details of this are quite clear. I asked to only be shown Bb horns. And I remember the edge of the bell darn near touching the upper bout, just like a Piggy. I mean, maybe it was an Arion. But the bell on those isn’t quite as close to the bout as the Piggy, and besides the sales guy called it a Piggy.

[LeMark]

A BBb piggy didn't appear in ANY literature until about 10 years, including cerveny catalogs.

As for custom music, they were a bunch of lying, slimy crooks. They would tell you anything they wanted to without any blushing if it was the truth or not. For example I had one of their guys tell me to my face the Sanders tubas, which were clearly amati stencils (not even the fancier cerveny line) were made in Germany in their own factory. When I pointed out that the receiver had "made in czechoslovakia" He walked away.

[DonO.]

A BBb piggy didn't appear in ANY literature until about 10 years, including cerveny catalogs.

As for custom music, they were a bunch of lying, slimy crooks. They would tell you anything they wanted to without any blushing if it was the truth or not. For example I had one of their guys tell me to my face the Sanders tubas, which were clearly amati stencils (not even the fancier cerveny line) were made in Germany in their own factory. When I pointed out that the receiver had "made in czechoslovakia" He walked away.

Completely agree about the lying slimy part. My experience with them getting ready to ship me a horn I hadn’t even bought shows me that. So I suppose I should take anything I was told by them with a hefty grain of salt. I definitely played a Piggy, but based on what you’ve told me they probably gave me a CC and lied about what it was.

[bloke]

[LeMark]

A BBb piggy didn't appear in ANY literature until about 10 years, including cerveny catalogs.

As for custom music, they were a bunch of lying, slimy crooks. They would tell you anything they wanted to without any blushing if it was the truth or not. For example I had one of their guys tell me to my face the Sanders tubas, which were clearly amati stencils (not even the fancier cerveny line) were made in Germany in their own factory. When I pointed out that the receiver had "made in czechoslovakia" He walked away.

Completely agree about the lying slimy part. My experience with them getting ready to ship me a horn I hadn’t even bought shows me that. So I suppose I should take anything I was told by them with a hefty grain of salt. I definitely played a Piggy, but based on what you’ve told me they probably gave me a CC and lied about what it was.

More likely it was an Arion that they dubbed a "BBb piggy" because they thought it would make a sale. Wouldn't expect anyone to whip out a pair of calipers to confirm an 835 bore

Slimy worms


That being said.. I'd love a play a vintage Arion. I've been looking for one for years