1930s Cerveny 5 valve F tuba similar to Alex 155; $2600

[martyneilan]

I have done some more tweaking and this horn plays great! You may someday want to have the hybrid linkage redone with a standard spiral spring configuration, but this sounds like an Alex in a big hall. Tuning is surprisingly good too (or as good as the player.)
2600 dollars cash firm, in the Nashville area. Selling for financial reasons and because I don't have significant need for a bass tuba at this time.

This is a 1930's Cerveny F tuba with a nearly identical bell and body profile to the Alexander 155. 15" bell with garland and a little over 37" tall. The only difference is the bore is about a half mm smaller than the comparable Alex bore of .728 and seems to tighten up the intonation considerably. The low range plays well and there are no "bad" notes; this is still a rotary valve F tuba but plays better than many. Intonation is better than my previous Cerveny Harmonia which was shorter and had a smaller bell. With the two step fifth valve and a readily accessible 4th valve slide I have not found the need for a 6th valve. Takes a standard / American shank mouthpiece. I have primarily been using the Baer F (not included, as I also use it as the "quintet" mouthpiece on my big horn.) Include an original San Francisco Reunion Blues gigbag.

From the previous owner Mark Jones: "It started life as a 4 valve horn, and a fifth '2+3' v added. I bought it and had the rotors turned, converted from clockspring to duo bro, had Pollard water keys added, valve bearings squeezed, etc. The clockspring rings are still there but empty...they connect the finger spatulas. 15" bell. Horn size of an Alex F with garland. Horn dates to, I believe mid-late 1930's. Tight, great pitch, low range decent, beautiful sound."

I have since tweaked and slightly reconfigured the linkage for smoother and quieter performance. I have enjoyed playing the Vaughan Williams and various horn concerti during the year I have owned it. I was going to play Mahler 1 on it, but the university-sponsored orchestra I was playing with folded.

I have read of rumors of one of the top apprentices from Alexander absconding with a factory notebook; perhaps this tuba was the result of that.

$2600 cash, local pickup in the greater Nashville area preferred.

The horn could use a professional chemical cleaning, when I pulled the slides you could see some deposits. I find no signs of red rot. The valve linkage retrofit works after I made a few adjustments. There is also enough length in the leadpipe if you wanted to be a glutton for punishment and add a 6th valve.

Strengths: sings, projects, good intonation and low range, classic F tuba sound.
Weaknesses: doesn't play or sound like a contrabass tuba down low (It is what a true 4/4 F tuba used to be before horns like the 45SLP came out. This really is a copy of the classic Alexander F with the bore just a tad smaller (somewhere in the .687 to .709 range.) I don't think Cerveny makes a horn like it these days.

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[jtm]

Looks like fun. It still has the long 5th valve circuit, right?

[martyneilan]

Looks like fun. It still has the long 5th valve circuit, right?

Two tone like the old Mirafones. Pedal F also works with all 6 valves down, and all lower notes can be fingered closer to pitch than with a long wholestep valve where a couple notes are usually far off.

[jtm]

Two tone like the old Mirafones. Pedal F also works with all 6 valves down, and all lower notes can be fingered closer to pitch than with a long wholestep valve where a couple notes are usually far off.

Thanks. My Miraphone 188 has that configuration and I like it. I'd be jumping at this if I hadn't just sorted out my F tuba situation.

[mm_an]

Great looking horn! Do you happen to have any recordings of it being played? Thanks

[martyneilan]

Unfortunately I don't. Almost all of my playing this fall has been on the big horn, and I cannot practice where I currently live or work (outside of buzzing at home and in the car.) If anything changes or I am able to take the F to a public place, I will try to get a clip. I had delayed responding because I was trying to see if I could find somewhere this week but I was not successful. Maybe I can bring it early to a rehearsal and lay something down before I start playing on my big horn.