Keefer happiness

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
humBell
Posts: 1986
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 206 times
Been thanked: 153 times

Keefer happiness

Post by humBell »

I really just wanted to put a bad pun out there.

But asside from that, every time i seize an opportunity to play a Keefer, i really like it.

Am i nuts?

Sorry.

More specifically, is that particular sentiment nuts?


"All art is one." -Hal
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5239
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 994 times

Re: Keefer happiness

Post by bort2.0 »

I can't remember... did Distin become Keefer, or the other way around?

When I was at the Simonetti museum in NC, he showed me this one. Big for an Eb, and I thought the valve buttons were pretty slick:

Image
humBell
Posts: 1986
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 206 times
Been thanked: 153 times

Re: Keefer happiness

Post by humBell »

bort2.0 wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 7:52 pm I can't remember... did Distin become Keefer, or the other way around?

When I was at the Simonetti museum in NC, he showed me this one. Big for an Eb, and I thought the valve buttons were pretty slick:

Image
Distin (company) became Keefer when Distin (John) died.

Yeah, that front action Keefer is a thing of beauty (and quite uncommon, not that Keefers or Distins are plentiful in general)

The current TubaTuesday also merits mentioning here, as it is there helicon valve sets what are wicked cool. I'd even include Boosey & Co in the family lineage.
"All art is one." -Hal
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 18658
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3670 times
Been thanked: 3944 times

Re: Keefer happiness

Post by bloke »

Quite a few years ago, a pawnshop friend of mine brought a Keefer three-valve top-action E-flat with cloisonné finger buttons to my house. It played very nicely in-tune with itself, and I can’t remember whether it was above or below modern pitch. He wanted $250 for it yet, which is probably the equivalent of $650 or $700 today.
I just didn’t need it and didn’t buy it, but did admire it.
humBell
Posts: 1986
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 206 times
Been thanked: 153 times

Re: Keefer happiness

Post by humBell »

"cloisonné"

Learn something new every day... assuming one pays attention.

I do like the rounded metal finger buttons that most have, even if the colored eagle ones are pretty snazzy.

$250 is what i paid for my BBb Keefer helicon as well. Plus 16 odd hours of driving and a regret. Seller actually said she'd take half that, but i guess i am not much of a bargainer...
"All art is one." -Hal
User avatar
Mary Ann
Posts: 2927
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:24 am
Has thanked: 490 times
Been thanked: 576 times

Re: Keefer happiness

Post by Mary Ann »

I had a highly-engraved Keefer tenor horn for a while. It was in tune with itself but high pitch, had extenders that were the wrong length to put it in 440, and very very badly needed a valve job. Had its original mouthpiece. Sold it to a local trumpet pro who bought it for a student who passed on before he could take possession. It sure was pretty (silver) but not of any use to me.
Post Reply