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FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:47 pm
by arpthark
I used this in TubaChristmas last year. Someone tried to cut it from Eb to F by removing the tuning slide curlicue but it ended up in E. I learned E fingerings and managed to play everything, somehow. Slides are stuck, valves measure about .600" bore. I'm guessing Czech.

Give me $50 and pick it up and it's yours. Will not ship, can drive a little ways to meet (it's $50, c'mon). Located in eastern CT.

PM or email beanhillbrass at gmail.

Thanks!

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Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:54 am
by Tubajug
Killer keel on that thing, too!

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:56 am
by arpthark
Tubajug wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:54 am Killer keel on that thing, too!
It's a keel-er keel for sure!

Surely somebody can use some of the parts in a franken-project, or just to mess around on.

Notice the nice bit of wire substituting as a brace on the neck. Ya know, I can probably fix that with an actual brace... I'm sure that will greatly increase the value. :laugh:

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:43 am
by Tubajug
What's the helicon in the background?

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:50 am
by arpthark
Tubajug wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:43 am What's the helicon in the background?
That is a Carl Fischer Eb helicon. The replacement for the one being sold!

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:36 pm
by bloke
I have an old oval style Bohemian rotary baritone with four rotors that is at the same pitch level. Basically, a semitone high version of "high pitch". That's basically the same version of "high pitch" that Scottish bagpipes use. When we play stuff along with bagpipes in bands and orchestras in (A=440) B-flat, they are calling that the key of A.

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:57 pm
by arpthark
It was a whole lot of fun (in a brain-screwing sort of way) playing low Bb with 1-2-3 on this instrument.

It's really not too bad of a player. It makes a characteristic tuba sound. It's got an even patina. The valves are good. It's just in a wonky key with no way to adjust.

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:44 pm
by bloke
Particularly since it's super high pitch and no tuning slide, the obvious thing to do is to put a loopy-doopy main tuning slide just above the first rotor, and that main tuning slide would not only drop it to E-flat, but could serve as a left-hand tune-any-note slide to fix 1-3 and 1-2-3...maybe even some other stuff...?

...and sure, in the meantime someone could challenge their mind and play it at TubaChristmas.

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 4:11 pm
by travisd
If you could bring it to NYC TubaXmas I'd be into it for $50 just for a cool room decoration...

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 4:40 pm
by arpthark
Sorry, I can't take it to NYC TubaChristmas. But I do hope to see some of you all there!

I'm taking the train so I am just taking a beat up old Besson in a backpack case. Don't really want to be lugging a helicon on Metro-North and to-and-fro Grand Central.

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:18 pm
by bloke
I'm thinking you might be able to get more on your local Craigslist advertising it as decor.

Re: FS: 100 yr old helicon in E natural with no tuning slide $50

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:42 pm
by arpthark
bloke wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2023 9:18 pm I'm thinking you might be able to get more on your local Craigslist advertising it as decor.
Not a bad idea, but I already have someone who is interested and stopping by at some future point. :cheers:

I'll tentatively mark this on hold once I get confirmation of a general date.