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Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 8:18 am
by jose the tuba player
A few months ago I bought what I though was an upright cimbasso, I finally took it in for service and was told it wasn't a cimbasso.
After emailing finke horns I have been informed it is a small tapered BBb tuba. It's really small bore and takes a bass trombone mouthpiece. I need a 12.5mm shank contrabass trombone mouthpiece to make it playable.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 8:39 am
by arpthark
Wow, pretty neat. If I didn't know any better I would've been of a similar mind as you and called it an upright cimbasso, too. I bet something like that would fit very well in groups where they use smaller bore/edgy tubas, like those junior sousaphones.
Interesting that it's a German Finke as I mostly associate that narrow body style with older Italian instruments.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 9:00 am
by jose the tuba player
This is the email I received.
Hello!
The Instrument is a small tapered Bb tuba. We made a few of these instrument. The purpose for it was to be played in ensembles with smaller tapered instruments. The bell on this instrument is the size of a German Bariton. The mouthpiece shank was designed to fit a bass trombone or Bariton mouthpiece.
Greetings
Johannes Finke
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 9:14 am
by jose the tuba player
arpthark wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 8:39 am
Wow, pretty neat. If I didn't know any better I would've been of a similar mind as you and called it an upright cimbasso, too. I bet something like that would fit very well in groups where they use smaller bore/edgy tubas, like those junior sousaphones.
Interesting that it's a German Finke as I mostly associate that narrow body style with older Italian instruments.
Per the email it was meant to be played with other small taper instruments. I agree it's interesting that someone built this thing, what's more interesting is that someone spent $$$$ on this horn and how it ended up in the Pacific Northwest when I bought it.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:30 am
by Mary Ann
Finke was a pretty well known horn maker a couple decades ago; they had very light valves made of some kind of plastic. They never really caught on though and didn't manage a distribution network.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:57 am
by bloke
I believe it's OK to call is a "cimbasso", particularly since those things that we call "cimbasso" are actually contrabass valve trombones, and Verdi's "cimbassos" - most likely - were ophicleides.
That mouthpiece size is roughly bass trombone (old "English") shank. You can either buy a small shank (probably shallow-cup) Wick, or one of my small shank cimbasso mouthpieces. I only have standard shank in stock, but one of the people who has one of the small shank versions might be interested in selling it to you used. It's a great mouthpiece.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:13 pm
by jose the tuba player
bloke wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:57 am
I believe it's OK to call is a "cimbasso", particularly since those things that we call "cimbasso" are actually contrabass valve trombones, and Verdi's "cimbassos" - most likely - were ophicleides.
That mouthpiece size is roughly bass trombone (old "English") shank. You can either buy a small shank (probably shallow-cup) Wic ork, or one of my small shank cimbasso mouthpieces. I only have standard shank in stock, but one of the people who has one of the small shank versions might be interested in selling it to you used. It's a great mouthpiece.
I have one of your bass trombone shank f cimbasso mouthpieces. It didn't fit right. I'm considering getting a conn receiver Nickel plated and installed to match the instrument. I had a picket dealer reach out to see if they had something and I never heard back. That dealer went out of business.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:24 pm
by bloke
jose the tuba player wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:13 pm
bloke wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:57 am
I believe it's OK to call is a "cimbasso", particularly since those things that we call "cimbasso" are actually contrabass valve trombones, and Verdi's "cimbassos" - most likely - were ophicleides.
That mouthpiece size is roughly bass trombone (old "English") shank. You can either buy a small shank (probably shallow-cup) Wic ork, or one of my small shank cimbasso mouthpieces. I only have standard shank in stock, but one of the people who has one of the small shank versions might be interested in selling it to you used. It's a great mouthpiece.
I have one of your bass trombone shank f cimbasso mouthpieces. It didn't fit right. I'm considering getting a conn receiver Nickel played and installed to match the instrument. I had a picket dealer reach out to see if they had something and I never heard back. That dealer went out of business.
A nice/plain (sorta B&S/Meinl-Weston-looking) bass trombone receiver (brass) that's NOT expensive is the one made for the KING euphoniiums.
Talk to someone who seems to know what they're talking about, and get the shank and back-end dimensions... This represents a reasonable mark-up above dealer cost.
https://mouthpieceexpress.com/products/ ... e-receiver
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 2:33 pm
by jose the tuba player
bloke wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:24 pm
jose the tuba player wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:13 pm
bloke wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:57 am
I believe it's OK to call is a "cimbasso", particularly since those things that we call "cimbasso" are actually contrabass valve trombones, and Verdi's "cimbassos" - most likely - were ophicleides.
That mouthpiece size is roughly bass trombone (old "English") shank. You can either buy a small shank (probably shallow-cup) Wic ork, or one of my small shank cimbasso mouthpieces. I only have standard shank in stock, but one of the people who has one of the small shank versions might be interested in selling it to you used. It's a great mouthpiece.
I have one of your bass trombone shank f cimbasso mouthpieces. It didn't fit right. I'm considering getting a conn receiver Nickel played and installed to match the instrument. I had a picket dealer reach out to see if they had something and I never heard back. That dealer went out of business.
A nice/plain (sorta B&S/Meinl-Weston-looking) bass trombone receiver (brass) that's NOT expensive is the one made for the KING euphoniiums.
Talk to someone who seems to know what they're talking about, and get the shank and back-end dimensions... This represents a reasonable mark-up above dealer cost.
https://mouthpieceexpress.com/products/ ... e-receiver
If I ever get the horn back I'll do this. It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 3:10 pm
by ThirdHorn
Mary Ann wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 11:30 am
Finke was a pretty well known horn maker a couple decades ago; they had very light valves made of some kind of plastic. They never really caught on though and didn't manage a distribution network.
As far as I know Johannes Finke is the 2nd generation hornbuilder of Finke Horns, and they are still using PEEK polymer for their valves and cranking out horns as fast as their workshop permits. Unlike many other horn builders (especially one-man operations from the US), Finke will manufacture truly custom builds upon request - any wrap, any alloy and any design. I had one of their single horns on trial for a short period not many years ago. It played spectacularly well, but in the end I found a second hand horn which (mostly) fulfilled my needs, so the custom design I had in mind did not materialize. Which was a shame, as it was a one-of-a-kind idea.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 4:55 pm
by Bob Kolada
Josef Klier makes a ton of mps with the small shank, I got mine from Dillon Music. They have contrabass trombone mps (bigger blank than bass trombone so wider rims) and small shank tuba mps. ime with my Eb cimbasso thing you really need a tuba size rim to play a valved tuba length instrument. I had no issues with a CBT mp in my Kanstul F contra (duh
) but trying to use the same mps in the cimbasso or small old Eb tubas didn't work. I bought a small, small shank Kelly tuba mp and it's a drastic improvement. I think the issue will only be worse in a Bb. I don't know anything about the Wick tuba mps but that's probably the easiest place to start. I think PT also has small shank mps.
As an aside I like shallow CBT mps in bass trombone and euphonium for some things, my JK KBP2C is an excellent mp for low trombone choir parts, playing the chainsaw in brass quintet or brass choir,... Much, much better than the Schilke 60 I played for years, and clearer to boot.
Jose, I'm out of town for a bit but I have some stuff I can send you to try when I get home. A Kanstul 2A (ever so slightly bigger shank but not American tuba size), some old small shank tuba mps.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2026 10:13 pm
by bloke
I have a Doug Elliot contrabass trombone mouthpiece, it's really a fine mouthpiece and it is actually between my Shallowberger thing and - let's say - a TU23.
It's really handy for covering bass trombone mouthpieces with a compensating euphonium.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 11:21 pm
by Snake Charmer
Next to highly praised French Horns with all possible valve layouts Finke did a lot of things you would expect to be invented by Dr. Seuss (only with a strictly straight appearance). I once saw a baroque style trombone (sackbut) with a F-attachment
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 9:27 am
by Mary Ann
jose the tuba player wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 2:33 pm
If I ever get the horn back I'll do this. It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
Curious what it's being advertised as, since it doesn't really fit into categories most people would search on.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 10:33 am
by jose the tuba player
Mary Ann wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2026 9:27 am
jose the tuba player wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 2:33 pm
If I ever get the horn back I'll do this. It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
Curious what it's being advertised as, since it doesn't really fit into categories most people would search on.
It was listed as a small tapered tuba per the email I received from finke.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 10:40 am
by MartinMan
[/quote] It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
[/quote]
Where is it currently being consigned?
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 10:45 am
by jose the tuba player
It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
[/quote]
Where is it currently being consigned?
[/quote]
With Charles at brass mavens.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tid=dXMIcH
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 11:08 am
by arpthark
jose the tuba player wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2026 10:45 am
It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
Where is it currently being consigned?
[/quote]
With Charles at brass mavens.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tid=dXMIcH
[/quote]
0.547" Bore
You could add a valve or two using trombone rotors.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 11:33 am
by jose the tuba player
arpthark wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2026 11:08 am
jose the tuba player wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2026 10:45 am
It's currently on co-signment. I'm not particularly attached to it and I would like to have cash ready for more ferrees tools.
Where is it currently being consigned?
With Charles at brass mavens.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tid=dXMIcH
[/quote]
0.547" Bore
You could add a valve or two using trombone rotors.
[/quote]
If it doesn't sell I'll consider this. But I already have a barcone mini Sousaphone and that's more fun
. I don't need two small bore instruments.
Re: Small tapered German tuba.
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 2:43 pm
by jose the tuba player
Bob Kolada wrote: Fri Sep 04, 2026 4:55 pm
Josef Klier makes a ton of mps with the small shank, I got mine from Dillon Music. They have contrabass trombone mps (bigger blank than bass trombone so wider rims) and small shank tuba mps. ime with my Eb cimbasso thing you really need a tuba size rim to play a valved tuba length instrument. I had no issues with a CBT mp in my Kanstul F contra (duh
) but trying to use the same mps in the cimbasso or small old Eb tubas didn't work. I bought a small, small shank Kelly tuba mp and it's a drastic improvement. I think the issue will only be worse in a Bb. I don't know anything about the Wick tuba mps but that's probably the easiest place to start. I think PT also has small shank mps.
As an aside I like shallow CBT mps in bass trombone and euphonium for some things, my JK KBP2C is an excellent mp for low trombone choir parts, playing the chainsaw in brass quintet or brass choir,... Much, much better than the Schilke 60 I played for years, and clearer to boot.
Jose, I'm out of town for a bit but I have some stuff I can send you to try when I get home. A Kanstul 2A (ever so slightly bigger shank but not American tuba size), some old small shank tuba mps.
I bought the jk2a from Horn guys but it has a tuba size shank. I sent you a pm regarding the kanstul.
) but trying to use the same mps in the cimbasso or small old Eb tubas didn't work. I bought a small, small shank Kelly tuba mp and it's a drastic improvement. I think the issue will only be worse in a Bb. I don't know anything about the Wick tuba mps but that's probably the easiest place to start. I think PT also has small shank mps.
. I don't need two small bore instruments.