In about 1992 I bought a Cerveny 781 BBb tuba sight unseen from WWBW. This is a red brass Cerveny equivalent of the Miraphone 186 (very slightly larger bore). I loved it. Had the first valve vented and I lapped the 1st valve slide. So I rarely used the 4th valve unless it was really necessary. Wonderful horn -- for a BBb rotary tuba. Fantastic sound. A few years ago I sold it and moved back to playing Eb. The choice was a lengthy struggle for me since -- even though I really prefer Eb tubas -- that Cerveny was such a great instrument.
If I'd kept it, I would at some point (after 20 years!) have cut the second valve tuning slide down a bit. But otherwise it was a fantastic instrument.
( If you look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0e7uZHHFY at about 4:45, you can see me -- in the red shirt -- playing that horn.)
Last edited by ghmerrill; 12-18-2015 at 12:55 PM.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)