The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone

Subject: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 06:40 PM

How does this thing work?

double euphonium on French EBay

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 06:49 PM

Here y'go...

It seems there's a valve which switches from one bell to t'other...

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Paul Burke
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 06:50 PM

I knew this was a Jack Campin post before I opened the thread...

No idea what it is or how it's played, but keep finding them- c'est votre metier.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: EBarnacle
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 10:16 PM

If you watch carefully, the left hand manipulates the switching valve and the music goes round and round and it comes out here.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Ole Juul
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 05:58 AM

It is common to have a "trigger" valve, even on modern instruments. The double bell is not common any more though. I'm not a brass player, but I bet using the same first half for both second halves, is a design nightmare and is probably quite inadequate by modern standards. Double French horns are common, indeed standard for orchestral use, and it's not unusual to have an "F" trigger on a tenor trombone.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 07:22 AM

Don't panic....................

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: mayomick
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 08:39 AM

1 600,00 €
whatever the sound it makes , the Zaphodbeeblebroxophone doesn't come cheap

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Tootler
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 12:13 PM

I think you'll find that it's actually €1600.00 as Continental Europe use a comma for a decimal point. Still not cheap, but not as expensive as you might have thought.

I used to tutor students in Mainland Europe for the Open University. I needed to be aware of it as I came across it all the time as I was tutoring a technology course.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 03:59 PM

Apparently it's like having a Euphonium and a Tenor Horn in the same instrument, with the valve to switch between the two. Something of a compromise...

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 04:02 PM

A bit pricey for me - I was hoping I could pick one up for €42.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Mar 12 - 09:50 PM

This reminds me of words from "Seventy-six Trombones" from the musical "The Music Man."

There were copper-bottom typani in horse platoons
thundering, thundering all along the way.
Double-bell euphoniums and big bassoons,
each bassoon having a big, fat say!



At last I know what a double-bell euphonium is.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 May 12 - 09:02 AM

And a different variety from West Africa:

The Kakaki

There is one of those for sale on French EBay (the photo doesn't make it clear if it's a one- or two-bell type). Only 250 EUR at the moment. From what you can see of it, it looks stunning.

Kakaki on EBay

And I bet it outblasts a vuvuzela by decibels.

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 04 May 12 - 01:46 PM

In my high-school band, back in 1946-47-48, we had one, maybe two double-bell euphoniums (euphonia?) in what was called the baritone section. My best friend played it/one-of-them.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: mayomick
Date: 05 May 12 - 09:49 AM

Going by the amount of syllables , you could actually substitute Zaphodbeeblebroxophones for Double-bell euphoniums if you wanted to sing 76 trombones .