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The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone

24 Mar 12 - 06:40 PM (#3328341)
Subject: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Jack Campin

How does this thing work?

double euphonium on French EBay


24 Mar 12 - 06:49 PM (#3328344)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Bernard

Here y'go...

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


24 Mar 12 - 06:50 PM (#3328345)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Paul Burke

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.


24 Mar 12 - 10:16 PM (#3328432)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: EBarnacle

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


25 Mar 12 - 05:58 AM (#3328538)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Ole Juul

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.


25 Mar 12 - 07:22 AM (#3328561)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: GUEST,Don Wise

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


25 Mar 12 - 08:39 AM (#3328582)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: mayomick

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


25 Mar 12 - 12:13 PM (#3328649)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Tootler

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.


25 Mar 12 - 03:59 PM (#3328742)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Bernard

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...


25 Mar 12 - 04:02 PM (#3328746)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: BrooklynJay

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


25 Mar 12 - 09:50 PM (#3328904)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: GUEST,leeneia

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.


04 May 12 - 09:02 AM (#3346786)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Jack Campin

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.


04 May 12 - 01:46 PM (#3346876)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: Uncle_DaveO

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


05 May 12 - 09:49 AM (#3347138)
Subject: RE: The Zaphodbeeblebroxophone
From: mayomick

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