Posted by Art on March 10, 2001 at 20:44:35:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Cerveny Helicons posted by Steve Dedman on March 10, 2001 at 13:16:12:
One good thing about the ovals is the fact that you can alter them easily. My index finger is shorter than what the people in Cervany-land had in mind, so I moved the oval spatula out about half an inch on two different Cervanies that I owned. I just heated it with a torch until it was red-hot, and it fell right off. I flattened it out a bit and soldered it back on with a little sheet-brass bracing and never had any trouble with it. The laquer was burned off the spatula, but it shined up nicely. I eventually sold both instruments, and neither buyer seemed to mind my alteration at all.
p.s. I also played on the helicon at Dillon's and really liked it. I'd take it before a sousaphone any day. I just wish it had piston valves and a detachable bell.