Editing Cimbasso (section)

== Construction ==

The modern cimbasso is usually built with four to six rotary valves (or occasionally [[piston valve]]s), a forward-facing [[bell (wind instrument)|bell]], and a [[cylindrical bore]]. These features lend its sound to the bass of the [[trombone]] family rather than the tuba, and its valves allow for more agility than a contrabass trombone.<ref name="Grove">{{cite Grove |title=Cimbasso |first=Renato |last=Meucci |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05789 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05789 |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 February 2022 }}</ref> Like the modern contrabass trombone, it is most often pitched in [[Eight-foot pitch|12-foot]] (12′) F, although instruments are made in 13′ E♭ and occasionally low 16′ C or 18′ B♭.<ref name="manufacturers">{{Multiref2
 | {{cite book |title=Brass Instruments |pages=17–18 |date=2021 |publisher=V.F. Červený & Synové |publication-place=Kraslice |url=http://www.vfcerveny.cz/media/attachments/2022/02/26/vfc_catalogue_2021_cmyk-min.pdf#page=17 |access-date=15 May 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224014937/http://www.vfcerveny.cz/media/attachments/2022/02/26/vfc_catalogue_2021_cmyk-min.pdf#page=17 |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=G&P Wind Instruments |publication-place=Milan |url=http://www.gp-wind.com/instruments/httpswwwgp-windcomcimbasso |language=it |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301112643/http://www.gp-wind.com/instruments/httpswwwgp-windcomcimbasso |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=Haag Brass |publication-place=Weinfelden |url=https://haagbrass.com/collection/cimbasso/?lang=en |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709030738/https://haagbrass.com/collection/cimbasso/?lang=en |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=Helmut Voigt |publication-place=Markneukirchen |url=https://helmut-voigt.com/deutsch-cimbasso/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |language=de |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301112642/https://helmut-voigt.com/deutsch-cimbasso/ |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Contrabass Cimbasso |publisher=Jürgen Voigt |publication-place=Markneukirchen |url=https://shop.voigt-brass.de/en/MASTER-INSTRUMENTS/TROMBONES/CONTRABASS-CIMBASSO/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301112643/https://shop.voigt-brass.de/en/MASTER-INSTRUMENTS/TROMBONES/CONTRABASS-CIMBASSO/ |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=CB-900 Cimbasso in F |publisher=Lätzsch Custom Brass |publication-place=Bremen |url=https://www.xn--ltzsch-shop-l8a.com/en/web-shop/84-cb-900-cimbasso-in-f.html |access-date=20 October 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019235718/https://www.xn--ltzsch-shop-l8a.com/en/web-shop/84-cb-900-cimbasso-in-f.html |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=[[Melton Meinl Weston]] |date=17 May 2016 |publication-place=Geretsried |url=https://www.melton-meinl-weston.com/en/instruments/cimbassos/41-2/ |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815195525/https://www.melton-meinl-weston.com/en/instruments/cimbassos/41-2/ |url-status=live }}
 | {{cite web |title=MJC Cimbassi |publisher=Mike Johnson Custom Instruments |publication-place=Salford |url=http://mike-johnson-custom.co.uk/instruments/index.html |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815015856/http://mike-johnson-custom.co.uk/instruments/index.html |url-status=live }} Instruments in F, E♭, and low C.
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=Rudolf Meinl Metalblasinstrumente |publication-place=Diespeck |language=de |url=https://www.rudolf-meinl.de/index.php?id=4586 |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709030738/https://www.rudolf-meinl.de/index.php?id=4586 |url-status=live }} Instruments in F, E♭, low C, and low B♭.
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbasso |publisher=Thein Brass |publication-place=Bremen |url=https://thein-brass.de/en/instrument/cimbasso/ |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707075113/https://thein-brass.de/en/instrument/cimbasso/ |url-status=live }}
 | {{Cite web |title=Cimbassos |publisher=Wessex Tubas |publication-place=Andover |url=https://www.wessex-tubas.com/collections/cimbassos |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709030738/https://www.wessex-tubas.com/collections/cimbassos |url-status=live }} Instruments in F, E♭, and low B♭.
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The [[mouthpiece (brass)|mouthpiece]] and [[leadpipe]] are positioned in front of the player, and the mouthpiece receiver is sized to fit tuba mouthpieces. The valve tubing section is arranged vertically between the player's knees and rests on the floor with a [[cello]]-style [[endpin]], and the bell is arranged over the player's left shoulder to point horizontally forward, similar to a trombone.{{sfn|Yeo|2021|p=152|loc="trombone basso Verdi"}}{{sfn|Meucci|1996|p=158|loc=Fig. 13 (p. 179)}} This design accommodates the instrument in cramped [[orchestra pit]]s and allows a direct, concentrated sound to be projected towards the conductor and audience.

The bore tends to range between that of a contrabass trombone and a small F tuba, {{convert|0.587|to(-)|0.730|in}}, and even larger for the larger instruments in low C or B♭.<ref>{{cite book |title=Rudolf Meinl Prospekt |date=2018 |publisher=Rudolf Meinl Musikinstrumenten-Herstellung |publication-place=[[Diespeck]], Bavaria |url=https://www.rudolf-meinl.de/fileadmin/template/rudolf-meinl/download/prospekt.pdf#page=7 |access-date=10 September 2022 |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910021037/https://www.rudolf-meinl.de/fileadmin/template/rudolf-meinl/download/prospekt.pdf#page=7 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bell diameter is usually between {{convert|10|and|11.5|in}}.<ref name="manufacturers"/>
There has been demand over time for larger bore instruments with a more [[conical bore]] and larger bell, in contrast with the trombone-like sound from smaller cylindrical bore instruments. This is because cimbasso parts are often played by tuba players, particularly in US orchestras. Czech manufacturer [[V. F. Červený & Synové|Červený]] catered to both needs in its 2021 catalog which lists two cimbassi in F, one model with a small {{convert|0.598|in|adj=on}} bore and {{convert|10|in|adj=on}} bell listed with their valve trombones, and another with a tuba-like bore of {{convert|0.717|in}} and a larger {{convert|11|in|adj=on}} bell with much wider flare, listed with their tubas.<ref name="cerveny-2021-catalogue">{{cite book |title=Brass Instruments |pages=17–18 |date=2021 |publisher=V.F. Červený & Synové |publication-place=Kraslice, Czech Republic |url=http://www.vfcerveny.cz/media/attachments/2022/02/26/vfc_catalogue_2021_cmyk-min.pdf#page=17 |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629001725/http://www.vfcerveny.cz/media/attachments/2022/02/26/vfc_catalogue_2021_cmyk-min.pdf#page=17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The cimbasso is usually built with rotary valves, although some Italian makers use piston valves. British instrument maker Mike Johnson builds cimbassi with four compensating piston valves as commonly found on British tubas, in both F/C and E♭/B♭ sizes.<ref name="MJC">{{cite web |title=MJC Cimbassi |publisher=Mike Johnson Custom Instruments |url=http://mike-johnson-custom.co.uk/instruments/index.html |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815015856/http://mike-johnson-custom.co.uk/instruments/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Los Angeles tubist [[Jim Self]] had a compact F cimbasso built in the shape of a [[euphonium]], which has been named the "Jimbasso".<ref name="self-instruments">{{cite web |title=Jim Self's Instruments |date=2017 |publisher=Basset Hound Music |url=https://www.bassethoundmusic.com/hardware.html |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923180940/http://www.bassethoundmusic.com/hardware.html |archive-date=23 September 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2004 Swiss brass instrument manufacturer Haag released a cimbasso in F built with five [[Hagmann valve]]s and a {{convert|0.630|in|adj=on}} bore. Although discontinued, this instrument is used by several operas and orchestras, including [[Badische Staatskapelle]], [[Hungarian State Opera]], and [[Sydney Symphony Orchestra]], and by Swedish jazz musician {{Ill|Mattis Cederberg|sv}}.<ref name="Haag-Cimbasso">{{Cite web |title=Haag Cimbasso Trombone C45HV |work=Haag Trombones |publisher=Musik Haag AG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312020418/http://www.haag-trombone.com/index.php/en/products/trombones/cimbasso |archive-date=12 March 2013 |url=http://www.haag-trombone.com/index.php/en/products/trombones/cimbasso |url-status=dead }}</ref>