I am interested in getting advice on a couple of tubas. I am interested in the King 2341 clone and the e flat models. I have been told by a very reputable member that the valves on the King clone are better than the new King.
I am limited slightly in the lung capacity/volume area (at 66 that ain't all!) Are these horns easy to project? How about intonation, etc.
Thanks.
Chinese tubas
- Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker

- Posts: 10427
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:46 pm
- Location: Newburgh, Indiana
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Re: Chinese tubas
There's a 2341 clone?
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
- Art Hovey
- pro musician

- Posts: 1508
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- Location: Connecticut
Re: Chinese tubas
I tried a couple of them at the Army Tuba Conference. The main thing I noticed was that the leadpipe and receiver are angled differently. For me the real King is comfortable but the Chinese version has the mouthpiece lower but aiming uphill. Some people like that, but I find it very uncomfortable. If you are a short person and like to blow uphill you may like it.
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Bob Kolada
- 6 valves

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- Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:57 pm
- Location: Chicago
Re: Chinese tubas
I much prefer the King over the 2341 copy. Jonathan's 1291 copy at Midwest was a very nice horn though. The Hirsbrunner copies are nice, maybe the best of the Bb's. There's one on here-
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=53100" target="_blank
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=53100" target="_blank
- Rick Denney
- Resident Genius
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Re: Chinese tubas
I found the same. Also, I didn't get the resonance that I'm accustomed to on the better Kings.Art Hovey wrote:I tried a couple of them at the Army Tuba Conference. The main thing I noticed was that the leadpipe and receiver are angled differently. For me the real King is comfortable but the Chinese version has the mouthpiece lower but aiming uphill. Some people like that, but I find it very uncomfortable. If you are a short person and like to blow uphill you may like it.
Bloke, it ain't patent infringement. There are no current patents on that design. In the world of wristwatches (where most patents ran their course decades ago), they'd use the term "homage" rather than "replica" or "fake". The original, though, isn't so expensive to warrant what one must give up to get the...homage.
Yes, we respect original design for its own sake. Sometimes we have to put our money where out mouth is to do so.
Rick "who'd rather have a real King, even if an old one to get to the right price point" Denney
