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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:57 am
by ArnoldGottlieb
I saw a few for sale in a shop in Cologne. There was some unsubstantiated talk about this person being a Meinl family member. While I don't know if that's true or not, the horns certainly didn't knock me out, and although I don't own a rudy, I certainly like them. Peace. ASG
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:52 am
by SplatterTone
One of the local music stores, Saied Music, has horns -- two models of tubas -- that they sell under their own private brand name "Accent". They say they are made in Gemany in "the Meinl factory". Whatever that means.
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:04 am
by quinterbourne
I'm not for sure, but........
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:36 am
by Tom Mason
I visited with Accent representatives last year at Midwest. They confirmed what I was told by another Memphis area wind instrument dealer that the family that owns the MW plants have bought out many of the other European names; including Courtois, and B.&S. among others.
As Mr. Meinl was at the booth at the time, I suspect that the information I was given was true. The conversation started when I noticed that a Courtois bass trombone they had looked exactly like an Accent bass trombone I had dealt with, down to the rotors, linkage, and slide attachment mechanism.
I would suspect that the tuba in question was made by one of the Meinl plants and stenciled with that name.
Of course, this might not apply either, but maybe it helps.
Tom Mason
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:01 am
by SplatterTone
When I looked at one of the Accent tubas -- a 4-piston-valve, probably 3/4 size -- I thought it appeared to be built very similar to my VMI euphonium. The valve caps and plating, type of brass, general appearance gave me a "deju vu all over again" feeling. It made me wonder if there is some connection between who made the VMI 3171 euphonium and the Accent tuba.
By the way, I listened to the guy at the store play a 4-rotor-valve, small 4/4 or big 3/4 Accent tuba that sounded good to me. I think it would make a good choice for somebody wanting something not too big, but still with a good sound.
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:56 am
by windshieldbug
quinterbourne wrote:http://www.meinl.de/
Roland Meinl website above. Appears to be mainly a percussion instrument manufacturer though.
Perhaps one just uses sticks on the bell, like cymbals. The valves are merely for tuning the sound of the resultant crash as desired.
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:23 pm
by prototypedenNIS
quinterbourne wrote:http://www.meinl.de/
Roland Meinl website above. Appears to be mainly a percussion instrument manufacturer though.
good cymbals, my dad has a set of hi hats
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:17 am
by Dan Schultz
It's been my experience with German merchants that EVERYTHING sold there is made in Germany... even though import boxes might be clearly visible in the shop. There is no doubt in my mind that the Germans are buying foreign components for assembly in their plants and quite possibly buying complete horns and rebadging them as German products.... something the American manufacturers would
NEVER think about doing
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:13 pm
by chhite
Ironically, the Roland Meinl factory is just around the corner from Rudolf Meinl's shop. Found it by accident when leaving Rudi's en route to Bamberg by back roads. Don't know if there's a family connection or not. Lee Stofer might know and he's also mentioned that the name Meinl is like Smith in the states.