Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:50 am
Dear TubeNet readers,
Please gently correct any inaccuracies in the following:
Walter Nirschl, after working for other the German instrument manufacturers, purchased Boehm & Meinl in the early 1990's. For a time, he continued to market the tubas under that name. In 1994, with some of his own modifications, he began building tubas under the name "Meister Walter Nirschl." He built 15 of the large 4/4 CC lacquer tubas, some of which were sold through Orpheus Music (Lee Hipp) of San Antonio. I own one of these, and I love it.
Later, with further modifications including all silver finishes, the Nirschl 4/4 tubas were marketed by Custom Music with the model designation WN-20. Custom Music also advertised a Walter Nirschl tuba in Eb (WN-15?); I do not know how many of these horns were actually built and sold.
In the mid 1990's, Floyd Cooley approached Walter Nirschl about custom building exact copies of the 6/4 CC Chicago Symphony York tuba(s). Pete Link would know how many of these have actually been built. I believe that you can still custom order one of these directly from Herr Nirschl for a fairly dear price (albeit not as ridiculously high as a YamaYork).
Walter Nirschl later agreed to work as a designer for Besson. Production of his own 4/4 tubas had ceased by this time (early 2000's?) and were no longer available through Custom Music nor any other source (other than used). The Besson 995 was, for all intents and purposes, the next generation of Nirschl's 4/4 CC tuba. Unlike Nirschl's own tubas, the workmanship and consistency of the 995 were at times good, at times questionable. The subsequent history of Besson has been well documented and discussed on this forum.
Several months ago, TubaNews.com reported that Kalison was closing its doors after disappointingly few orders at the Frankfort Musikmesse. Shortly thereafter, TubaNews.com revealed that Walter Nirschl planned to purchase Kalison. That transaction is, apparently, now complete.
Please gently correct any inaccuracies in the following:
Walter Nirschl, after working for other the German instrument manufacturers, purchased Boehm & Meinl in the early 1990's. For a time, he continued to market the tubas under that name. In 1994, with some of his own modifications, he began building tubas under the name "Meister Walter Nirschl." He built 15 of the large 4/4 CC lacquer tubas, some of which were sold through Orpheus Music (Lee Hipp) of San Antonio. I own one of these, and I love it.
Later, with further modifications including all silver finishes, the Nirschl 4/4 tubas were marketed by Custom Music with the model designation WN-20. Custom Music also advertised a Walter Nirschl tuba in Eb (WN-15?); I do not know how many of these horns were actually built and sold.
In the mid 1990's, Floyd Cooley approached Walter Nirschl about custom building exact copies of the 6/4 CC Chicago Symphony York tuba(s). Pete Link would know how many of these have actually been built. I believe that you can still custom order one of these directly from Herr Nirschl for a fairly dear price (albeit not as ridiculously high as a YamaYork).
Walter Nirschl later agreed to work as a designer for Besson. Production of his own 4/4 tubas had ceased by this time (early 2000's?) and were no longer available through Custom Music nor any other source (other than used). The Besson 995 was, for all intents and purposes, the next generation of Nirschl's 4/4 CC tuba. Unlike Nirschl's own tubas, the workmanship and consistency of the 995 were at times good, at times questionable. The subsequent history of Besson has been well documented and discussed on this forum.
Several months ago, TubaNews.com reported that Kalison was closing its doors after disappointingly few orders at the Frankfort Musikmesse. Shortly thereafter, TubaNews.com revealed that Walter Nirschl planned to purchase Kalison. That transaction is, apparently, now complete.