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I was looking at the Rudolf Meinl tuba brochure and saw that they make tubas in 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 sizes.

All are listed as 39-40" tall and have bells from 13-15".

The 1/2's come in Eb, CC and BBb. The 1/4 and 1/8 come in BBb only.

Has anyone seen and/or played one of these puppies? Opinions?

Well, I got the answer from the man himself.

Rudolf Meinl, Jr., was kind enough to send this reply to my query:

The instruments have the same length like full size tubas but the whole body is much smaller. Also the boresize 1/4 Size boresize 16mm, 1/2 size boresize 17 mm.
They are lighter in weight because the bodies much smaller. The sound is much brighter and also much smaller compared to the regular sizes.
The instruments mostly played by children's.
Sincerely
Rudolf Meinl Jr.

and send this picture of the 1/2 size:




and the 1/4 size:

Custom Music Company has had a 1/2 size Rudolf Meinl CC for some years now. As far as I know, they still have it for sale. Otherwise, I know of none in this country.

At the factory showroom, I have seen and played all the small models, and they are oh-so-cute. And, they play like professional-model tubas. They are not likely to have a thundering presence in any room larger than a living room, but are very, very nice small tubas. The height of all Rudolf Meinl rotor tubas is virtually the same, so the smaller ones look proportioniately tall and slender.

I have long thought that the miniature Rudolf Meinls would be wonderful school instruments for beginning bands, since they are made as well as the big boys used by pros. But, because of the cost of hand-making tubas in Germany, you're not very likely to see one in this country, particularly at a school. (Band director) "You say that it would cost as much as 3 St. Petersburgs?!" If some well-financed school does ever get a set, though, they will be glad they did.