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Bob Dont forget to look at a Mira 191 5 VALVE i love mine

WOW WOW WOW

Bob, I'm 5'll" and the leadpipe on the 2141 was high enough that I had to rest the tuba between my legs. If you are taller you can probably rest it on your lap without any problem. Had no problem with overblowing--it had a good solid low register.

have you played a Besson 981 or 982? WWBW has a silver 982 that i played about a month ago when I was there, its a fantastic instrument. I didn't have much of a problem holding it. I'm 6'4", not exactly your size, but it fit pretty well. But aside from that, I would go with the BBb. have you ever used a stand? They work wonders.

the elephant wrote:

Bob1062 wrote:A stand? At 6'10"?!?!

I have to use a stand sometimes, Bob. It really helps to raise a horn up to where it needs to be, rather than stooping to it. I am only 6'2" but have a 30" inseam. So I have a very long back that makes me "sit tall" like some big, freakish doofus such as yourself.



My old version BBC tuba stand has taken a great deal of discomfort out of my body when I play my little Yamaha 621 F tuba. But the thing BARELY goes high enough. For full length recitals I will probably get a longer rod made for it so that I can raise it that last little bit and still have enough in the outer tube to feel comfortable.

Of course, I am assuming that you are poo-pooing stands as being for the smaller of our species. I am probably wrong and just wasted my time typing this …

I fought one horn I have for 20 years trying to play it. I finally bought a stand from a fellow tubenetter figuring I'd try it, but not expecting much. What a world of difference. What I was hoping was that my back wouldn't feel like I went 15 rounds with Joe Frazier. What I hadn't expected is how much better the horn played for me. My breathing feels so much better and my lung capacity feels like 20% better. My sight line to the conductor is better and page changes are no longer an adventure. I can concentrate solely on the music and not trying to hang on to the horn.
I had resisted the idea of a stand for years because I hated those old wenger monster tuba stands when I was in junior high for our 20j's.

I would highly recommend a stand for anybody that feels the horn is winning the battle of who is in charge.

Are you talking about a "rest" type stand or a stand that clamps the tuba in place totally?

MikeMason wrote:Are you talking about a "rest" type stand or a stand that clamps the tuba in place totally?

Being a "manly man" who could hold his tuba, I resisted getting a stand also. However, I bought a tuba rest and have been amazed how much more comfortable I am playing and practicing. It is so much easier balancing the horn on a solid stand to turn/find pages in the music than having the horn flopping around on my lap. I bought the extension also but have
not had a reason to play standing up yet.

Now I kinda wish I had bought the kind that clamps on not so much to hold the horn when I play but rather than when I don't play. I have a recording bell and usually have to lay it all the way down or lean it on something. Being able to just "get up" and have the tuba stay would be a convenience.

Contact Dan Clouse on this forum. Last posts I saw from him were extremely positive about the overall capability of the 2141.

Cheers,

Bob1062 wrote:Do the 2141/2040's have a European shank? And if so, is an American shank still usable?

They have European shank. American shank mouthpieces will hold, but go rather far in the receiver.

Just because you are big, does not mean you do not need a playing stand. I have also found that a stand has improved my comfort of playing, breathing, reduced accidental damage to the tuba (slipping off chairs, or lap) and most important enable the mouthpiece to be presented at the best playing height so as to be sitting properly upright.

Last year I suffered 3 months of pain through a trapped nerve in my neck, which I suspect was at least partially caused by stooping to reach the low mouthpiece position on my old Besson 981 Eb over many years.

Except where unpractical for short sessions, I will now always use a stand whichever tuba I am playing. For all but the Cerveny, that is to lift the tuba above chair height so I am sitting upright to not risk further injury.

Bob1062 wrote:Those are a 2141 and a 45SLP. Open them up in the same window as different tabs, so you can click on one then the other to get a good comparison.

To me they look much the same design, but differing proportions being an Eb and F. I wonder how their tone compares?

I recently manage to make an interesting comparison of my 2040/5 to a 45s F (so the rotary equivalents of both). To my surprise the F was actually darker sounding. The 2040/5 was much closer in sound to a B&S PT-15 which I also tried at the same time.

As you may have noticed in my signature, in the end I decided on a lovely little Meinl-Weston 182 3/4 F. Much lighter and more singing in tone (but still with plenty of power) and fantastic high register, which is exactly what I wanted with the idea of using for French C / ophicleide parts and possibly solo use (once I have mastered F fingerings and intricacies).

Jonathan "who thinks he now really does have ALL the tubas he wants!"

Jonathan, you're either single,or have the best wife on the planet.Impressive arsenal...

MikeMason wrote:Jonathan, you're either single,or have the best wife on the planet.Impressive arsenal...

Single ... well at least at present

Thanks, I love them all!