TubeNet

Just checked WWBW's webpage.....and noticed that the Travel F is now listed.....

at $6600........? I mean, sure...it's a small travel F....but....it just seems a lot for a novelty item.

Truly practical? Well...I guess I'll be giving it a toot at some point to see.

Just thought it was interesting. I don't think cost was ever discussed on the Travel F thread from before.

For that price....I'd rather save a bit more and buy a second regular size F that could take a "travel" beating....

Wow! This 4 valve "tuba" cost more than the 3/4 5 valve meinl F!?

Tubaing wrote:Wow! This 4 valve "tuba" cost more than the 3/4 5 valve meinl F!?

My thoughts exactly

pierso20 wrote:Just thought it was interesting. I don't think cost was ever discussed on the Travel F thread from before.

It was; The Elephant made several good points, citing the cost of labor and the additional care needed to produce an instrument that is so tightly wound. I don't feel like searching for that series of posts, but they are there... somewhere...

THE TUBA wrote:

pierso20 wrote:Just thought it was interesting. I don't think cost was ever discussed on the Travel F thread from before.

It was; The Elephant made several good points, citing the cost of labor and the additional care needed to produce an instrument that is so tightly wound. I don't feel like searching for that series of posts, but they are there... somewhere...

Thanks...I didn't realize it was cited before and probably won't beat the issue any further.

THE TUBA wrote:

pierso20 wrote:Just thought it was interesting. I don't think cost was ever discussed on the Travel F thread from before.

It was; The Elephant made several good points, citing the cost of labor and the additional care needed to produce an instrument that is so tightly wound. I don't feel like searching for that series of posts, but they are there... somewhere...

This is a horn that I believe should be made in China unless there are people who want to perform on them.

Tubaing wrote:This is a horn that I believe should be made in China unless there are people who want to perform on them.

http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,showdeta ... rni,,,.htm

imperialbari wrote:

Tubaing wrote:This is a horn that I believe should be made in China unless there are people who want to perform on them.

http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,showdeta ... rni,,,.htm

Yeah, Klaus, from the first time I saw an original Cerveny version of this horn on another website, I've wanted one. If I had money to throw down a rathole, this would be the rathole I would throw it down.

Jeff "Thinking that a half-dozen vintage pocket cornets would be a better way to spend my money" Benedict

cimbasso or this ... hmmm .. I think ... wellll dang ... hmmm .. Well Alan has one .... dang it I want one too ... I wanted one ever since I saw this guys f tuba... http://www.jestaedt-instrumente.de" target="_blank" target="_blank

then I saw this MW version on Baer's site:

http://www.baertracksmusic.com/index.ph ... t=1&id=244" target="_blank

He says it plays great ... works for me.

here is the thread about this from earlier

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30810" target="_blank" target="_blank

http://www.hornboerse.de/lshop,showdeta ... rni,,,.htm

Has anyone played one of these? I find it particularly interesting that they're available in BBb (or do they really mean B?). Around $3100 is a lot more palatable.

Cost vs. Size is usually a 'U'-shaped curve. ReallySmall and ReallyBig are expensive - MediumSize is cheap.

For two main reasons:

a) size of the product
b) size of the market

If I remember, Gerhard told me about the reason behind the production of this horn is that it wasn't really designed for the majority of us. It was made for the professionals that are on tour and don't have the access to their horn, being packed up by a crew, and needed a tuba for the hotel room to just play something. It comes with a practice mute as well if I recall.

Alan Baer isn't the only one that has one, Tom Walsh of the Munich Philharmonic I believe has one as well.

But really...
I'm sure these would get some great looks if you bust it out for the solo in Mahler 1 or even Bydlo, beyond that what else would you really use it for?

THE TUBA wrote:

pierso20 wrote:Just thought it was interesting. I don't think cost was ever discussed on the Travel F thread from before.

It was; The Elephant made several good points, citing the cost of labor and the additional care needed to produce an instrument that is so tightly wound. I don't feel like searching for that series of posts, but they are there... somewhere...

It is no more tightly wound than a French horn. Assuming that MW actually makes the travel tuba, then the cost of labor is the same for the travel tuba as any other tuba they make.

It's priced at that level because they think they can sell all they can make at that price.

Tons of people would buy them at $3500. Maybe they can't produce that many. The Meinl-Weston factory really isn't very big.

This would be loads of fun for those of us who like to play tuba in horn groups; but for that once-in several-years event, I probably won't spring for one.

MA

in my opinion, it would be better to play some euphonium than that travel midget thing...
They're waaaaay cheaper and probably better sounding.

Oh, but you don't understand; it's a TOY. We LIKE toys!!

MA

oedipoes wrote:in my opinion, it would be better to play some euphonium than that travel midget thing...
They're waaaaay cheaper and probably better sounding.

I understand the size. Sure, it's tiny and you can take it carry on and such. But I just wonder how useful it really would be. Why not just get a 3/4 F that costs the same or less?

I do agree with the point that these things are very limited in production and demand. At such a high price, they're probably not after "most" tuba players.

In my mind the place where I would find the most use for one of these is in a brass quintet when playing literature intended for a bass trombone voice rather than tuba on the bottom.

Of course, that would only work if the intonation is really truly solid. Otherwise it would be useless to me.

If I'm ever fortunate to be in a financial situation that would permit it I would own one in a heartbeat.