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Anyone bought or tried MW Travel F tuba ?

I've tried it out on numerous occasions. My tuba professor Dr. Dan Sipes is only one of two official Meinl Weston reps for the US. I've been blessed where I get to try out numerous horns from their factory line as our campus houses some of the overstock. Among those I've used for free: MW 45SLP (about 2 years now), the Bear (3 weeks and for my Senior recital), the Thor (3 weeks), the 2145 (about a year) and the travel F.

As far as specs go, its actually quite a nice horn! It's great for the tubist on the go...the problem is that there's hardly a "tubist on the go" that can be so frequently occupied that necessitates the use of such an instrument. Intonation is okay...you have to really focus on pitch. The water keys are not in good spots: since its so small, it fills up quickly. The ol' "spin it until it comes out" doesn't work. One has to follow the pipes and make sure the water gets led to an exit point.

And the cost is just horrific! I mean what is it now? Like $6000+ for the model? I believe for the use of such a horn ( and the fact that it'll hardly be used beyond a practice horn,) that it should be marked down to...if manufacturing costs weren't a burden...but maybe in the realm of $1400-$2000? But I'm sure the company has reasons why this travel tuba is so costly....

All in all, its okay...but I wouldn't spend my savings on it.

The chick who sits a couple of seats from me has one. It sounds like, and for all intents and purposes is a cimbasso that has been wrapped into a different shape. I see no reason why it couldn't be used quite successfully in the opera pit for all the stuff you would normally use a cimbasso for.

It doesn't have the 5th valve and the 2nd valve kicker that the MW cimbasso has, but it also doesn't look like a genetic mutant from the bass trombone family, which is probably a plus.

So, if you want a cimbasso, (and who doesn't), and think you might want to practice on the road sometime, this could be a useful toy.

chick?

Posaune2 wrote:It sounds like, and for all intents and purposes is a cimbasso ... So, if you want a cimbasso, (and who doesn't), and think you might want to practice on the road sometime, this could be a useful toy.

That is the best selling point I have heard for the travel F! It is quite a bit less expensive than a M-W cimbasso, so if it can be used as a substitute as well as its main purpose, that might make buying one worthwhile.

Jonathan "who would like to try a travel F"

Posaune2 wrote: I see no reason why it couldn't be used quite successfully in the opera pit for all the stuff you would normally use a cimbasso for.

A cimbasso taken apart and in its case isn't too large. Which is smaller, the travel tuba or a standard cimbasso? Cerveny makes a five valve f cimbasso for about 3000 US (the step up model after that jumps to 7000+. What about getting a cimbasso as a travel horn?

Or, what about a tenor tuba like this: http://www.cerveny.biz/bariton/cep_533-4g.php" target="_blank
Miraphone makes a kaiserbaritone in both Bb and in C too.

Just thinking...

A cimbasso taken apart and in its case isn't too large. Which is smaller, the travel tuba or a standard cimbasso?

The MW cimbasso the guy next to me uses comes in a case which is about five feet tall and a foot and a half square. The case is too heavy to carry easily, and has wheels. You would not be able to carry it onto a plane, and might even have to pay an oversize baggage fee to check it on some airlines. The best way to carry it with a normal car is strapped to the roof rack.

The travel tuba fits in a case similar in size to a french horn case. No problem fitting it into the overhead compartment on a plane.

The sound of the MW14 could not possibly be mistaken for a quality cimbasso. Is it bright, piercing, and directional? Yes. A real, high quality, valve contrabass trombone-voiced cimbasso? Not even close.

Maybe the MW cimbasso isn't a quality instrument. But, having heard the two played by the same players, I would say the sound is quite similar. I can't say I love the sound of either one, but they share a lot of the same qualities.

To the player, they sound dramatically different - the bell of the travel tuba is much closer to the player's ear, and you hear a lot more of any edge or other "stuff" in the sound. The bell of the MW cimbasso is a long way away from the player, and sounds a lot mellower, softer, and cleaner from that perspective than it does out front.

We haven't used either in the orchestra for quite awhile.Maybe the next time some Verdi comes along we will fool around with both and let you know the results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcsnrHbTk4" target="_blank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcsnrHbTk4

You guys do know that there is a screw bell that is supposed to go on the thing before you play it, right?

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tubashaman2 wrote:I am guessing Posaune2 plays for philli.....????

No need to guess...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19898&p=165047#p165047
However, you have likely offended him with your spelling of his town. Most folks go with "Philly."

P.S. Rumor has it he's a monster euphonium player, as well.

Posaune2 wrote:The MW cimbasso the guy next to me uses comes in a case which is about five feet tall and a foot and a half square. The case is too heavy to carry easily, and has wheels.

That is what I found when I tried one. It is certainly not easily transportable in the case and when out is a HUGE T shape making it difficult to move around without bashing something. That was an appreciable factor in me decide not to get a cimbasso.

Am I the only one that noticed serious intonation issues with the MWTT at the Army Conference?

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tubashaman2 wrote:However---do any of us who perform alot on F take alot of business trips or travel the globe alot where we would need to pack a tuba? Probably not....

A problem I have thought of is, when I travel I usually take my camera gear with me in my cabin luggage. I doubt that would be possible if carrying the travel tuba?

The Meinl Weston Travel Tuba has a practice mute that was specifically designed for it in the case with the horn. It plays quite nicely with the mute and without. There will always be pitch issues - ON JUST ABOUT ANY HORN - so just get used to it. For its purpose, it is a great tool. It is not unpleasant to listen to and it is extremely convenient. Does it have any other practical purpose? Probably not - at least at this time. Would I use it for cimbasso parts? No.

Just my $0.02.

Roger

Schlepping instruments about! I remember going on band trips and playing the trumpet and the french horn. The trumpet and my suitcase together weren't too bad but, add a funky shaped horn case to the situation and problems happen. These situations were the only ones that made me wish I played something like the clarinet or piccolo. Now, my brother needed a truck to handle all his stuff. He was a drummer and had a full drum kit for the stage band and four kettle drums for the concert band. And a five foot diameter gong!

This F tuba looks to be a little more practical than the Tournister tuba of old and offered by Perrantucci of new. Would probably have a fuller sound. There are more uses and places for a tuba than the concert literature and the recital hall. Imagine hiking up into the mountains somewhere and hearing the sound echo off the trees! Or accompanying someone playing the accordion or concertina. Big fun. eh?

I tried the M-W travel F at WWBW earlier this week and was very impressed.

Surprisingly good tone for such a small tuba (smaller than a euphonium) - seemed very well designed and put together and really neat to transport with its unscrewable bell (french horn style) and in its purpose designed back pack. The practice mute was also super efficient - making it almost quiet enough to practice in the same room as someone asleep without waking them, while at the same time very little changing the way it blows.

As well as practice use literally anywhere, I think it would be good for the Mahler 1 solo and might well project well enough for other concert, or recital use where a small F is suitable.

I was VERY tempted to buy one, but am already spending enough on tubas this year - but would not rule out adding one at later date