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I recently switched to a Meinl Weston 2155 and am having some tuning issues, I'm consistently very sharp. I've been playing on a Doug Elliot TU-N 132, TU R, R 6. I really prefer the narrow rim, so I'm really just hoping for suggestions on cups. Any ideas?

I've found, in my limited experience, that the Sidey Stainless Helleberg (original) plays (for ME) between 10 and 15c lower pitch that others I've tried. (PT 88+, Bach 7 mega, 24AW, JK 3b, G&W Diablo, etc) It also has one of the flattest (shape - not pitch) rims available - great for clean articulation. It's also about the same rim size as the 132 (33.46mm). If you're interested in a Euro shank, please pm or e-mail me - I have one just sitting around that I'd sell at a discount. (like new)

TubaSailor

parke ofenloch (not always the easiest thing to find)

I've been playing the new Laskey 30B on my Thor with great results. Very responsive, in tune, and colorful. I would imagine the same would hold true on a 2155.

Frank Ortega

jspeek wrote:I recently switched to a Meinl Weston 2155 and am having some tuning issues, I'm consistently very sharp. I've been playing on a Doug Elliot TU-N 132, TU R, R 6. I really prefer the narrow rim, so I'm really just hoping for suggestions on cups. Any ideas?

There should be nothing wrong with this setup, as it is a reasonable cup size (albeit a "Helleberg" shape), with a reasonable sized backbore. I am very familiar with this setup because I use a Doug Elliott R cup, R6A (Alexander, not American) on my Alexander. A particular rim isn't going to do anything to make you sharp or flat, so no comment there except to say that nothing should be wrong with using the Elliott rim you like, too.

The only possible problem with this setup is that you should probably be using an R6E shank (euro shank).

You might (???) have the wrong tuning slide, too. MW has different slides built for different markets, apparently, and those setup with euro slides are difficult to get to play down to A=440.

I have not owned or played on a 2000 or 2155 in around 4 years, so take this for what you will, but I thought that tuba worked quite well with a Laskey 30G or Shilke Helleberg II, which is not entirely unlike what you are using now.

Personally I don't think that being "very sharp" is going to be fixed by a mouthpiece, but you can try...

If the horn is consistently sharp top to bottom, you may just have an European tuning slide and need to order an American (A440) tuning slide from MW. Or, you could have your friendly neighborhood tuba repair guru fabricate slide extensions.

I have a Meinl Weston 2155 and I play on a Parke Ofenloch and it works wonders. You might want to try that for tuning issues.