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I am likely in the future market for a rotary CC tuba, so I'm starting to make my list of tubas to try out.

It struck me as odd though that Meinl-Weston has so few rotary CC tubas, and many (middle and high-end) rotary BBb tubas. Is this a matter of them marketing to the European rotary BBb crowd and the American piston CC crowd?

I know they DO have (had?) the MW-37 Bell model and *had* the 2155R (which was short-lived).

But looking at their Web page now, there are no rotary CC tubas listed. Seems a little odd since other brands like Miraphone have so many rotary CC options...

Remember that Meinl-Weston is part of the same company (JA Musik GmbH) as B&S who do produce good rotary CC tubas in all sizes;

3097 PT-3 3/4
4097 PT-20 4/4
3098 PT-6 5/4
4098 Neptune 6/4

Maybe they do not see sufficient market for a competing Meinl-Weston rotary CC range as well (it seems rotary CC have slightly gone out of fashion)??? It is interesting that most of the M-W piston CC appear to have been developed in close collaboration with a specific leading tubist (i.e. Deck, Bjørn-Larsen, Baer)

HI-
With the current trend of 'piston fetish' out there with tubas, it is true that pistons horns are in, and rotary horns are out in CC tuba land. But look at the "Bruckner" CC tuba by Miraphone as a new rotary, the 'audition' tuba for many folks by B&S/MW -the PT-6, and I believe(?) MW is coming out with a rotary Thor--maybe at ITEC? Check with Roger Lewis.
Regards-
mark

I wondered the same thing about the B&S relationship and how it might affect the MW lineup.

Also forgot (duh) that I used to own a VMI stencil of a MW-32. It was a pretty decent tuba, and I'd probably be curious to try (but not order blindly) a new one. I'd be curious what I'd think of that tuba after 4 years of being away from it.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

Bort,
I'm working with the Meinl-Weston staff to the production of a new rotary CC Tuba based on the Thor-GR51 bows,
the first prototype was outstanding, the sound seems to be wider and the tone color darker, the response is very quick.
Don't know yet how long will take the process but If you are not in hurry, I suggest to wait a little bit to try out this new tuba.

AFtuba wrote:Bort,
I'm working with the Meinl-Weston staff to the production of a new rotary CC Tuba based on the Thor-GR51 bows,
the first prototype was outstanding, the sound seems to be wider and the tone color darker, the response is very quick.
Don't know yet how long will take the process but If you are not in hurry, I suggest to wait a little bit to try out this new tuba.

Keep us posted on the development
can't wait to see it

Cheers
Bjorn

Nobody buys them.

When the model 32 and 37 were removed from the Meinl Weston web page, I asked them why.

This was the response I received:

We haven't received any orders for either of the 32 or 37 models in years.

As a result of this already existing "non-production" status in the recent past, we have consequently decided to also take these models out of our publications and focus on our recent new CC-Tuba models "Thor" and "Baer" and further models to come.

All mandrels for the 32 and 37 models will be kept, however - should demand rise to a reasonable level.

cjk wrote:Nobody buys them.

When the model 32 and 37 were removed from the Meinl Weston web page, I asked them why.

This was the response I received:

We haven't received any orders for either of the 32 or 37 models in years.

As a result of this already existing "non-production" status in the recent past, we have consequently decided to also take these models out of our publications and focus on our recent new CC-Tuba models "Thor" and "Baer" and further models to come.

All mandrels for the 32 and 37 models will be kept, however - should demand rise to a reasonable level.

Wow... what a direct, simple answer. Between this and my emails with Miraphone about various things, seems like the Germans are onto something with their straight answers.

Still disappointing to hear, but makes total sense!

AFtuba wrote:I'm working with the Meinl-Weston staff to the production of a new rotary CC Tuba based on the Thor-GR51 bows

That sounds very exciting and potentially a winner!

At mussikmesse B&S presented GR55 Bb tuba all in goldbrass, that says is a 5/4.... Somenone´s played it?
I read that it´s a evolution of gr51 with larger bell...
Opinions?

I tested the GR55 few months ago on Geretsried,

Is not so much different from the regular GR-51, the sound is beautiful, mellow tone color (because of the gold-brass), easy to play
I like very much the larger bell.

Alessandro, So will the new rotary CC have the bell of the GR51, or the larger one from the GR55? Just interested!

I aksed for the larger bell, let see the next meeting.

Because Miraphone, their biggest competitor, specializes in rotary horns. Meinl-Weston has the large piston valve line, and Miraphone has the large rotatry valve line. Kind of like Ford VS. GM.

I own a Thor 5450 and i find the pistons just fantastic they are responsive and i find pistons easier to care for in the long run i find rotary valves just get to loud over a longer period of time. Now if you are looking at faster and more technical solos i would go for a rotary but it all comes down to personal preference. Pistons use more finger strength than rotary but they seem to be quieter and easier to care for over time where rotary seem too temperamental but like i said before it all comes down to personal preference if you have stronger fingers than i would say pistons are the way to go but smaller more 'delicate' hands would be better of with pistons

Hope it helps!

buzzmondo wrote:I own a Thor 5450 and i find the pistons just fantastic they are responsive and i find pistons easier to care for in the long run i find rotary valves just get to loud over a longer period of time. Now if you are looking at faster and more technical solos i would go for a rotary but it all comes down to personal preference. Pistons use more finger strength than rotary but they seem to be quieter and easier to care for over time where rotary seem too temperamental but like i said before it all comes down to personal preference if you have stronger fingers than i would say pistons are the way to go but smaller more 'delicate' hands would be better of with pistons

Hope it helps!

Not sure if it was intentional but this has got to be one of the funniest posts in tubenet history. Bravo!

How do you really feel? Really?