M&M Piston CC
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 2:31 pm
I've had a chance to play one of these horns now. Michael at M&M has got something good going here! As was previously discussed in another thread, the pistons are great, the horn has a nice sound with good pitch, and it's a joy to play.
For anyone looking for a piston CC, especially students, give this a shot. Is it perfect...no....but neither were the old Alex and Rudy's that many hold in high regard. This piston horn is very workable and for the price, an aspiring tubist could get a good piston CC, plus an Eb or F for less money than many others are spending just on their CC.
As someone that, over 10 years after college, is still facing MAJOR loan payments every month for horns I don't even own anymore, I wish something like this was available when I was in school. A bass and contra bass tuba pair for under 7 or 8 grand is a smokin' deal. Hell, if you go with the 186 clone from Baltimore Brass, M&M, Dillon, Jim Labb, etc that combo price goes down even more. Maybe you're not going to get the refinements of a $10,000+ instrument, but you'll have a horn in your hands that will do the job.
Also, it's been discussed here that some are worried about the availability of parts for these Chinese imports. I've seen with my own eyes that this is NOT something to worry about.
I have no affiliation with M&M....Michael just happens to live down the street from my mother so I was able to pop in for a play test, and I figured I'd give a report to the TNFJ!
Cheers!
Mike Russo
For anyone looking for a piston CC, especially students, give this a shot. Is it perfect...no....but neither were the old Alex and Rudy's that many hold in high regard. This piston horn is very workable and for the price, an aspiring tubist could get a good piston CC, plus an Eb or F for less money than many others are spending just on their CC.
As someone that, over 10 years after college, is still facing MAJOR loan payments every month for horns I don't even own anymore, I wish something like this was available when I was in school. A bass and contra bass tuba pair for under 7 or 8 grand is a smokin' deal. Hell, if you go with the 186 clone from Baltimore Brass, M&M, Dillon, Jim Labb, etc that combo price goes down even more. Maybe you're not going to get the refinements of a $10,000+ instrument, but you'll have a horn in your hands that will do the job.
Also, it's been discussed here that some are worried about the availability of parts for these Chinese imports. I've seen with my own eyes that this is NOT something to worry about.
I have no affiliation with M&M....Michael just happens to live down the street from my mother so I was able to pop in for a play test, and I figured I'd give a report to the TNFJ!
Cheers!
Mike Russo