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Hello, this is an old post, but updated................
I play the old MW 46S, (4+2) F tuba, six valve. I believe that these instruments came out in the mid 1980's.
Mine has no serial number, and on the bell is engraved "Meinl Weston - A Division of Getzen".
G. Meinl said that at the time these horns were in demand, they sometimes left the factory without
a serial # or engravings, and shipped directly to the U.S. He also stated that a certain German player
still requests this particular model from them.

This 46S model seems to be buried in the current MW website, although I was at the factory last summer
and saw one in the showroom. This tuba is bigger than I think it needed to be, however, it does have a
lot of character and what I feel to be a traditional German sound. I sometimes have to use some weird
fingerings, although I am not as uptight about using alternates as I used to be.
The leadpipe is set away from the bell. That trend seems to come and go....................
Like any tuba, you have to figure it out how to make it sing.

So, who plays one of these, and how do your think the sound compares to the newer style F tubas?
Specs. - Bell 42 cm, bore 19.5
Mpce. - using a PT 65

Thank you,
Kathott

I have owned a 46 for half a year. I wasn't sure to like it or not. But after I've tried different other Fs I came to the conclusion that it wasn't my sort of thing: Really weird low register – might have been just me; sold it, and the buyer who bought it praised it like sugar candy (!).

My 46 was made in '81. Same specs as yours, but the leadpipe is not raised from the bell... This is my favorite F tuba. You're absolutely right in saying the low register is wonky, but with 6 valves, alternates are a plenty! However, I have not met an F tuba that quite compares to mine (or any 46) in terms of sound. It is an amazing, singing instrument. I dont have problems with a grainy upper register, but different horns are, well... different.

I'm glad I found someone else who appreciates the 46 like I do!

A 46S and a 46 are not the same thing.

I have a Meinl Weston 46 F tuba I bought new in 1986. Mine is like the current version with 15" upright bell and 6th through 3rd rotors are of 18.5mm (.728") bore and the 4th rotor of 19.5 mm (.768") bore. The first versions of that horn had 17.5 mm (.690") bore throughout. I think the MW 46 is a great horn with a classic F tuba sound but is harder to play than today's newest offerings from Meinl Weston, Miraphone, Yamaha, etc. I sold my MW 46 when I moved to New Jersey because I needed the money. Later I had the chance to buy the same horn back and did so because during those years, I didn't find a better playing F tuba. Mine started out as an exceptional example of the MW 45 or 46 F tubas, and has only gotten better as I "tweaked" it up a bit. My MW 46 is still one of the more "in-tune" F tubas I have ever played. It has only been in the last 10 years that I have found easier to play F tubas that also offered a nice color of sound.
I don't practice as much as I used to, but now I try to send a half hour each week on the old MW46 F tuba to remind myself to actually form the correct embrochure, etc. to buzz the pitches below the staff instead of being lazy and letting my awesome York CC do all the work for me. I thought I was "loosing my" lip when all it was is that I was getting "lazy chops".

Look on the side of the #2 rotor casing for an engraved serial number. When your horn was made, Meinl Weston did not issue serial numbers so Getzen enrgraved their own.