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I'm thinking about buying a Gemeinhardt J445SP, having tried it out at TMEA this year. Anyone have an opinion on it?

Great horn! I really enjoy mine, and Don Harry sounds great on his.
Mark

Missouri wrote:

zach_8vb wrote:I'm thinking about buying a Gemeinhardt J445SP, having tried it out at TMEA this year. Anyone have an opinion on it?

It does not matter what people here think of the horn. It matters what you think of the horn.

WHAT?!?! Do you mean to say we can do things without prior permission from the TNFJ???

Sounds like to seeds of anarchy are being sown here.

Missouri wrote:Kenherrick

The poster said he played the tuba. Just because someone hates the horn should not keep him from buying the horn. The poster should have formed their own opinion of the horn while playing it.

THAT my friend would very much depend on the players skills

Look, I played it, I loved it. I just wanted to know if anyone had a horror story or something that might convince me otherwise. Apparently not. Thanks for the help. Nat.

Hi-
A view of the Big Mouth Brass / Gemeinhardt F tuba from an owner 'across the Pond'....FYI....mark

http://www.barthsbrassblog.com" target="_blank

Try to play it in an ensemble; that will give you your best testing results.

I bought the J445SP (along with the J845) from Dick back in April. I don't have a real lot of use for an F, but nevertheless, I wanted one again anyway. I owned a B&S F 20 years ago. Try as I might, I couldn't consistently deal with the low C and B on the B&S horn and I feel the same way when I pick up most any rotary valve F tuba. I know many people don't have the issue, or just deal with it and love the sound of a rotary F. That's great, but for me, I don't want a tuba that makes me work too hard to play it well. I also love the sound of most piston F tubas and have gravitated toward them whenever I play them at conferences. When I played the 445, I immediately felt like this is a horn that sounds great and is easy to play - just what I want. I didn't care if it sounded like a piston tuba or rotary tuba, only that, with a little time on it, I could probably play it well.

So, with 6 tubas (including myself) in the Cedar Park Winds, all of whom can put out the sound, I decided to use the F tuba. I thought it would add another color to the section and would sound good playing the octave divisi's and higher parts - icing on the cake! We're playing at TBA in San Antonio on July 22 and we're opening with Steve Bryant's, Ecstatic Fanfare. The tubas open playing loud sustained divisi Bb and C above the staff. The F helps with the sound and my accuracy on the c. Come here it, you local guys! Unfortunately, I won't be hanging out too much after the performance because I have Yankee/Ranger tickets in Arlington the next day. I would be there long enough if anyone wants to give the horn a toot!

I brought it to Terry Ghiselli, formerly of Houston, who now works at Hillje Music in Round Rock, near Austin, for some tweaks and mods. Dave Kirk used Terry for his tuba service needs and now drives up to Round Rock from Houston for Terry to work on his horns. Terry freed (loosened) up all of the top moving slides for easier on the fly tuning. He tightened the main slide, which fell out a few times. He checked the valve alignment, which was pretty much dead on. He replaced my water key cork with neoprene. Also, on the pull rod handle for the 3rd valve slide, which is hollow and possibly part of a french horn lead pipe, Terry inserted wooden end pieces to keep it from becoming out of round. It looks nice too. He also cleaned up the valves and gave it a chem clean. It now feels (and looks) even better. Yes, these tubas might have some minor workmanship issues, but they're still great horns as they are. With a little tweaking from a fine repair person, it can be as good as the more well known tubas that we all know. I highly recommend this tuba for anybody looking for a medium size piston F tuba at a reasonable price.

Also, I remember when I showed Lee Stofer my Sam Gnagey CC at the Army Band Conference a few years ago, he pointed out how the York bell on the tuba had a steel ring under the bell rim. Correct me if I'm wrong Lee, but I thought I remember you saying that today's tubas don't have that and that the steel ring helped to give York tubas the York, or classic American tuba sound. Well, Terry pointed out to me that the BMB F has a steel ring under the bell rim. Nice touch and good call, Dick!!

Mouthpiecewise, I'm using a Sellmansberger Imperial cup with a #2 rim on the tuba.

Bill Troiano wrote:I bought the J445SP (along with the J845) from Dick back in April.

Still have the 3450?

I do still have the 3450, although it's not getting any use since Easter. It's still a great tuba that I might decide to sell or keep. I would definitely use it if I did more quintet or tuba quartet playing.

Anybody have any comments on the equivalent Eb model, the J-345SP. I'm questing for a good all-around tuba (i.e. suited for solo work, but at home in an ensemble), since it'll likely be my only tuba for however many years.