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Has anyone in the US tried or purchased a Gemeinhardt EEb?

See the thread on the Big Mouth Brass Tubas. They are one in the same, just with a different stamp on the bell.

I believe that Nirschl sold his tooling for the 4/4 CC to Gemeinardt where Dick Barth worked in sales. Dick set out to have them manufacture a CC using that tooling that would be affordable, but Gemeinhardt couldn't oblige, so Dick hooked up with the Weril Instrument Co. in Brazil to make these tubas. It didn't go as well as hoped in Brazil. I think they couldn't turn them out quickly enough, so Dick moved operations to China. Along the way, Dick designed several more tubas, in all 4 keys and they are quite nice to hear and play. So, in the process of moving the facility around the world, the name on the bell may have changed a few times. My F says Gemeinhardt on the bell, but it's the same as the ones that are marked BMB. I know there have been some tweaks in the process along the way too, but they're basically the same tubas. I'm sorry, Dick, if i got any info wrong here.

I have heard something completely different. I was told that the partnership with Weril dissolved and Dick took over and moved production over to China with his own designs after the fallout with Gemeinhardt. Weril has continued to manufacture horns in Brazil with Nirschl under the name Weingrill & Nirschl. They are hard to get here in the US but are selling in droves in South America and parts of Mexico. As for the BMB horns I have heard favorable reviews for the Eb but some do not like the rotor linkage design that Dick created. More of a personal opinion than it being a "poor" design. as far as the "original" designs from Walter they are in Brazil at the Weril factory.

Here is a direct quote from Dick Barth in an email he sent me when I had the same question a few years ago:

Tubas were W.Nirschl. Changed to Gemeinhardt briefly and now are Big Mouth Brass. If the model number is the same, the instruments are the same.

I played the EEb and it was the best tuba they had. For the money its great. Cant play fifth valve without depressing the fourth valve though, which is minor but thats my 2 cents.

Josh:

Does your post mean that the F, CCand BBb were not particularly good and that "you get what you pay for"?

Not at all, they were all good, but to answer the initial question i just really liked the EEb

Ok, I understand. I have been in contact with tuba professor who speaks very highly of his BMB EEb.

I'll second kudos for the BMB Eb. Really excellent tuba.

J.c. Sherman wrote:I'll second kudos for the BMB Eb. Really excellent tuba.

J.C. , I have asked Dave Darth about building an EEb with the 16 inch bell making it similar to the smaller F. Do you have any thought s on that?
Rob
Johnson City NY

Yes, I'd vote for 17 inches!