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Hi-
Did anyone attend the Frankfurt Music Show this year? Impressions? Pics?
Mark

I went this year. I didn't take any pictures though. A security guy asked me not to so no horn dorn from me. The event was a lot smaller this year compared to last year, but still lots of great horns. For me the outstanding tubas came from Adams and Miraphone.
Adams had their piston and rotor 4/4 CC tubas in different metal thicknesses, two piston Fs, one rotor F (outstanding horn), and a 6/4 piston CC. All were great horns. They said they are still working on the 6/4 and are gonna try a new bell on it. It sure was improved from last year and I'm sure it'll get even better.

Miraphone had a huge selection of tubas. I think they had at least one of each horn they make there. I really got to sit down by myself with the different versions of the 181/381 F tubas and man what a killer horn. You can easily find one now that doesn't have the high second space C that the older horns had. The 1293 they had there was also a killer horn. Much more nimble to me than a Thor but still had plenty of horsepower down low. The new 6/4 BBb is now my favorite big tuba. No other large BBb plays so easily. Was a hoot and a half to play. They had their prototype BBb sousaphone there. It needs some adjustments but I'm positive that they will make the best sousaphone on the market.

There were lots of Chinese horns there. Played a Chinese Thor and Bruckner knock off. There was a completely plastic tuba there from another Chinese group. The thig leaked at almost every connection. Was pretty much useless.

Brassego, a German group, has a pretty nice F tuba. Very dark sounding yet easy to play.

Kanstul had the two different F tubas, a grand BBb, and a top action Eb. I only played the grand F. For sure a very nice sounding horn with a very easy soft end. Pitch isn't the best but it has the Marzan style main tuning slide. I was less than impressed with how hard they push their horns. Very used car salesman like.

Willson was there with a few tubas. All were a joy to play.

Alexander was there with a six valve F, a 163 CC, and a gold brass 164 BBb. What a sound. That's a set of tubas I would love to own.

There were a lot of instrument repair tool makers there. It was great because they all would give demos on any of their tools. It's nice to actually see how they use the tools that they make.

Overall it was a good show. Maybe somebody else was able to get some photos for you guys.

jonesmj wrote: Did anyone attend the Frankfurt Music Show this year? Impressions? Pics?

Yes, me, at thursday. Many impressions- no pics.
I met Jonathan -Neptune- with his nice Wessex Brahms and falled in love with the Cerveny F Tuba 753-6.
I missed the Miraphone F 80B for comparison with my 5v Dalyan F Tuba.

Ulli

@bububassboner

Im curious what you thought about the differences between the 181 & 381. What was different between them? Which did you prefer?

goodgigs wrote:

bububassboner wrote: There was a completely plastic tuba there from another Chinese group. The thig leaked at almost every connection. Was pretty much useless.

Did it have plastic valves ?
Only an idiot would bring a leaking horn to such a show.
I'm guessing it is a lowest price bottom of the barrel POS.
I'd love to hear more about it though.

To be honest I didn't pull the valves out. I was afraid that the horn might fall apart in my lap! It didn't feel like metal valves and all the bits that were exposed and the casings were plastic. It was a 3/4 BBb in all black. Seemed super fragile. The plastic trumpets they had in the same booth were sturdy cause I saw a guy knock over the entire row of like five trumpets. These Chinese makers seem really good at copying stuff (the trumpets were knock offs of the tromba plastic trumpets) but starting from scratch like with this tuba is pretty rough.

bububassboner wrote: The new 6/4 BBb is now my favorite big tuba. No other large BBb plays so easily. Was a hoot and a half to play.

Do you mean the rotary Siegfried? I so want one.