Page 1 of 2
Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba) SOLD
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:25 pm
by eric25usmc
I recently inherited a VMI Manufaktur C Tuba. It has 5 valves. I believe the model number is 274924. It is engraved on the mouthpiece receiver. I was wondering where I could find more info on this horn and maybe what it is worth?
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:23 pm
by bort
Can you post a picture? VMI is the same as B&S, so it is a very high quality instrument.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:14 am
by Heavy_Metal
The number on the mouthpiece receiver is actually the serial number.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:28 pm
by hbcrandy
What a stupid place to put a serial number. Do you mean, if I steal a VMI tuba, all I have to do is solder on a new mouthpiece receiver to make in un traceable?
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:11 pm
by eric25usmc
bort wrote:Can you post a picture? VMI is the same as B&S, so it is a very high quality instrument.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:15 pm
by Chuck Jackson
Count your blessings kid, that is an awesome piece of machinery you were gifted.
Chuck"WOW"Jackson
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:42 am
by bort
Cool! I used to own the 4-valve version of that (also branded as VMI). I bought it from Baltimore Brass, it was previously owned by another board member here. Mr. Fedderly described it to me as being a Meinl-Weston 30 body and bell, with a VMI valve section. Apparently, there was still some distinction at that point...?
Either way, a solid tuba, and one I wish I could have kept as I moved on through the other tubas I've owned. Rough guess, you could sell it for between $3,000 and $4,000.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:32 pm
by Tim_Loehr
I never thought I'd see one of these again.
Here's what it's worth to me:
$3,500 ....... right now.
____ T-man
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:48 pm
by eric25usmc
It has a hard case and a soft case. It probably just needs to be clean. I am asking $4000 plus shipping.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 2:04 pm
by bort
Tim_Loehr wrote:I never thought I'd see one of these again.
Here's what it's worth to me:
$3,500 ....... right now.
____ T-man
It's really *almost* the same thing as a Meinl-Weston 32, and they do come up from time to time. This one is in really nice condition though. I like the thumb ring placement on the VMI better as well, instead of the typicaly MW setup.
If I were the seller, I'd take your $3,500 offer and be done with it right now.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:08 pm
by toobagrowl
Nice tuba. Looks to be made with (mostly) Meinl-Weston parts and a few B&S parts. The thumb ring/flange, mpc receiver, bracing is B&S/VMI; everything else looks M-W. Not surprising since G.Meinl owned/operated both M-W and VMI (B&S).
bloke wrote:I'm thinking that - over the years - I've bought-and-sold two-or-three of those...but (at least in the picture) that one looks "chubbier" than I remember those being...
...somewhat like the "188 vs. 186" thing.
bloke "I'm probably wrong. It's probably the same model. Those are good."
I think most VMI tubas are made with all B&S parts. This one definitely looks like it was made with a Meinl-Weston tuba body & bell, ferrules, and rotor paddles. I agree with Bort -- Looks similar to the M-W 32, with a few B&S parts. Very good all-around tuba
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:41 pm
by bort
cktuba wrote:In the past I have owned both the MW 32 and the 4 valved VMI equivalent. Personally, I preferred the VMI. Maybe that was strictly those 2 instruments, but the VMI seemed to have a slightly larger sound with more character.
IIRC, you and I owned the exact same VMI (it went from you to Baltimore Brass, and I bought it from there).
When I bought it, I tried it side-by-side with an MW-32 at BBC, and I liked the VMI better. I won't lie thought, having having a 5th valve on the MW-32 made life easier. But I liked the sound of the VMI bette, and it played better. Plus, I like the "normal" kind of thumb ring, as opposed to the "behind the tubing" style on MW's, which I've never really liked.
The description of "MW bell and bows and a VMI valve set" was the description that David Fedderly gave me. In my mind, that makes it a fact, not a "looks like."
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 2:04 am
by toobagrowl
bort wrote:
The description of "MW bell and bows and a VMI valve set" was the description that David Fedderly gave me. In my mind, that makes it a fact, not a "looks like."
Nice pot shot at me.
I said "looks like" because we are going off pictures here, and this VMI is not the typical "all B&S parts" VMI --- this one
looks ( again: pictures
) to be made with M-W AND B&S parts.
Either way, this is an all-around quality tuba.
Btw, not all M-W rotor tubas have the thumb ring under the 3rd tubing slide....
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 2:37 am
by tofu
Could somebody clarify for me what model this horn actually is? Is it a 30 or 32 or was it some type of limited modified production run that never had a model designation?
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 2:48 am
by toobagrowl
tofu wrote:Could somebody clarify for me what model this horn actually is? Is it a 30 or 32 or was it some type of limited modified production run that never had a model designation?
It's the VMI equivalent of the M-W 32 (5 rotary valves). Really, it's a M-W 32 with a few B&S parts. The model 30 is the 4 rotor version, I believe.
The 5th valve tubing on this tuba is exactly like the 5th valve tubing on some (VMI/B&S-made) 'Musica' CC tubas.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:18 am
by bort
tooba wrote:bort wrote:
The description of "MW bell and bows and a VMI valve set" was the description that David Fedderly gave me. In my mind, that makes it a fact, not a "looks like."
Nice pot shot at me.
I said "looks like" because we are going off pictures here, and this VMI is not the typical "all B&S parts" VMI --- this one
looks ( again: pictures
) to be made with M-W AND B&S parts.
Either way, this is an all-around quality tuba.
Btw, not all M-W rotor tubas have the thumb ring under the 3rd tubing slide....
It wasn't meant as a pot shot -- if anything, it's just confirmation that you are correct. Anyway...
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 3:18 pm
by eric25usmc
Price reduced to $3600 plus shipping.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:28 pm
by imperialbari
image.jpg
Not beautiful, but an attempt of making the serial # readable.
To me this looks like a one-off or short run model rather than a production model, as the main tubing slide appears being quite exposed.
The 5th loop looks like lowering the open pitch a major third with its inverted W double slide. Maybe the crooks can be rearrangered for a shorter long whole step loop, but I cannot be positive from the not very high resolution photos.
Klaus
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:04 am
by eric25usmc
On hold! Pending payment.
Re: Inherited Tuba (VMI 5 Valve C Tuba)
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 11:44 am
by bort
GOOD!