TubeNet

We are planning a trip to Germany to visit family in Berlin but also to visit some factories and buy some horns. Does anyone have personal experience with this? Thanks for any suggestions.

I have some experience in knowing some of the tuba makers in Germany. Most tubas are built to order, so you may find some display models here and there, but you may still have to order what you want...and wait. Many makers will send you to one of their dealers to finalize your order as well. Berlin is far from where you would need to go.

Miraphone, near Munich - large showroom, many horns to try, buy through a dealer
Alexander, near Frankfurt - mostly they make French horns, so tuba selection can be very small
Adams - (NL) they are at production capacity and have little stock
Hirsbrunner - (CH) very small operation
Rudolph Meinl, near Nuremburg - also a very small shop, but he keeps a good selection for trade show displays
B&S/Buffet, Markneukirchen - I don't know their showroom, but they (used to) have a fairly large trade show assortment in stock. They will send you to a dealer to purchase.
Gronitz, Hamburg - that's not a long train trip from Berlin is it? They usually have some tubas in stock. That's worth a visit. Yeah.

Can you get to Musikhaus Thomann? That's the place. They have the most amazing brass showroom in all of Europe. See if you can visit and play horns there. It's a worthy trip. I toured there several years ago with Zig kanstul. Zig, who has seen it all, was completely blown away. (Me too.)

Musikhaus Thomann e.K.
Treppendorf 30
96138 Burgebrach
Germany

Who am I forgetting? Is there a good brass store in Berlin?

-F

Fachmarkt Blasmusik (FMB) in Guetersloh (Dammstrasse 39) is one of the larger shops in Germany. They always show more than 60 tubas in their shop.
Hubert

Hello,
When in Bavaria don't forget Melton/Meinl-Weston factory just south of Munich in Geretsried.
http://www.melton-meinl-weston.de/" target="_blank
Press the American flag for your language.
Good luck,
Lars

Lars Trawen wrote: When in Bavaria don't forget Melton/Meinl-Weston factory just south of Munich in Geretsried.

And when in Geretsried, why not swing by the Nirschl shop as well? Probably not much stock on hand, but interesting anyway.

Great. Thanks very much.

I also recommend FMB in Guetersloh, they have a lot of horns there. And not only one brand.

I haven't lived in Germany for a while, when I was there, Bob Tucci had a very active shop, with a lot of stock of Perantucci's and other horns. http://www.hornboerse.de" target="_blank is the website, and if I was going tuba shopping in Germany, I'd get a lesson or 2 with Mr. Tucci.
Peace
ASG

It's the best time in quite a while to buy, as the dollar and the Euro are about equal ($1.00 = €1.07).