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I'm not sure how many of these even exist, but I figure someone here owns, or has owned one of these in the past.

I'm curious about how these play compared to the current 2145, or the BBC version of the 2145. Are they suitable as all-around tubas, or really geared towards quintet playing? Were there any disadvantages of the small valve model to the big valve model?

I'm potentially interested in one of these for a few reasons. Before I really start to hunt one down, I'm curious to learn more about it first. Thanks!

PS -- if anyone has a photo of one, that would be great!

I owned one for a few years, and then I sold it to fund my Alex. Here's my ad for it: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=57629&p=488488#p488488" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Some stream of conscious ramblings. . .

It was a good tuba! I played it in ever ensemble you could imagine, even in fairly large orchestral settings. I played it next to a brand new 2145 with the big valves quite a bit. Actually, I was in a wind ensemble with another one. My section mate even played the same exact Blokepiece I played. . . First off, mine had a smaller bell, but only by about 3/4". Also, metal was much thinner. Like, thin enough that it was noticeably lighter. Mine also had a European shank receiver, but I played it with an American shank Bloke symphony.

My horn had an easier low range than the new 2145, and it seemed to hold together better at fortissimo. Mine also had better ergonomics for a taller player, and my 4th slide was trued for easy pulling. Both horns had almost perfect intonation, with slide pulls reserved for the pedal range only. I also think the sound on my small valve horn was much more interesting- it was more focused and colorful. To me, the other horn sounded (when I played it) really bland. The other guy was better than me, so it didn't sound bland in his hands.

The small valves were extremely reliable and worked really well with light oils. I usually used lamp oil on them. Also, I think Meinl Weston made a mistake when changing their 5th valve assembly. This one had a really solid linkage and was as fast as the pistons. I could mash down the 5th valve in the low range and not have it change sound.

I sold it to Paul Carlson of the Dallas Brass. He sounded amazing when he tested it in the huge Kresge auditorium. I don't know if he still has it, though. . . It's the horn that took me places and taught me CC fingerings.

Come to think of it, I never really felt under-gunned with it. I also felt comfortable in quintet with it, as well as the occasional solo. It wasn't really easy for me to play extremely high stuff, but I think that is more of my fault. I don't play high stuff on my CC tuba at all, even when practicing fundamentals. . .

That said, I do find my Alex to be superior in every category except ease of fingering. The Alex does all the work once I supply the air and the correct fingering/slide setting. It was stupid easy to play some fast passages on that 2145 (the valves were like a trumpet but with really heavy springs), but there are some passages that are almost impossible on the Alex. The Alex has the fastest rotors I've ever played on, but the operator (ahem, me. . .) hasn't practiced enough to be as consistent.

Paul was playing on a 2145, when Dallas Brass played their concert here at APSU, back in January

DouglasJB wrote:Paul was playing on a 2145, when Dallas Brass played their concert here at APSU, back in January

Ha, that's the horn! I found a video- he makes it sound much better than I could.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9jTtetroRo" target="_blank

Here is a photo of the 2145 I used to own...Great tuba, I used it in all settings...It can play a lot bigger that it looks....I love the small valves, (Nirschl, I think)

I have owned one for about a year:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53519&hilit=+2145

I had a Willson 3100 RZ-4 at that time and was looking for something lighter and easier to play.
The 2145 fitted those requirements well, but some remarks:
- The one I had played 440Hz with all the tuning slide all the way in, so I had to shorten it.
- I had problems to adapt from BBb to CC playing (which is personal)
- The 2145 was perfect for smalle ensembles, but I had problems to support a complete wind band with it (conductor was also used to the Willson...)
- For playing solo literature, it was still a bit too big for my taste.

So in the end (situation now) I have sold both the Willson and the 2145 and have bought a Rudy 4/4 BBb, a Miraphone Norwegian Star and a Conn 36K sousa (serial L.....)
I play the Rudy in wind band with the same or even better results than the Willson, from a lighter horn. I also like the sound colour more.
I play the Norwegian Star in championship section Brassband, next to Bessons, and that works fine. I also use it to study solo literature: very nice.
The conn 36K is very good for my marching needs, but I think the valves need some work...

My experience for what it's worth...

oedipoes wrote: So in the end (situation now) I have sold both the Willson...

Nooo!!

Thanks everyone! One advantage of the small valves is the slightly more human finger spacing.

Russ -- great looking horn, you always take such great photos!

Wim -- sounds like your situation was similar to mine, thanks for the input! (BTW, I formerly owned a Rudy Meinl 4/4 CC, so this is all relatable for me). That would be my one concern, possibly not getting the output I want in a larger ensemble, but as a one-tuba person, I need to pick something that's the best overall compromise for everything. The Willson is a killer tuba, but it's too far on the "big side" of the curve. I did ask Willson if they have a smaller CC, which they do (the 4400)... however, its small bore size (17mm) is concerning.

I'll have to track down a 2145 to give it a try, that's the only way I'll know anything more about what I think. Besides, the 2145s are handsome tubas, especially when they get older and wear a little bit -- fitting for yours truly...?

bort wrote:That would be my one concern, possibly not getting the output I want in a larger ensemble, but as a one-tuba person, I need to pick something that's the best overall compromise for everything. The Willson is a killer tuba, but it's too far on the "big side" of the curve. I did ask Willson if they have a smaller CC, which they do (the 4400)... however, its small bore size (17mm) is concerning.

I just swapped mouthpieces with mine. The Laskey 30G made it sound like an F tuba. The PT 88 allowed me to get a close approximation to a 6/4 tuba sound. I eventually got lazy and settled on the Blokepiece as it was somewhere in between.

southtubist wrote:

bort wrote:That would be my one concern, possibly not getting the output I want in a larger ensemble, but as a one-tuba person, I need to pick something that's the best overall compromise for everything. The Willson is a killer tuba, but it's too far on the "big side" of the curve. I did ask Willson if they have a smaller CC, which they do (the 4400)... however, its small bore size (17mm) is concerning.

I just swapped mouthpieces with mine. The Laskey 30G made it sound like an F tuba. The PT 88 allowed me to get a close approximation to a 6/4 tuba sound. I eventually got lazy and settled on the Blokepiece as it was somewhere in between.

Ditto. Used the 88 and 30G on my small valve 2145 too. Same results. Unless you're in a big group with some serious heavy hitters, you won't be out of place with the older 2145.

Frank

Sweet, thanks guys.

As I remember, that 2145 was like a mini Thor....The low end just popped out

highsierra wrote:As I remember, that 2145 was like a mini Thor....The low end just popped out

Now *that's* cool!

I think a some of what made those horns special was lost when they went to the large piston valve set. They because more "blah"
I guess a comparative might be the older smaller bell thinner brass 186 vs the current larger bell heavier brass, although that is much more of a difference.

I measured the slide tubing on mine with a caliper. If I remember correctly, it measured about .740 on ALL the valves, including the 5th valve. Maybe the magic had to do with the smaller 5th valve? It seemed very consistent to me, and it sounded very consistent out front. I must admit, the low range is really easy to pop out. Sometimes I would get a little too excited.