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The 3450 has been out for a while now (well 4 or so years) but there's not a lot of talk about it. I've trawled the forums and apart from a couple of threads when it first surfaced, it's slim pickings.

Surely there are some tubaists with 3450 exoerience out there? Is it good , bad or indifferent?

You may want to get in touch with Craig Knox in regards to the MW3450. He uses one when he is playing in Center City Brass Quintet. He does show up on the board from time to time but has contact information on his website: http://www.craigknoxtuba.com/contact.php.

Billy M. wrote:You may want to get in touch with Craig Knox in regards to the MW3450. He uses one when he is playing in Center City Brass Quintet. He does show up on the board from time to time but has contact information on his website: http://www.craigknoxtuba.com/contact.php.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=71009&p=579435&hilit=3450#p579435

Cheers for the suggestions.

Anyone else?

In my former life (in NY), I sold my Gnagey CC to buy a 3450. I wish I had both back. Both were great all around CC tubas. Both were as big as I would ever need for the paid gigs I did. Once I moved to Austin, I began playing in community groups, just to keep playing and to meet the musicians in the area. All of the tuba players had larger tubas than mine, so I sold the 3450 and bought a BMB CC, which I eventually sold to buy the 1292 I currently play about 1-2 times a week and when I practice. I like to practice on my largest tuba when I sit down to work on stuff. I no longer play in the community bands, except for one that is a family venture. I play my 621CC and sousaphone the most. For the playing I mainly do here, the Gnagey and/or 3450 would have been perfect. Both sound very different from each other, but both are free blowing piston tubas, with excellent low registers, and excellent pitch. The 3450 had the larger bore with the larger valves. And, it was shiny!!

bloke wrote:It's always better to read posts ~about~ playing a model of tuba than to play it oneself, yes ?

Definitely- however as far as I know, there are no 3450s in New Zealand, probably none in the southern hemisphere!

I own a 3450 that I was told used to be Bill's. It is my favorite instrument, and I play it whenever I can: brass ensemble, orchestra pops, brass quintet, etc... I still use my Nirschl for bigger orchestral rep, and my F tuba whenever I want a bass tuba sound. Otherwise, the 3450 is my default choice. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to go play it now.

Thanks for the info everyone. I think we've doubled the amount of talk about this tuba on the internet in this one thread.

And Bloke- thanks for the reminder about the structure of the horn, it's an interesting wee hybrid isn't it?

Wow Sean(volution)? Glad you like the tuba so much. I believe I sold it to someone in LA who wanted to use it in studio work of some kind. Good luck with it.

Bill, yes he was using it for studio work, including the new Batman vs Superman movie. I haven't seen that yet, but I'm planning to go hear it in action.

Sean

Now, I know I should've kept it!!

A 3450 next to a Yamaha 621cc.

Here is a 3450 next to a 2145. They both use the Big Valve valve block, but the 2145 has much bigger branches and bottom bow. The 5th valve is on the other side of the tuning slide on the 3450, but next to the 4th valve on the 2145.