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Fellow tubenetters,

Last week I played a Meinlweston Tuono at the Buffet Crampon warehouse in Florida. After playing for a couple of hours I really liked it and felt that it would be worth the buy.I have talked with some well known tuba shops and other professional tuba players regarding this model. I will be returning to Buffet to try the tubas again while bringing a well respected orchestral tuba player for his advice.

While talking with the tuba shops these points have come up and I wanted to know if anyone else has come up with the same conclusions.

Opinion #1 the tuono like the thor has a hollow sound when heard out front in the orchestra.(I didn't get a chance to play in a open hall so I can't speak to this matter)

Opinion #2 no one really buys the tuono due to bias against rotary valve tubas in the US.

Opinion#3 Meinlweston's quality control has fallen since their alliance with the buffet comapny.

Opinion #4 the Tuono has great intonation and sound and if I am looking for a great CC rotary tuba I should buy it. (Why does there have to be a divide between piston and rotary?)

I would appreciate if anyone can shed some light onto this tuba and let me know their experience, any quality control issues, etc.

Thank you

Opinion #4 is the only one that really matters!

I tried one once, and thought it was nice, but not significantly different than the PT6 or PT6P that were next to it. In fact, they all had the same sort of big warm and slightly dull but easy to play B&S sound. Not my preferred sound, but clearly it works very well for everybody else.

There aren't a ton of true 5/4 rotary CC tubas, which is what I have been chasing as well. If you tried it and liked it (and have tried enough other 5/4 rotary CC tubas to be relatively sure), then go for it. I kind of fell *** backwards into my rotary Willson, and like it better than any other big rotary tuba that I have tried. I probably wouldn't a Tuono, but it has nothing to do with build quality, having rotors, or opinions of others.

Bort,
Thank you for your help. I originally had no plans to go to Buffet and buy another tuba. It was just a trip a friend and I took during lunch for fun. I definitely wasnt about to switch back to playing a rotary tuba. After playing the tuono I found myself changing my mind completely. We will see how I feel when I go back and play test them again to make sure. I try not to buy a tuba on the first try.

I am also taking my Miraphone 1292 to a trusted repair guy and going to try and heat up some of the braces to see if there is any undo stress that is making the pedal F and Eb more difficult then what they should be. The guy I am taking it to has had a 1292 in his shop and was able to free up some tension found in the braces holding the valve section and lead pipe. It made a huge difference.

Low Eb isn't a great note on many CC tubas -- so much tubing. I owned a 1291 with a 1292 leadpipe for 4 or 5 years, and thought it was a great tuba. But compared to the 5/4 horns, it definitely makes the 1291 seem a click smaller, and maybe that's not a bad thing. Some days I think I should've just kept the 1291 and avoided all of this tuba tail chasing... But when something really jumps at you, it's hard to say no. I have fallen for this more than a few times!

Agreed they are great tubas and put out a good amount of sound. If I can release some of the tension and open it up a little bit I may just keep her. It seems like the days of the 1292 are over. Everyone seems to be selling them when 8 years ago everyone was buying them.

tubazach07 wrote:
Opinion#3 Meinlweston's quality control has fallen since their alliance with the buffet comapny.

How this looks to an individual I suppose depends on what examples they've seen. The new examples I've played at conferences this year seem nicely put together. On the other hand for a while I owned a 2145 made about ten or so years ago that had fit and finish issues (buffing, slides, etc.) that made me wonder why Chinese makers got panned for the same issues MW apparently had. So I would have said their quality has improved recently, but that's the problem with anecdotal evidence.

Thanks
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bootsintheoven/5143217310" target="_blank

I use mine ALL THE TIME ....

tclements wrote:I use mine ALL THE TIME ....

Thank you Mr. Clements for your input!

Its easily the best CC ive ever played i prefer it over the pt 6 and thor and the only other CC Id probably ever buy is a handmade version of it in full gold brass. The rotors on mine are kinda noisy but the newer ones seem to have fixed this problem. The low register on it is VERY impressive, but the high register is very good too. Its a very good horn that i believe would serve you well even as a do it all tuba if it happened to be your only tuba and i dont care what anyone says but i will choose rotors over pistons any day! Thats my opinion, ive had mine for 3 years so ive gotten to know it very well.

tubazach07 wrote:

tclements wrote:I use mine ALL THE TIME ....

Thank you Mr. Clements for your input!

Hey Tony... how would you compare the Tuono to either the Bruckner or the Willson 3050RZ? I'm not in the market, but... well... you've owned a lot of stuff, so when you find and use something all the time, that has to mean something! Thanks!

I LOVE the Willson, it was just too HEAVY for me to get into and out of the pit. The Bruckner is a GREAT tuba, FANTASTIC LOW NOTES, I wish I could get another one. It's sound is a bit LIGHTER than the Tuono. It's been awhile since I've had my Bruckner (I sold it to Alex Lapins, who sold it). I would say the Tuono is darker and heavier than the Bruckner, with more projection (I'm guessing because of the density of sound). I have a new 6450, but I haven't gotten into it yet. I think the Tuono has better low notes, but the 6450's sound is more in line with what people expect. But since I am not auditioning, or looking for a gig, I play what I want, which is the Tuono right now. I played the Tuono with the SF Symphony, and I really liked the sound of that horn in Davies. It mikes up really well, too, with plenty of core to get into the mike.

And (with all due respect) please call me Tony. While I appreciate the respect you've shown me, I have never seen myself as a Mr. Clements.

You're the man, Tony. Thanks!

Thank you everyone for your inputs. This has helped me a lot and I look forward to play testing it again.