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Has anybody played the 45SLZ? I played the 45S and loved it, I am wondering how the SLZ is different from/better than the S.

thanks,
Chen

The SLZ is a rotor version of the SLP. The SLP was an attempt to combine the big piston concept of the MW CCs with the german rotor design. It was more or less successful depending on your perspective.

The SLZ is a better tuba than the SLP.

If you click on shops at the top of this page and click on the MW link and THEN click on instruments and F tubas you can read about it for yourself.

FWIW

The S and the SLZ share (IIRC) the same valveset and bell, with the primary difference being in the bottom bow, which is substantially larger on the SLZ. The rest of the tubing from bell throat to valveset is larger tapered on the SLZ also. The SLZ, as a result, has a fuller sound, though the 45S is, by most accounts, better in tune.

FWIW, I owned a 45S but liked the sound of the bigger F so I went to an SLP. I also played an SLZ that I loved but the SLP was cheaper (used vs. new) and I prefer pistons anyway.