Meinl Weston 33... thoughts?

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ashhealey
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Meinl Weston 33... thoughts?

Post by ashhealey »

I found an old Meinl Weston 33 tuba for sale in fairly good shape for $3400. I have never heard anything about them before and was wondering what people thought about them. I am looking to buy a horn but I was holding out for a Miraphone 186 or 188 to pop up near me. Would this be a nice alternative?
Last edited by ashhealey on Thu Jun 07, 2018 4:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Northernlb
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by Northernlb »

Yes, go and play test, these are great tubas.
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greatk82
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by greatk82 »

If you are referring to the one for sale by tubadoctor, it used to be mine. It was a good playing horn, an I know he has done a lot of work i it to make it a great horn.
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bigboymusic
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by bigboymusic »

I've never played the removeable bell version, but the 32's I've played have been great horns. Imagine a 186 but a little more punch. In general these older 'Getzen' Meinl Westons were built like tanks. I like that feel in a horn!
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Fergie
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by Fergie »

I have the MW30. The horn has a beautiful, dark German sound. I very much love my horn. Go play test it!
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bort
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by bort »

bigboymusic wrote:I've never played the removeable bell version, but the 32's I've played have been great horns. Imagine a 186 but a little more punch. In general these older 'Getzen' Meinl Westons were built like tanks. I like that feel in a horn!
I agree with all of this!

Besides "more punch," I would add that the sound is darker than a 186, and less "bark" to the sound. I think you're getting a lot of tuba for the money.
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Re: Meinl Weston 33... thoughts?

Post by toobagrowl »

Ya mean Meinl-Weston :!:

The 33, 32 and 30 models have the same bugle.
Played the M-W 32 years ago and really enjoyed it. It was a sweet tuba that played very well. Very good build, pitch, response, nice sound. Like others have said; think of a Miraphone 186 with a more rounded, slightly darker sound color and you have the M-W 33/32/30. Great all-around/chamber tuba. Kind of an underrated tuba. I think I liked the model 32 more than the 37 B.Bell model. :tuba:
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by EMC »

I agree with most of the sentiment here, the whole 30s series are great all around CC tubas, incredibly reliable and fun to play :tuba: ill never know why these never got even close to as popular as the 186
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bort
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Re: Meinl Westin 33... thoughts?

Post by bort »

^ Probably a topic for another thread, but I think Miraphone had some pretty aggressive marketing in the 70s and 80s.
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