TubeNet

About a quarter ways down on this webpage there's picture of tuba they call a Meinl Weston 2164, and on first glance it just looks like a 2165 but on closer inspection you'll noticed it's wrapped like a york tuba and not a 2165. There doesn't seem to be any information on this model, has anyone else heard of it? or is it just a custom instrument?


https://tuba88.net/used_c.html

I think the M-W 2164 is the 4-valve version (no 5th thumb rotor)
That 2164 looks like an early version from the early 1990s -- different angled leadpipe, maybe the smaller piston valveset, and other minor differences.

Neat tuba pic site

I can tell you that Meinl Weston did indeed make a 2164 copy of a Holton 345 CC tuba. It had a triple loop of branches instead of the double loop like the 2165 did. It came through the shop a long time ago. I've seen it with my own eyes, I just can't remember when and who owned it.

I owned one for a year or two. The one I owned was one of the first two prototypes that MW made in the early phase of what eventually became the 2165. Mine also had a Gold-Brass bell and the older “small-valves”. It was a fantastic tuba! Great sound and response. The only reason I sold it was because I needed to free up cash to buy my second YamaYork. The one I owned played better than any example of the 2165 model that I’ve played either before or since. I never understood why they didn’t stick with what they had. Oh well. Don’t know if that helps or contributes anything to the discussion!

I’ll try and see if I can find a few pics of mine.

Chris generously loaned me his 2164 for a few days many years ago, when I was home visiting family. If I recall correctly, that tuba had a number of Hirsbrunner braces installed by Warren Deck. A later owner (a couple of people past Chris) had Dan Oberloh fabricate a smaller mouthpipe, and I got to play test it at Dan's shop. That tuba was extraordinary. Only issue was that there was absolutely no place to put a fifth valve assembly.

Here's a couple of photos of that tuba in 2006:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AveVMEWR8ofOipRxuYr ... g?e=qIJ3jd

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AveVMEWR8ofOipRy6Se ... A?e=BsDPzb

Ben Berlien
Seattle, WA

Wow!!! Thanks Ben! For some reason I thought it had a slightly darker brass bell. Guess I was mistaken. That happens when you’ve owned too many tubas!!!

I think the entire bugle is gold brass on that tuba, not just the bell.