MW 37 Bill Bell Model Tuba $4,500
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 11:20 pm
Hey gang,
I'm still thinning the herd. Up for sale is a Meinl Weston model 37 "Bill Bell" model tuba with 5 valves: 4 on the right, 5th valve on the left. Comes with a Protec gig back that fits decently. It came with the "choose. your own adventure" slide setup on the 5th valve so you could pick which length you wanted. I chose the standard flat whole step and had my tech remove the rest. It can come with the horn if you want to reinstall it.
The Good:
This horn plays really great. It has a classic German sound- big and present and singing. Not the York sound that seems fashionable these days, but something really classic and colorful. The valves are fast, smooth and quiet. My tech put new uniball linkages and custom throws this year so everything is ready for the next gig. It's not making the cut because A) I play Bb 90% of the time these days, and B) I like big bore horns right now. This is small bore for a rotor horn, but blows easy and makes a clear, focused sound. I've been putting off selling it because every time I pick it up I grin like an idiot.
The Bad:
At some point in it's very long history someone put a new leadpipe on it. The bell suffered some damage but was rolled out. The lacquer is partially missing, just from age and use. As mentioned, there are scars from removing the extra 5th valve loop. This is a well loved horn, but everything works, compression is good, and it fits a standard American shank mouthpiece. I suspect that may be why it has a new leadpipe since some of the early ones took a sort of weird-sized intermediate. Intonation is generally good- but you'll have to play G at the bottom of the staff 1-3.
I'm asking $4,500 for the horn, the case, the spare parts, and it comes with a Miraphone C4 that suits it pretty well.
I am in Durham NC and can drive an hour or two for a serious buyer. I would prefer to NOT ship it.
Pictures:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
It's easiest to reach me at danielclouse at gmail.
I'm still thinning the herd. Up for sale is a Meinl Weston model 37 "Bill Bell" model tuba with 5 valves: 4 on the right, 5th valve on the left. Comes with a Protec gig back that fits decently. It came with the "choose. your own adventure" slide setup on the 5th valve so you could pick which length you wanted. I chose the standard flat whole step and had my tech remove the rest. It can come with the horn if you want to reinstall it.
The Good:
This horn plays really great. It has a classic German sound- big and present and singing. Not the York sound that seems fashionable these days, but something really classic and colorful. The valves are fast, smooth and quiet. My tech put new uniball linkages and custom throws this year so everything is ready for the next gig. It's not making the cut because A) I play Bb 90% of the time these days, and B) I like big bore horns right now. This is small bore for a rotor horn, but blows easy and makes a clear, focused sound. I've been putting off selling it because every time I pick it up I grin like an idiot.
The Bad:
At some point in it's very long history someone put a new leadpipe on it. The bell suffered some damage but was rolled out. The lacquer is partially missing, just from age and use. As mentioned, there are scars from removing the extra 5th valve loop. This is a well loved horn, but everything works, compression is good, and it fits a standard American shank mouthpiece. I suspect that may be why it has a new leadpipe since some of the early ones took a sort of weird-sized intermediate. Intonation is generally good- but you'll have to play G at the bottom of the staff 1-3.
I'm asking $4,500 for the horn, the case, the spare parts, and it comes with a Miraphone C4 that suits it pretty well.
I am in Durham NC and can drive an hour or two for a serious buyer. I would prefer to NOT ship it.
Pictures:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
It's easiest to reach me at danielclouse at gmail.