MW rotary ball joints available?

[james]

Anybody know if you can purchase the rotary ball joints and arms for Meinl Weston rotary tubas? I like the action on Meinl rotaries and would like to get the ball joints and arms if possible. I obviously don't need the paddle set. On Meinl's site, it looks as if the connector rod (from the arm to the paddle) is attached directly to the paddle arm. If this is the case, maybe the only option is to buy the whole set. It's worth a try though. Maybe I could just get 8 ball joints and 4 arms?? Thanks!

-james

[ASTuba]

By ball joints, what are you referring to? Are these the white, plastic parts that are similar to those on S grade Miraphones? Or are you referring to a Miniball metal link at the end, found on all MW tubas built since the 80's I believe?

Let me know, and I can point you in the right direction.

[james]

I have the exact parts described by Bloke and he is right, with the use of good oil, they are very quiet and acceptable. I would just like to have something not only more cosmetically pleasing but I also just simply prefer the action on the newer MW and B&S rotary linkages. The DuBro linkages that are on my tuba look older and I don't trust their hold up value for when I take my F tuba on a gig.

To answer ASTuba:
I am looking for ball-joints and arms and I prefer the parts most recently used by Gerhard Meinl. This means the 3-B linkages he switched to around 2003, I believe? I got some mini-ball linkages from Schilke but they're intended for trombone rotary valves and obviously are just a little small.

[ASTuba]

James,

Those aren't going to be cheap, but give Matt @ Dillon a call, he should have those in stock.

[iiipopes]

I also recommend them instead of the factory "stock." I recommended them to a friend of mine in community band who needed to replace the cracked grey tips on his Miraphone; he did the work himself and commented back to me on how much better they were.