MW 2145

[bort]

Others have described the horn being "whoofy".

I have only a limited experience with 2145s, but it seems like oftentimes:

woofy = try a different mouthpiece

[Tubanese]

I started on the 2144, which has only 4valves, and I loved it!
I would go and listen to some CDs of the original Empire Brass Quintet. Mr.Pilafian sounds really great on the 2145.

[Tubanese]

Specifically the Cd of "Classics - Music of Gabrieli", which is amazing. Is Mr. Pilafian playing a 2145 on those?

I think that might be Mr.Amis playing and not Mr.Pilafian.
BTW, my favorite is "Royal Brass"

[ZNC Dandy]

The 2145 isn't a bad instrument. It can be a tad dead feeling sometimes. Awesome chamber horn. I think taking the leadpipe off the bell would make alot of difference. I'm not sure why they did that. Its a fairly heavy horn, so I would think the bell would be stable enough without it. Its also a VERY durable instrument if that matters.

[quinterbourne]

It can be a tad dead feeling sometimes.

That's what I felt too when I tried one at WWBW. There just wasn't much colour in the sound. It wasn't enticing to play. I think it's really important to get a horn that gets a sound that you love... it will encourage you to practice. You might love the sound you get on the 2145, but you should try other models.

My general findings while at WWBW

Good intonation, dead sound:
MW2145/2155 and Yamaha 822

Great sound, poor intonation:
Miraphone 1291 - I tried 3 or 4 models, same pitch problems

Great sound, great intonation:
Rudy Meinl 4345 piston - but has slightly stuffy lower register

[Steve Inman]

I would call the 2145 a smaller 4/4. I had the opportunity to visit a Tubamania presentation a few Octobers ago (it would have been called Octubafest (TM)/(R)/(C) except that the term "Octubafest" (TM)/(R)/(C) has been trademarked or registered or copyrighted or some such thing -- so it wasn't called Octubafest (TM)/(R)/(C).

A number of tuba solos were performed by the Butler University tubists (Indianapolis). I was surprised to find out that the one my ears liked the most (of the contrabass solos) was the standard 186-5U CC -- not to big, not too small -- just right. There was a 2145 there, and I did think it sounded a bit "underwhelming".

This is not intended to be a suggestion for the 186-5U CC -- but merely an observation about that horn and the 2145 in one particular context.

For an all-around horn, I think a Miraphone 1292 would be hard to beat. Nice sound, plays very easily. That's the one that has most impressed me of late.

Best Regards,

[Steve Inman]

To the OP,

I used to play an older 186CC Miraphone with a 16.5" bell -- the same size as the 2141 bell, although probably a different taper to it. I quite liked the sound of that Miraphone, btw. And it worked well enough as a 4/4 horn in a variety of situations. So it depends on the kind of sound you want to achieve with your tuba.

It has been said on this forum and others that the Rudy 3/4 CC is one of those horns that would be included in the list of "best all-around tubas" out there. I've read that it was thought to be a bit on the small side for the larger orchestral situations, but that some of the well-known 3/4 Rudy players were able to make it work for almost everything. The 3/4 Rudy has a 17.25" bell, iirc. The 2145 has a 16.5" bell -- and probably has a bit more focused sound than the Rudy.

I wouldn't choose a horn this small as my only CC, unless I wouldn't end up in a larger orchestra as the only tuba. Fortunately for me as an amateur player, playing in mostly amateur church orchestras as my most challenging venues, a 2145 would certainly work okay. Yet even in a situation where it would be "potent" enough, it wouldn't have the breadth of sound I would want. So you'll have to play one, and other choices, to see if you like how you sound when you play it!

(It was also observed on this forum that a 2145, equipped with a 2141 Eb bell might be a really nice combination. I don't know if anyone has ever tried such a modification.....)

Cheers,

[Steve Oberheu]

FYI....Brasswind does not carry Rudy Meinl any more.

[Tubanese]

I would also try both "Big Valve" and "non-Big Valve".
I personally like non-big valve, because for me the big valve is a bid whoofy. However, the big valve feels like projecting more...but this is just my opinion