Worst thing about horns you own (or have owned)

oldbandnerd · Post by **oldbandnerd** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:32 am

My old euphonium - Weril H980- It had intonation issues I as a amamture could not just could not deal with by mearly lipping up or down .
On the up side it is a great intermediate model being a clone of the Yamaha 321 . But it had the advantage of having a large shank reciever. This gave it it a much more mellow sound as oppsed to the brightness of the Yamaha .

geomiklas · Post by **geomiklas** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:13 pm

gregsundt wrote:...The worst thing about it was when I had to sell it to keep a roof over our heads.

Been there too! Done it!
Good Luck on finding a suitable replacement!

BriceT · Post by **BriceT** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:19 pm

Current:

Miraphone 1291: can't really complain about playing, but the brass is very thin and it is easily dentable

geomiklas · Post by **geomiklas** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:37 pm

Previous Tubas
Conquenon BBb 3/4, 3-valve (8th grade)--good little tuba!

Yamaha BBb YBB-321 (high school)--1st and 2nd valves pitted by the end of 4 years.

Meinl Weston BBb 4-rotary valves (college owned, played until I bought the Czech)

Zeiss BBb 4-rotary valves (Czech made, had a very sharp ornament on the bottom bow.

Mirafone 186 CC 5U--Loved this horn until the day I had to sell it to payoff a banker.

Cerveny Piggy CC 4U--Excellent tone, wide range...despite being 3/4 size, it was awkward for me to hold in my lap.

Present Tuba
Mirafone 186 CC 5U--Love this horn! Pitch is consistent across the entire range.

Electric Bass
MusicMan StingRay 4-string bass (Leo Fender / pre-Ernie Ball model)...original owner (1983), strings changed to D'Addario Deep Talkin' Bass (heavy guage, flat wound, vinyl coated)--best soundin' bass guitar I have ever played.

Gallien Krueger MB150S--smallest amplifier I've ever owned, with the best overall sound. If I need more output watts, then the sound man will have to turn it up!

Bass Harmonica
Hohner HH-265 (EE-e)--Standard wood combs, with custom machined mouthpieces for smooth lip contact. Although this is the only model I have played professionally, I feel that both of the Huang and Suzuki bass models suffers a thin tone due to the plastic combs.

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:46 am

Then there is always a problem with chairs. I'm so short that when I put the bottom bow on the chair I can't quite get my mouth up to the mouthpiece. Those cheap folding chairs, and some good ones, put my bum lower than the front of the chair. I carry around some cushions and my own chair most of the
time. Gotta figure out how to grow a couple of inches....

Or get a stand of some kind...either a DEG/BBC likely, the Tubassist might not work with your situation.

Eupher6 · Post by **Eupher6** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:24 pm

Yamaha 321 euph -- this puppy was built in the late 70's (maybe a first model?) and sounded like a trombone. This one was extremely delicate and tinny. Wound up selling it back to the person who sold it to me, about 20 years later. Go figure.

Boosey 4+1 euph (NOT a Boosey & Hawkes), built in the late thirties, according to the serial number. This horn was/is ungodly flat. It desperately needs an overhaul, but I suspect it's too old.

pierso20 · Post by **pierso20** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:33 am

Previous Horn:

St. Petersburg 202L Actually a very nice example of a notoriously problematic horn. Fast rotors and good sound. It was a little bright of a sound however and couldn't get as fat as I wanted.

Current Horns:

Miraphone 1290 GREAT GREAT Horn. Produces a very fat/in-tune sound. BUT It is soooo big and tall...it is uncomfortable for a small guy like me to play, even with a stand.

Cereveny CFB-653 5I Wonderful little F tuba. Plays quite in tune and puts out a beautiful sound. It is however, quite small and very mouthpiece sensitive in terms of intonation and fatness.

kingrob76 · Post by **kingrob76** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:40 pm

Current horn: Getzen CB-50

Excellent do-it-all tuba. Plays and sounds much bigger than its physical size would lead you to believe it can play. It may not be a 4/4 but it's a 7/8 at the very least, and I can use it for all but the largest Orchestral works. Closest thing I've ever found to an instrument that practically plays itself. Best horn I've ever owned, and until recently the best horn I've ever played. My only complaints: I feel like a french horn player emptying slides as often as I do. The silver plating is VERY thin, chronic problem on these horns.

Previously:

Kalison Pro 2000 CC: One trick pony. Decent BAT, but top line Ab was almost impossible to find nevermind play in tune. Way too much work to try and play small and light on. The detachable valve section made for easy cleaning, though, FWIW.

Miraphone 188: Second best horn I've ever owned. Great sound, even response, very much a do-it-all horn. I loved the way it sounded in recordings I did with it. Only complaint was I had to play it with the main slide pretty much all the way out. Only had this problem on one other horn. In retrospect, getting rid of this horn was probably a mistake, and I'm still looking for its piston-based counterpart.

Yamaha 621 F: Good horn, but Yamaha horns often times are quite "boring" to play for me, very vanilla in their color and feel. Some people swear by these for quintet, it's just too small for me - can't get the right sound. Slapped a cimbasso mouthpiece in it for Bydlo, worked great for that.

Yamaha 321 Eb: Decent horn, but like the above, felt very plain and vanilla to me, not my kind of sound.

Cerveny CC 4V Piggy: Also had to play this horn with the main slide all the way out, and ride the 1st valve slide all over the place. The obscenely large bore size made this horn VERY fun to play. Pitch was a little iffy at times, the lacquer was a joke and the workmanship/durability left something to be desired.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:11 pm

I don't feel like I've really got much to complain about, but here it goes...

Canadian Brass CB-50: Awful silver plate (was purely cosmetic, but still...), too many really small braces in really tight places that required almost constant resoldering. I thought this was a great tuba, but the horn just seemed "delicate," for lack of a better term...not "thin" (like a Cerveny), just delicate.

Meinl Weston 2000: Had this one between the CB-50 and the Alex. Had ergonomic issues with the "big valves" that caused lots of trouble in my hands. I tried every work around there was. I eventually came to the realization that as uncool as they are these days, rotors were for me, and when coupled with the fact that the 2000 was/is an expensive/valuable tuba, I decided to let it go and free up some cash.

Alexander 163: I think this tuba would best be described as requiring serious effort to play well. Don't read that as "bad intonation" or anything other than it takes work to play it. I think it's a combination of the large leadpipe, large bore, and wide slots for the pitch that make it so. I've found the horn to be particularly mouthpiece sensitive as well, and the Alexander sized receiver doesn't help matters. My only other complaint is that it takes a large space to really appreciate what an Alexander can do...there isn't enough space in my house to really do it any justice.

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:27 am

Tom wrote:My only other complaint is that it takes a large space to really appreciate what an Alexander can do...there isn't enough space in my house to really do it any justice.

I rather think that is a general characteristic of large tubas. I played my Cerveny Kaiser outdoors for the first time this week and it is really the first time I have have fully appreciated what a magnificent sound it can produce - quite apart from my house, the band hall and some concert venues are not large enough.

Mwtuba32 · Post by **Mwtuba32** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:45 am

Meinl-weston 32-stuffy low register and every A within a 4 ovtave range was wierd.

Cerveny F-Stuffy low C and B and too many valves

...no such thing in reality

Selman Euphonium-Stuffy low register below F

St.Petersburg 201-Horrible valves and I had to cut the 4th valve slide 1 1/2 inches to get it to play in tune

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:18 am

BriceT wrote:Miraphone 1291: can't really complain about playing, but the brass is very thin and it is easily dentable

I'll second that. Close examination of my bell shows multiple indentations where my knuckles press against the bell when I pick up the horn. I try to avoid it, but the brain is not always focused. Even the slides are easily dented. My main tuning slide shows a very slight depression where the water key snagged on my pants leg as I was lifting the horn, and the slide dropped about two feet onto carpet. This is definitely not a school horn.

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:20 pm

Miraphone 184 BBb. 2 and 4 B natural that is unplayably sharp. I must get bloke to make me a kicker for 2. The Eb below the staff is quite sharp as well but 1st slide is an easy reach. I've heard lots of folks complain about how sharp these are built overall but it is wonderful for me. I blow everthing flat so this is the first horn I've owned in years that I haven't had to cut. I cut 3/4" out of the main tuning slide and 3/8" off my Schilke 60 to get my current Besson bass bone down to pitch. I had a Yamaha 621 for a few months and really disliked it. The scale was nice and the respose was great but it didn't just sound right to me.

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:14 pm

Alex 164 6/4 (6/4?). Makes regular 163 Alexs seam perfectly in tune. Took a year before I'd play it in public - but WHAT a sound. Also, bell aged to much and simply shattered. Has a new bell and it's as good as ever!

Cerveny Pig - New to me. Very finicky about mouthpieces for decent pitch.

Boosey Eb - Wonderful. I only regret it's being "played" out, and has already had 1 overhaul.

Yamaha 621 F. Perfect for nothing, passable for everything.

Had a King Monster recording BBb rotory ax. LOVED this horn. Only sold it because there was nowhere socially aceptable to play it classically, wish I could've foun an upright bell... Fastest valves in the west, with the string linackage!

Had Kalison CC Daryl Smith. I only regret I dont have it - stupidest sale ever. Lyrical and lovely. The siren song of an Alex 163 got me to sell it, Kalison wasn't quite big enough, I thought. But sold 163 because anywhere I'd use it, I'd use the 164. But I want my Kalison back.

Had a 52J - My wifes favorite. Would take this back too, but not over the Kalison...

Sold my later King Eb sousa. Another dumb sale - fantastic horn. Paid for my wedding, though.

J.c.S.

bttmbow · Post by **bttmbow** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:53 pm

No instrument I have ever owned counts measures rest for me.

Once the technology catches up, though... I'll buy one of those, even if I hate the horn for other reasons!

CJH

FreeBandMusic · Post by **FreeBandMusic** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:08 am

Mirafone Bb 186 (`1952)
Raw brass finish. 2nd valve slide stuck since I bought it. Bottom bow is equipped with painfully sharp blade-type bumper.

Martin Eb
Never, ever get to play it.

Sterling Euph
Plays great; sound fits my euph concept perfectly. Good valves, good intonation after I had two slides shortened. Oh, things I DON'T like.... Silver plate was about one molecule thick. If I don't play it at least once a week, the valves lock solid. I think it's punishing me.

Former horns

Cerveny Bb 6814
This horn had a great sound, but it only had ONE. High, low, loud, soft, deep mouthpiece, shallow mouthpiece, all the same sound. I never found a way to color the sound or play with any expression.

Boosey Imperial 3 valve compensator
Big massive sound, decent intonation, perfect for community band... as long as you didn't need Db, C, and B below the staff, as they were unplayably stuffy. Also, it weghed more than my car!

John Thompson
Visit FreeBandMusic.biz

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:18 am

FreeBandMusic wrote: Bottom bow is equipped with painfully sharp blade-type bumper.

Of course that is to protect the bottom bow of the tuba (like those awful balls on the bottom of old B&H tubas), but at your discomfort

FreeBandMusic wrote: Martin Eb
Never, ever get to play it.

The obvious question is - why do you never get to play it

Liberty Mo · Post by **Liberty Mo** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:21 pm

The "King Spin" on a new 2341.

kingrob76 · Post by **kingrob76** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:58 pm

What do I like least?

Easy.

The depreciation in value they all seem to suffer, be it new or used, between the time I buy them and the time I sell them.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:50 pm

kingrob76 wrote:What do I like least?

Easy.

The depreciation in value they all seem to suffer, be it new or used, between the time I buy them and the time I sell them.

Sheesh. You only have that problem because you try to sell them. Silly boy.

Rick "more apt to buy than sell" Denney

TubeNet

Worst thing about horns you own (or have owned)

Re: past horns

worst