Road trip!

[Tubaguyry]

So I'm leaving tomorrow to head up to WW&BW to try out some horns. I can't wait! I'll be driving from Emporia, KS through Kansas City, and over through Springfield, IL.

Does anyone have any suggestions for "don't miss" attractions/places to eat along that route? The plan is to leave early Friday and take our time driving so we can take in some sights if we see any, then spend Saturday at WW&BW.

Thanks!

[jon112780]

The Tubadome is pretty close to WWBW, it's a must see (and play).

[tubatom91]

Galena's pizzeria in Downtown Springfield (IL) is pretty darn good, I had a very good italian beef sandwhich there....Pizza is good to.

[Alex C]

Galena's pizzeria in Downtown Springfield (IL) is pretty darn good, I had a very good italian beef sandwhich there....Pizza is good to.

Now here's a post you can sink your teeth into, literally and figuratively.

[Slamson]

Anybody on a road trip through Springfield must get on "Business 55", which, to the locals is still remembered as "Route 66". On Route 66 is the "Cozy Dog". Check out this review:

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overvie ... RefID=5360" target="_blank" target="_blank

Consider all the grease good therapy for your chops.

[Tubaguyry]

Ahhh, excellent! That's just the sort of thing I was looking for. We'll be sure to stop there, thanks!

And maybe we'll catch Galena's on the way back.

[eupher61]

a little off the beaten path, but relatively easy on and off...

In St Louis, on the former Route 66 as well, Ted Drewes' Frozen Custard. The stand that originated the Concrete. http://www.teddrewes.com/Drewes.asp

[pierso20]

You could always check out the Irish.........

[tbn.al]

. The stand that originated the Concrete.

I must have lived a sheltered life, but what in the world is a Concrete?

[Eric B]

Did you buy one of those $7500 "Scratch and Dent" Thors before they ended the deal?

[EuphoniousJoy]

That's awesome for you!!! I don't know any sites to stop at, but wanted to share that I am headed to WWBW also this summer, in August, to try and buy myself my first horn!

I'm so excited and can totally understand your excitement in this!!!! Congrats!

[Tubaguyry]

Well, that was an eventful morning! We're stopped in Springfield, IL for the night after testing tubas at WWBW for a couple of hours earlier. I tried pretty much every CC they had, and several Fs, and here's the opinions I came away with:

Miraphone 1291 - Just like the others I've played, great low and middle register, funky upper register, overall not a bad horn but just not for me

Miraphone 1292 - Considerably tighter than the 1291, I liked it a lot. Upper register was much more stable, intonation was good. It just wasn't my voice, though.

MW 2155 - A good, solid horn, but just kind of a vanilla sound. It didn't reach out and grab me, but is definitely not bad by any stretch of the imagination.

Miraphone 186 - Just like a 186 ... nice middle and high register tone, but crappy low register and sounds like you're shredding sheet metal when you try to put more than mf air through it.

Besson 995 - I was looking forward to trying this, but I was disappointed. Its tone was just kind of bland, and there were some funky notes that didn't want to slot perfectly. It wouldn't be bad, especially with more time to get used to it. But I didn't fall in love with it.

Mel Culbertson Neptune - I just played on it as a goof, since I'm in the market for an all-around horn, not a BAT. But I was surprised! It sounded great playing solo stuff. And of course, the low stuff sounded excellent. The overall intonation felt a little funny at times, but that could just be that I'm not used to it. I was definitely taken aback by this horn and its versatility.

Miraphone Firebird - I'd never played one before, and even though I'm not looking for an F, I had to try it. Like buttah. Sounded awesome. I was in awe at how sweet it played. But then I played the ...

Willson 3200 - O.M.G. This baby PLAYS! I just assumed the Firebird would be the best F horn there, but I am in love with the Willson. It played easier and sounded much sweeter than the Firebird. If I was in the market for an F tuba ...

MW Thor - This was the main horn I was looking forward to playing, and it definitely got the majority of my attention. Every note slotes great, it has a nice fat sound, and the overall intonation is decent. The low register is INSANE, and the high stuff just dances. It responds GREAT to dynamic changes at the embouchure, and the tone can be changed a LOT by using different mouthpieces. My gripes: The ergonomics suck. It isn't fun to hold, pretty uncomfortable. The valves are also pretty loud, and my wife informed me that they were distracting.

Sooo, I left WW and BW with the firm feeling that when my financial aid comes in this summer, I will be the proud new owner of a ... (drumroll) ...

Miraphone 188! WOW! I had never even considered this horn! I just assumed it would be just another 186 in a different looking body. I was sooo wrong, the 188 is nothing like the 186. For one thing, it has an AWESOME low register!!! And the notes slot great from the bottom all the way into the stratosphere. It also doesn't "brass out" as easily as a 186. The valves are lighting-fast and quiet, the tone is sweet, the instrument responds amazingly well to dynamics at the embouchure and mouthpiece changes, and the intonation is excellent. I was very surprised that it was my favorite. I went back and forth between it and the Thor for a long time. But in the end, the better soloistic side, holdability, valves, and price made the 188 the horn for me.

Oh, btw ... we DID eat at the Cozy Drive In in Springfield on the way up. I loved it. It was the best corn dog I'd ever had. But my wife informed me (after she took one bite) that she had forgotten to tell me that she HATES corn dogs, and that she wanted to throw up. She took a bite just for me! Now that's love!

[The Jackson]

The 188 really comes with a TU-23/C4? Wow, that's surprising. The 186 comes with the big TU-29, so I don't get how the bigger horn gets the smaller piece. It's awesome that it works well!

[tubatom91]

Welcome to the family of happy 188 owners! I bought mine last spring, and am very pleased with it (from Roger). I've found that my favorite mouthpiece on this horn is my "vintage" Mirafone C4, although it's too rough to play on anymore. I use a pt-88 on it daily and have marvelous results. I wish you much luck with your new purchase