An Eb tuba with rotors and good low range?
- Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker
- Posts: 10424
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:46 pm
- Location: Newburgh, Indiana
- Contact:
I have a Miraphone 183-4 Eb. Great solo horn but if you are looking for a powerful low-range don't even consider it! At least that's my opinion.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
- Steve Inman
- 4 valves
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:48 am
The best results for intonation and good low register will be obtained with the Yamaha YEB-321, and at the most reasonable price, I believe.
The existing rotary options are all probably weak in the low register (Miraphone 183 is probably better than the Cerveny, but a previous post suggests it's still not "strong".)
Any Willson options (if they exist in rotary valves) will be expensive.
I am looking forward to the new Miraphone Eb tuba that is expected to be on the market in the next 6 months. However, it's low register response is only likely known by Mr. Baadsvik. http://www.baadsvik.com/ (Select "Gallery" to see photos).
At the present time, I will be very happy with my Yamaha Eb, even though I do like the sound of a rotary valved bass tuba ....
The existing rotary options are all probably weak in the low register (Miraphone 183 is probably better than the Cerveny, but a previous post suggests it's still not "strong".)
Any Willson options (if they exist in rotary valves) will be expensive.
I am looking forward to the new Miraphone Eb tuba that is expected to be on the market in the next 6 months. However, it's low register response is only likely known by Mr. Baadsvik. http://www.baadsvik.com/ (Select "Gallery" to see photos).
At the present time, I will be very happy with my Yamaha Eb, even though I do like the sound of a rotary valved bass tuba ....
Steve Inman
Yamaha YEB-381 Eb
Conn 56J CC
Willson-Marzan CC Solo Model
Kokomo Chamber Brass
Yamaha YEB-381 Eb
Conn 56J CC
Willson-Marzan CC Solo Model
Kokomo Chamber Brass
- Roger Lewis
- pro musician
- Posts: 1160
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:48 am
Miraphone
I've played the horn that Miraphone is making for Oystein Baadsvik, the "Norwegian Star", and I would have to give it 5 stars for performance throughout the range of the instrument. Very full sound, excellent valve action and very easy to play. I would play test one of these before making any decision. It should be available in the Spring sometime.
Just my $0.02
Just my $0.02
"The music business is a cruel and shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S Thompson
- Roger Lewis
- pro musician
- Posts: 1160
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:48 am
BUT...
It WILL have the rotary valves that he is looking for.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S Thompson
- tubaman5150
- 3 valves
- Posts: 375
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Manhattan, KS
- Uncle Buck
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:45 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Contact:
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg makes a rotary valve EEb, but I don't know anything about it. The Tuba Exchange sells them new, and there is one used for sale at:
http://www.oberloh.com/sales/sales.htm
http://www.oberloh.com/sales/sales.htm
- Matt Walters
- The Tuba Whisperer
- Posts: 462
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:20 am
- Location: Woodbridge, NJ
The tuba you may be looking for, is the Meinl Weston 2040. It's offered in only 4 rotor. It's the big body of the 2141, but with four .768" rotors. The neat thing is, it is priced way below the piston horn. I won't say what store I know has one. 

Matt Walters
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
- Matt G
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1196
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:24 am
- Location: Quahog, RI
I think you should check out Mr. Walter's credentials/occupation.enigma wrote:These are available as 5 rotor models too. Speak to dealers to check availability. I've played one and it had a good low end- comparable with perhaps the Besson 983. What it didn't have though is the typical "German Basstuba" style of sound; think you'll always get a trade between Fat (low) sounds and Sweet Basstuba lyricism.Matt Walters wrote:The tuba you may be looking for, is the Meinl Weston 2040. It's offered in only 4 rotor. It's the big body of the 2141, but with four .768" rotors. The neat thing is, it is priced way below the piston horn. I won't say what store I know has one.

Dillon/Walters CC
Meinl Weston 2165
Meinl Weston 2165
- Matt Walters
- The Tuba Whisperer
- Posts: 462
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:20 am
- Location: Woodbridge, NJ
Yes, you can get the 2040 in 5 rotor if you order at least five (5) of them. Then Meinl Weston will run off a batch. I was able to get one piggy-backed on such an order for one of my customers here in the states. The others went to a company in England. But to order one only, Meinl Weston offers it to it's US dealers in only 4 rotor. Sounds like a small CC tuba.
Matt Walters
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.
Last chair tubist
Who Cares What Ensemble
Owns old tubas that play better than what you have.