How good are the chinese horns??

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:01 am

Hi can anyone tell me just how good are the chinese horns?? is the metal as good , how about the action of the roters.. I know they are cheaper but I figured it was because of how much they pay there workers.. but what about quality? will they hold up?Thanks for any info................ bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:51 am

Use the "search" function with the term Chinese and you will find many threads involving this discussion.

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 1:17 pm

Thank You very much for your reply, the horn is a M&M DCB410 I was just tring to find out a little bit more about them before I trade my 3J... You know quality of construction rotor action How good the metal is .. I think it's a good deal I want to move up in size and he wants a little smaller horn for his quintet..but I am taking it to my old pro teacher(Harrisburg Symphony) to play to let me know... I had my top teeth removed three month's ago... I'm looking for a dentist to tell.. I'll be playing the tuba so he'll give me a good fit Thanks again....................bigbob

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:12 pm

thank you .. Matt from dillon said he worked on it and now it's in good shape.........................................bigbob

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:39 pm

Keep the 3J, those are good little horns and there isn't really anything that comes close to it that is in production now if you are looking for a small CC tuba.
Bill

Tubanese · Post by **Tubanese** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:35 pm

No good.
Keep your 3J.

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:42 pm

WOW! guys I didn't know there was so much opposition to the M&M.. I have had my 3J for 21 years since it was new and just wanted something a little bigger and different but I have no money(fixed income) I really liked the meinel 32 that was for sale by wade brackly) but with no money but about 400 and my horn I thought it was a gift from heaven when scott from philadelfiabrass wanted to trade me even steven for my 3J then Matt Walters said it was a good deal because he worked on it.. but now I'm very aprehensive I was going to see it next week take it home and have my old teacher from the Harrisbug symphony Play it and tell me what he thinks .. I would love to keep my horn and sell my 1945 king sousaphone and buy a little bigger horn with that money any takers?? any trades?? blink blink<s>.. I'm not knowledgeable on horns and you guys are I just play in my room e-tudes and advanced metholigy (Please excuse my spelling)I'm really bummed now because I want to take the advise of all you experienced musitians!! Thank you and let me know what you all think.................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

Gongadin · Post by **Gongadin** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:49 pm

If I had a tuba that you were after I'd trade you for some of your sculptures! There's a lot of interesting work on your site!

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:11 pm

Bob, Your fish are beautiful. The Angel Fish is astounding! I love the whales.

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:07 am

I would gladly trade artwork for a little bigger horn like a 4/4 I am really attached to my little 3J were buddies of the music room.. haha ..thank you for liking my art work!! I have so many more picture than is on my site(don't know how to put them on my site) who said ignoance is bliss certainly not the guy with the last name of Bliss <S>..anyone want to do some trading out there?? how about artwork and a grand old 1945 H N White silver King sousaphone with tuba stand and almost new case used once in twentythree years.. that is just sitting here starting to gather dust(clean it once a month )at my age it's hard to learn one set of fingerings other wise two haha... I sure am confused about what to do!!.................your friend in Pa....................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:28 am

bigbob wrote:I only use hand picked recycled metals

So a Chinese tuba will be useful for you after all.

I understand your itch for a larger tuba, but if I had a useful American instrument, I would not let it go for a Chinese one. From reports there apparently are useful Chinese tubas, but would you be able to make a qualified evaluation in a buying situation? No matter what: keep the American made tuba.

Klaus

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:37 am

Well Klaus, I guess you think I should take the horn (M&M )which is only worth scrap and recycle it into a sculpture haha... Would you tell me what are the horns that are good for the price?? I always wanted a miraphone 186 or 188 but lack of money(boy sure wish I would have saved when I was younger insted of shooting pool and drinking<s>Artwork don't pay much maybe I better get a new web site<s>What a waste of my time (the pool and drinking!!) like someone said youth is waisted on the young...now I'm old 65 and want so much to learn more!! I hope with you people helping I'll get there!!again what horns are good ones??Please help me and I'll try to save and trade too................bigbob PS. Is there anyplace in Pa(preferibly near Harrisburg....) where I can try out different horns?? thanks again...........bob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:50 am

I just try to say that a move from Conn to M&M is rarely seen as an upgrade. And unless you are in a very good shape you soon would want a light tuba anyway.

I am not into details of US geography, but aren’t you actually near Harvey Hartman? He makes brass instruments in all sizes playable.

Klaus

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:24 am

I would love to talk to Harvey, How do I get a hold of him and where does he live??I really do love my 3J(kinky huu??)<s>and would love to trade or barter the sousa,artwork and a little money for a little bigger horn... I don't even know if I have enough air C.O.P.D 70% use of lungs ( from welding for 45 years and diesel fumes Tractor trailor driver for 30) but would love to find out!! Thanks again............bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

Barney · Post by **Barney** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:24 am

BigBob,

A Chinese copy (never played the M&M, so can't comment specifically) may be great, may be problematic. There is a Chinese 186 copy on the market that is very good. It plays very well in tune and even. I found the sound to be a bit bland (maybe it's me that's bland). The price was excellent, but I passed. Would the thing start popping braces a few months later from stress in manufacturing? Would the seemingly nice valves start binding? There are no parts available, and no support from an anonymous factory.

Keep the 3J. That's a great model, easy playing with a nice sound, and one that will fit in pretty much any situation you find yourself in. It is also an excellent choice for your future (Face it, It's a smaller bore instrument, so as you get older and your lung capacity diminishes, air won't be nearly the issue it will be on a larger instrument). Don't join the many people on this board (including me) who have sold a tuba and then regretted it later. 186's and 188's are great, sure, but not necessarily any better than the horn you have. A great playing 3J is better than a not so great 186. Another 3J would be hard to come by (Conn/UMI stopped building them a very long time ago, and I can't remember the last one I saw for sale). Try other horns (Baltimore Brass and Dillon Music are within driving range for you and have a large stock of tubas) to see what they do, but you may find that your decades old dream of owning a 186 is not as exciting as you remember it.

Big Bob, the grass is always greener, the tubas are always bigger, but you have a horn that has served you well your entire adult life. Don't hurry into a decision.... and good luck!

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:49 am

Thank You so much for the information!! You have been very helpful in helping me make a decision....bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:36 pm

I have decided not to get the M&M horn too many conns not enough pros<s> I'm going to keep my 3J and save for a little bigger better horn and talk to Harvy and try out some horns(when I get my teeth in... Thanks so much for all your help..................................................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

tubamlb · Post by **tubamlb** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:51 pm

The M&M Line of instruments are for the students and serious music people that need a modern good playing instrument at a reasonable price not a beat up piece of brass rot that needs a repair man every week, The Universities and schools that we have sold keep ordering more, the kids seem to have a hard time braking them and are making music

Some of the comments I here on this site reminded me of the people that said they would never own a Japanese Car

To knock any product without seeing it or playing shows that some of you are not very open mined or have other objectives

You would be surprised how many European and USA branded instruments come out of my factory

M&M is the direct factory inporter for this line and the factory also makes the TE instruments

They also handel Alexander, Besson, and others
Thank you, just wanted to get it on the record
SASI--M&M
Michael

Barney · Post by **Barney** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:42 pm

Michael,

I looked at your site. It appears I HAVE played the the model in question. It seems these horns have so many different names stenciled on them, it gets a bit confusing. I guess building a "brand" isn't important if you are just blatantly copying the proven design of other companies like Miraphone and Hirsbrunner. But, I'm sure Dillons, TE, and whoever else is stamping their name on it, is proud to be offering a good tuba to their customers at a low price point.

The CC 186 copy was good. Extremely good for the price. As I said, very even, and excellent pitch. You see, I am open "mined"...

As for other objectives, none... still can't recommend it over the owner's current horn in this case.

Barney

TUBAD83 · Post by **TUBAD83** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:45 am

I will only say this:

Nicht jeder kann jene großen teuren Europäischen tubas sich leisten

JJ

TubeNet

How good are the chinese horns??

How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??

Re: How good are the chinese horns??