VMI

[roughrider]

Are the VMI tubas stencils of another well known brand or are they a stand alone firm?
Any information you can pass along would be appreciated and yes I have been to their website.
Thanks.

[bort]

I'm curious what the current answer is too -- since there aren't any (many?) straight-up VMI tubas for sale out there.

[petter@brasseriet.no]

VMI tubas were produced by Vogtländische Musikinstrumentenfabrik GmbH, in Markneukirchen Germany.
The company has now changed it´s name to B&S GmbH. The VMI tubas were high quality instruments,
but made a bit more "cheaper" than their more famous B&S brothers. In the GDR time, B&S used the name
"Weltklang" on the cheaper line of instruments.
I played quite many B&S BBb-Tubas - wonderful instruments. As far as I know, no VMI branded instruments are longer made.

[tbn.al]

I don't know if they are still being made or not, but all the models still appear on the B&S website.

http://www.vogtlaendische-musik.de/tuba/" target="_blank

I play a 3301 regularly and am of the opinion that it is one of the best BBb's for the money on the planet.

[BavarianFanfare]

I own a Model 103, which was stenciled as a Schmidt through Brook Mays and VMI through WW&BW. Last time I looked, WWBW still sells the Model 103. It was my first horn, and was reasonable when I purchased mine several years ago. At that time, I paid $4,995 for the horn, they sell at my last viewing at around $6,495.00. The 103 is very similar to the PT-1. I still use my 103 all the time. It's a good horn for the money.

Bavarian Fanfare

[Dan Schultz]

.....In the GDR time, B&S used the name "Weltklang" on the cheaper line of instruments.....

In the 60's and 70's there were lots of VMI/B & S 'stencils' marketed in the US under names such as Carl Wunderlich, Sonora, and Gerhart Schneider. Most of the ones I've seen have nickel outer slide tubes and bell garlands. Good horns!

[stardude82]

I have played a 3301 and what looked like a cut 103 CC VMI tuba and purchased a 2103 F. Schmidt from Brook Mays about 5 years ago. I'm pretty sure that the new F. Schmidts are all Cerveny/Chinese Stencils.

My guess is that that Meinl-Weston (who bought out TA musik around the time I bought my 2103) is winding down the brand and isn't interested in keeping a nameplate relic of the GDR around. I also understand they are moving some production to Hungary, too, so I don't know how that plays into things.

[Rick Denney]

My guess is that that Meinl-Weston (who bought out TA musik around the time I bought my 2103) is winding down the brand and isn't interested in keeping a nameplate relic of the GDR around. I also understand they are moving some production to Hungary, too, so I don't know how that plays into things.

Hmmm. The first I ever heard of VMI was after unification.

But B&S, as a brand, is definitely a relic of the GDR era.

I suspect the main difference is that VMI was always considered an alternative to B&S at a lower price point. I suspect the VMI factory is ready to focus on higher price points, which requires selling upmarket, and that needs an upmarket brand. VMI is a down-market brand, but it can't compete (on price) against other low-price tubas that enjoy much lower costs.

I once compared an F. Schmidt 3301 to a B&S PT-2P, both (of course) in Bb. They were essentially identical in looks and in playing. But you can guess which commanded the higher price.

(There is also the issue of getting around exclusive marketing agreements, but don't get me started.)

RIck "recalling when B&S, as a brand, was the low-price alternative" Denney

[Wyvern]

When I went around the B&S factory in October there were still VMI engraving stencils to be seen. I tried a new VMI engraved kaiser baritone a couple years ago.

I don't know about moving any production to Hungary - there are 190 staff at Markneukirchen.

[tubatom91]

over the summer I played sitting next to three of the same tuba, but all three had different brands engraved into the bells. One was an Accent, the other was a VMI, and the next was a B&S PT-1. All three made in Germany, same damn factory I'm sure. Only difference was that the B&S was older and had the older linkage style.

[iiipopes]

Was there any difference in bell diameter? The published propaganda would lead one to believe the PT-1 has a 19 inch bell while the VMI version might have the traditional 16 1/2 inch "stovepipe."

[tubatom91]

The bell Diameters were not noticeably different seemed like an average diameter of around 18"

[Wyvern]

The published propaganda would lead one to believe the PT-1 has a 19 inch bell

It certainly does! I have played one and found it a good BBb, even when compared against a Fafner.