What "happened" to Hirsbrunner?

[Timswisstuba]

In my opinion pgym seemed to be a little hard on wrick71. In my eyes, wrick71 is certainly credible. It should be said that the most respected people in the tuba world are the ones out there playing tuba all day who don’t have time to worry about anyone’s credibility. Wrick71 is as credible as anyone else. All wrick71 wants is an HB-21. Next time I see Mr. Hirsbrunner I’ll ask him if it is possible to get one.


The tubenet is a wonderful resource for tuba info ,we should remember that and use it as such. Not as a place to openly attack other members for no reason at all.

[iiipopes]

I hereby nominate wrick71 as a full-fledged member of the TNFJ: he has a significant number of posts. He has contributed. He has stood up to criticism and come back posting. He has fulfilled all the requirements as a worthy member.

All in favor, post AYE!

[The Big Ben]

I hereby nominate wrick71 as a full-fledged member of the TNFJ: he has a significant number of posts. He has contributed. He has stood up to criticism and come back posting. He has fulfilled all the requirements as a worthy member.

One is not voted into the TNFJ. You see, it's kinda like a rash. You don't see it or feel it coming. One day, you look down and say, "Jeebus, I got a rash." It takes you a little while to realize the hows and whys of the rash but, by that time, you're kinda used to it and are too lazy or stubborn to do anything about it so decide to just live with it.

wrick71, do you have a rash?

Jeff "Doctor without credentials" Benedict

[wrick71]

I have this strange itching sensation down by my...
oh....... never mind.....

[Timswisstuba]

AYE've got an itch!

[ztuba]

Hirschbrunner tubas and euphoniums are too expensive for what you get. They need to get competitive with their pricing and maybe start improving their product instead of just remaking the same thing everytime.

[Ken Herrick]

Hirschbrunner tubas and euphoniums are too expensive for what you get. They need to get competitive with their pricing and maybe start improving their product instead of just remaking the same thing everytime.

In the US, since they come through ONE distributor, isn't it the distributor that sets the price?

Re: Improving their product - My theory is that new models are cranked out every 4-6 years by other makers not because they are substantively better than previous models, but because they appeal to a market that seems easily WOW'ed by something new and shiney and throws down $10,000 on a new tuba.

There is always a HOT tuba that everyone raves about until the next HOT tuba comes out and we forget about the last one.
Good for Hirsbrunner making a consistent product that they can make a living with.

RC

One only has to look at the number of "signature models" over the years. Somebody wants something a bit different and endorses the "new" model and if they are a "big name" it becomes the hot item for the time. If you have a "big name" and endorse a "new" item you can get a few freebies, thus saving the cost of buying a new one and maybe even make some bucks by selling off a few which you presonally selected from a bunch at the factory and every one will be "a great example". On and on it goes.........

Jake used to have a regular stream of new tubas come through his basement - generally with a "you endorse it you can have it" offer. MW, Mirafone, etc tried but just could not convince him that the old York should be replaced with the latest and greatest whatever that they were peddling.

I wonder what people would say if York were still in business and producing 50 exact duplicates of York 1 every year.
Hmmmmmmm, shame they only stick with churning out the same thing every year????????

Nah, that wouldn't be any good, it just would not fit with the consumerist disposable goods mentality.

Now if people REALLY want to drive the musical instrument core of the world economy - every church with a pipe organ should replace it every six years. THAT would generate some serious cash flow!

I think Tuben might be pretty close to the mark here.

[Timswisstuba]

I have too agree with Tuben and Ken Herrick.

It is very commendable to do something well for so long. Just because something is new does not mean that it is exactly better. Very often “ new improvements” are just old ideas presented in new ways. In terms of brass instrument making, most of these new ideas had already been thought of 100 years ago.

Jake knew what was good.

[KenS]

Years ago (1976) when I was studying w/ Mr. Jacobs, I traveled to Royal Oak to try out a horns and purchase a tuba. I played lots of horns over 2 days. After the 2nd day, I called Mr. Jacobs about the horns I had played. His response to me was, "Just buy the Hirsbrunner and come home."

I did. Back then though, the HB-2 was $3,300 and included a hard case. I still wish I had that horn.

Ken S.

[tubaguy9]

Define "soon"...

Exactly...hey, I'll be done with repair school "soon"...being May...

[Rick Denney]

One is not voted into the TNFJ. You see, it's kinda like a rash. You don't see it or feel it coming. One day, you look down and say, "Jeebus, I got a rash."

I have posted well over 5000 posts on this forum since it moved to this software in 2004. I've been a regular poster on Tubenet since 1999. I have laughed, cried, cussed, yawned, and learned from many tens of thousands of posts here. But this is the first time I have actually sprayed my coffee all over my keyboard.

Yes, the TNFJ is like a rash. It is not an honor. It is an earned label for middle-aged fat guys who type on the keyboard instead of practicing.

Rick "a member" Denney

[Rick Denney]

As Dr. Sloan has hinted, I do not engage in speculative rumor-mongering, and neither do I condone it. Gossip is not only sinful, but it is also terribly damaging in ways the gossips may not even understand. So, everyone should stick to what they personally know to be true.

Here are some things I personally know to be true:

1. James was at Custom Music just a couple of days ago, and worked with Neal Campbell to look at tubas. While there, he only saw office workers in addition to Neal.

2. According to my wife, I have received a package today from "Custom Music International", at the same address as Custom Music Corp in Ferndale, that includes a typical marketing package. I got a T-shirt (72 sizes too small), a calendar with tuba pictures on it, some other bits, and a nice letter signed by a fellow named Kevel Gada that Custom Music Company had changed hands, would henceforth be called Custom Music International, and would set a new standard for customer service.

3. http://www.custommusiccorp.com/ is still there.

4. http://www.customtubas.com/, the web page mentioned by Mr. Gada in his letter, is also there, but not yet populated beyond the first page, which includes only their logo.

That is all I personally know to be true.

Rick "waiting for facts" Denney

[tbn.al]

It appears what was widely speculated in this forum to be the demise of an historic name in the tuba world may if fact be the demise of another. Change is inevitable as I was reminded Wednesday night at church, but that's another story and not a bit tastier.

[Rick Denney]

It appears what was widely speculated in this forum to be the demise of an historic name in the tuba world may if fact be the demise of another. Change is inevitable as I was reminded Wednesday night at church, but that's another story and not a bit tastier.

I saw nothing in what I wrote about demise.

Rick "who can think of many alternatives" Denney

[tbn.al]

Kevel Gada that Custom Music Company had changed hands, would henceforth be called Custom Music International,

No, you did not use that word. It does appear however, if Mr. Gada is to be believed, then someone has met his demise. I wouldn't even begin to speculate who that might be or recognize the name if you told me, I'm just a bass trombone player. It might, however, be a name recognized by real tuba players and apparently it's not Hirsbrunner.

[Alex C]

Does a one page Web site (with absolutely zero in content) constitute an "announcement"?

If you are referring to the HIrsbrunner website... The nav links on the home page did not work, however, when I click on the English translation picture, I was able to access the whole website.

Not speaking for any other person but I am not waiting for or demanding an announcement but I am interested, on a number of levels.

[tubaguy9]

Just thinking about the announcement of what's going on, when you don't say exactly what's going on, almost encourages speculation to a point.
IMO, it might be a better idea to say what's up closer to now than later...

[Kevin Hendrick]

... encourages speculation ...

Could call it that:

[UTSAtuba]

Does a one page Web site (with absolutely zero in content) constitute an "announcement"?

If you are referring to the HIrsbrunner website... The nav links on the home page did not work, however, when I click on the English translation picture, I was able to access the whole website.

Not speaking for any other person but I am not waiting for or demanding an announcement but I am interested, on a number of levels.

Hey Alex, I believe the mention of a one page website is about http://www.customtubas.com" target="_blank . Rick has the rest of the story a few posts up.

Joseph

[TexTuba]

Speculate away.

I think the reason the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game in 14 years is due to voodoo.