NAMM show this week-anyone going?

[bisontuba]

HI-
This week is the NAMM show-anyone going to it? If so, let us know of any new tubas--German, American, Chinese, et al--that make an impression on you. Thanks.
mark

[Ferguson]

I'm going, and will be working at Kanstul's display for the duration. Kanstul will be showing 4 of the 5 of their new 4/4 size York-style tubas: top and front action in both BBb and Eb. The CC model will be finished mid-year. He's also got several new French horns, a euphonium with a copper bell, and (hopefully) a double Thayer bass trombone with a copper bell.

JA Musik will be showing a Meinl Weston HoJo BBb, a VMI 103 BBb, a Meinl Weston Thor CC, and an MW travel tuba. Conn Selmer will show a King 2341 BBb and some King marching brass. Besson, Jupiter, York, and Weril will certainly show some tubas, and I'm sure Yamaha will have a few across the street (in the Hilton?).

Come say hello at the Kanstul display - I may have some swag for you.

Best,

Steve Ferguson

[circusboy]

I'm thinking about it.

I've learned that Cerveny will only have their 681 BBb. Yamaha will likely not have any tubas at all.

[Norm Pearson]

JA Musik will be showing a Meinl Weston HoJo BBb, a VMI 103 BBb, a Meinl Weston Thor CC, and an MW travel tuba. Conn Selmer will show a King 2341 BBb and some King marching brass. Besson, Jupiter, York, and Weril will certainly show some tubas, and I'm sure Yamaha will have a few across the street (in the Hilton?).

Come say hello at the Kanstul display - I may have some swag for you.

Best,

Steve Ferguson

Meinl Weston will also have a Fafner piston and a 2250 F tuba.

Norm Pearson

ps don't dent the 2250
It's my personal tuba

[Bandmaster]

I stopped by the NAMM Show for a couple hours today and tried out a few horns including the new Kanstul BBb and Eb tubas. I like the feel of the upright valved horns over the front valved horns. More consistant resistance across the full range of the horn and nice feedback from the bell next to your head. I found the new Walter Nirschl J-700 Tuba at the Gemeinhardt booth. It is indeed a very nice playing BBb tuba. If you go to the show bring your large shank mouthpiece to test play this one! Lots of tubas in the Meinl Weston and Jupiter booths and many Chinese tubas to try as well. I plan to go back again on Saturday to spend more time with the horns and take photos.

[Steve Marcus]

Interesting. There are many more tubas on display at NAMM this year than there had been in years past, even with the "select" models from each exhibitor. The tuba exhibitors generally hold off showing their full lines until Ft. Myer, TMEA, and to an extent, Midwest.

I'm not at NAMM this year. I used to try to get in early on Thursday morning to claim the loan of a 20K for the "Petiot Marching Band" before anyone else did. More than one year, the Conn-Selmer (then UMI) staff who were at the booth that early didn't know where to find the gooseneck.

[bisontuba]

HI-
How was it--new items that impressed you?
mark

[josh wagner]

I went...and forgot my mouthpieces back in Indiana...