Best new horns/equipment at the Army Conference?

[Wyvern]

Anyone take photos for us not able to make to see?

[UTSAtuba]

Anyone take photos for us not able to make to see?

As far as the Gemstone instruments are concerned, I've been viewing their Conference photo galleries at http://www.BarthsBrassBlog.com" target="_blank . Other than that, everyone else needs to bring on the horn pics!

Joseph

[Casey Tucker]

Just to clarify, the Nirschl's lead pipe angle doesn't angle the horn "up and down" (vertically) but rather it turns the horn slightly the right (horizontally, clockwise). Instead of the valves being directly in front of the performer, the valves are closer and more to the right.

I second the PT-20P minus the C. I own one and the low C is in tune as well is the second space C. However, first space A is a tad sharp but is easily cured with a short (1/8"-1/4") pull. The rest of the slides stay put. You can either wrap your left hand over the top bow which is a little uncomfortable or you slip your hand just between the top bow and the tube underneath it. My wrist fits comfortably there and allows me to access 1st and 3rd (4th doesn't need pulling; on slow lyrical passages implementing a Db, I use 1-2-3 and I pull 1st A LOT).

In regards to workmanship, my experience is a little different. I own the silver model and, even though I LOVE the horn, silver is starting to flake of in SEVERAL spots. I take care of the horn by wiping it down after I play and I'm still not sure as to why this is happening (someone mentioned acid bleeding; I'm not familiar with this if someone will clarify).

Just my .02
-CT

[bttmbow]

I was there for just the late part of Saturday, so I only got to go to the exhibits and say hello to some folks I hadn't seen in a long time, and also enjoy "toy time"!

The Nirschl Gemstone CC is not a bad player if you don't have enough $ to get the Besson 995. The leadpipe positioning doesn't work for me, but some people might find it tolerable or even prefer it. Nirschl's BBb, however seemed a bit better to me, although I think the 1st valve slide might be a tad long(?). I didn't spend that much time with it, but I liked the response and tone of the BBb quite a bit!

As far as F tubas go, I liked the Firebirds a LOT, but as we all know those aren't exactly "new". Custom Music had a few nice B & S F tubas there, including a JBL classic.

Bloke's new Symphony model mouthpiece played very nicely, in my opinion. This one is worth checking out. I might order one soon! It was also nice to meet Joe in person.

Giddings and Webster had a bunch of great stuff, too. Ivan is quite the craftsman, and a great guy! Nice to meet you too, Ivan.

Warburton has something new, but I can't remember the model #; It's a copy of Mr. Jacob's Helleberg, if I am not mistaken. It played very well, and I saw quite a few people walking around with those with big grins on their faces. I played it and liked it. (Maybe somebody else can fill in the gaps for me, esp. the model #...)

That's all I remember of the new stuff that I liked, FWIW.

CJH

[Wyvern]

Just to clarify, the Nirschl's lead pipe angle doesn't angle the horn "up and down" (vertically) but rather it turns the horn slightly the right (horizontally, clockwise). Instead of the valves being directly in front of the performer, the valves are closer and more to the right.

Does that not simply copy the original CSO York?

[ZNC Dandy]

did anyone play the Weingrill/Weril BBb with the mammoth bore? Any idea on street price? Looks enticing, kind of like a stumpy Fafner

[UTSAtuba]

My question is: Can the leadpipe on these new W.Nirschl CC tubas be replaced?

I've played a Meister Nirschl 4/4 CC, and had no problems AT ALL with the leadpipe angle. The comments about the W.Nirschl 4/4 CC tubas following the same design as the Meister Nirschl 4/4 CC seems a little off to me. On other pictures of the Meister Nirschl horn, the leadpipe is curved rather than "straight in".

Anyways, these are my observations.

Joseph

[tubatom91]

The BBb Nirschl that I played at Midwest (similar model in different key) did not have this angle issue, it was quite easy and comfortable to play sitting on my lap, played really nice too!

[Bill Troiano]

My son, Dan and I both thought that the high register on the 5XJ was a little more free blowing and easier than on the Gemstone CC tuba. Still, I liked the Gemstone a lot, except for the leadpipe thing. I liked the new 5/4 Jupiter when I first played it, but when I came back to it, I found that it just wasn't my kind of sound. In the limited amount of time I spent trying horns, I found myself returning to the Gemstone, the Besson and the 606P. I was busy euphonium shopping with one son and mouthpiece shopping with the other. I also mingled a lot - I get to see many former Howard Hovey Tuba Day guest artists. Also, there's the gang from this board. I think a good time was had by all!

What a great event the entire conference is. Of course, we were also disappointed that the grand concert (and jam session party) were snowed out, but it was to be expected under the circumstances. All of the performers were fabulous. And, then there was Carol.... She's something else!!

[Rick Denney]

The mouthpipe on the Weril/Nirschl C wasn't too short. It had a substantial bend in it that if straightened would allow considerably more wrap around the bell. The Bb version had that wrap around the bell with a leadpipe that seemed not to have that large bend.

As one who plays a 6/4 tuba with a leadpipe that only partially goes around the bell, I can attest to the importance of that feature for a big tuba. Otherwise, the valves would just be out of reach, and one's left leg would have to be amputated. The instrument sits on a stand at the 45-degree angle quite comfortably. But for a 4/4 instrument that really can sit in one's lap comfortably, the instrument needs to cross the legs at more of a right angle. Bloke is right that the leadpipe on the Weril/Nirschl C comes out at only a slight angle to the plane of the instrument, requiring that it be held nearly straight out in front (or that one's head be turned). I watched a number of people try it out, and all of them commented (negatively) on the leadpipe. Mr. Barth recognized this and I hope he is able to persuade Herr Nirschl to relent on this issue (and it was apparently Mr. Nirschl who insisted on it).

I also liked the Bb Nirschl better than the C, but I tend to like all Bb's better than their respective C's, with some exceptions (a 186 being one). I'm biased in that regard--C tubas all sound sharp to me--by about a whole tone. I thought the Bb a real contender in the 4/4 Bb piston market.

I did not play the Weingrill Bb (Weingrill is apparently the family behind Weril) rotary tuba. It was not a really large tuba--perhaps on the small side of 4/4.

The most interesting and perhaps the most immediately impressive tuba I played at the conference was Chester Schmitz's Alex 163. My vocabulary after blowing a few notes was limited to "Wow!", and I repeated same several times. It would require an interested buyer to bring a substantial checkbook, however.

I did not notice the ergonomic problems with the Kanstul Yorkalikes. I preferred the top-action instruments to the front-action instruments in the way they played, and the Bb to the Eb. The Bb top-action Model 33 unlacquered prototype was particularly sweet.

The F tuba at the show that still makes me want to win the lottery is the Miraphone Petruschka. The production models were as good and in some ways better than the prototype, and I played both side-by-side.

I wondered at the price of the little Scherzer F tuba at Baltimore Brass, until I played it. It's quite a sweet little F tuba with a very solid low register, without even requiring the usual disclaimer "for a rotary F".

The Bruckner seemed to me a great horn, but by the time I played it I was Elephant-Room-Blown. And there is something weird about that spot in the Community Center at Fort Myer--there by the window up by the stage where Dillon has some space for sitting. I needed to take that horn to a different spot, but I hated to risk it, or take it out of circulation for that long since I was just kicking tires.

All B&S F tubas with the larger first and fifth bore seem to me hollow in the low register compared to the old ones (and the old design) with the small-bore first and fifth. The PT models I tried this time were no different--my experience with the newer whatever-it-is-that-I-have-but-based-on-the-old-Symphonie hasn't changed my perception of the "bigger" B&S F's.

I wouldn't mind having one of those Kanstul replacement bells for the York Master, but I can't justify the cost at this time for a tuba I don't play that much.

Joe's Symphony-model mouthpiece seems to me to descend from Geib-style mouthpieces and I like that style quite a lot. The backbore on this has the double-taper that Joe has been touting, and I'll try it for a while to see if I like what that does.

And let it be known that Dave Fedderly brought me a new plastic top for my Baltimore Brass stand, and my stand is now a bit more compact and significantly lighter.

Probably the most useful thing I bought was the Carol Jantsch CD. The positive musical result of that purchase might be that I sell all my tubas and do something less damaging with my free time.

Rick "always happy to see old friends and meet new ones" Denney

[Tubacube]

As requested a few posts ago, a pix of the Kanstull 33- T.

[Tom]

The most interesting and perhaps the most immediately impressive tuba I played at the conference was Chester Schmitz's Alex 163. My vocabulary after blowing a few notes was limited to "Wow!", and I repeated same several times. It would require an interested buyer to bring a substantial checkbook, however.

Where is this Alexander being offered for sale?

Any further details?

Price?

-Tom "already have one, but..."

[Rick Denney]

1. Where is this Alexander being offered for sale?

2. Any further details?

3. Price?

1. Yes.

2. Not from me, but maybe from others.

3. Much more than you think, and likely more than you would be willing to spend for a second Alex. For specifics, drop Lee Stofer a line.

Rick "who handled it gingerly" Denney

[MartyNeilan]

Any other comments on the 2165 that was there?