Travel Tubas Comparison (Melton v Huashen)

[bisontuba]

Very interesting-thanks Jonathan!
mark

[Wyvern]

I liked the Meinl better in the low range but the Huashen better in the medium-high range.

Yes, that much corresponds to how I find to play. The Melton is more open in the low register, while the Huashen more secure up high.

[toobagrowl]

Thanks for the comparison. I liked the Meinl better in the low range but the Huashen better in the medium-high range.

+1

Agree with TheHatTuba. The Melton sounds better in the low range - sounds like it 'slots' better with more center. But the Melton's high range sounded kinda airy/breathy and a bit thin. The Huashen has a fuller and purer sounding mid/upper range.

[MikeMason]

No interest in one of these for myself,but, after reading Jonathan's posts the last few years,i have no reason to doubt his honest opinion.I think the tubenet forum is the right place for this.It is information on a new horn.That sounds like tubenet to me...

[TheHatTuba]

No interest in one of these for myself,but, after reading Jonathan's posts the last few years,i have no reason to doubt his honest opinion.I think the tubenet forum is the right place for this.It is information on a new horn.That sounds like tubenet to me...

I agree. Like when Bloke had his Imperial MP's, he posted that here for compliment and critique.

[bisontuba]

HI-
Heiko sounds very nice on the trolly tuba in this Melton produced advertisement demo in a symphonic hall.

mark

[bort]

Einen großen Klang aus einem kleinen Tuba!

[Wyvern]

Thanks for posting link LJV. Nice to hear what the MW14 sounds like in the hands of a top professional. I know some top pros are now considering the Huashen, so maybe one day we will see one of those also played by such on YouTube?

He well demonstrates one of the things I really like using these 'mini' tubas - the freedom they give for the player to move around to express themselves while performing making them great recital instruments in a chamber music setting.

I am planning on using one (I do not yet know if the Melton, or Huashen - depends which is still in the house!) to perform Eugene Anderson Lyri-Tech 1 in a couple weeks.

[b.williams]

Thanks for posting the clip.

When I was playing a 4 valve compensating tuba, my 4 valve compensating euphonium served as my travel tuba.

[Wyvern]

my 4 valve compensating euphonium served as my travel tuba

These little babies are incredibly only about 2/3 the size of a euphonium

[toobagrowl]

Seems these micro travel tubas are novelties. They pretty much sound like baritone horns or euphoniums with a slightly better low range.

[Bob Kolada]

The first MW travel tuba I played was pretty lousy. HOWEVER, I really liked the one I played at Midwest next year- nice clear sound, good enough low range, easy to play,... The price is still ridiculous though. People that don't get it think I don't get it when I suggest a marching baritone with a big (tenor tuba?) mouthpiece as a good substitute. If all you want is something to blow through and wiggle your fingers (and the MW will NOT give you anymore as a hotel room horn since it will play differently than whatever you got on the truck), something super cheaper with just as many non-practice-horn applications, a much lower price, and the same size makes a lot more sense.

It'd be -nice- if the Huashen had a more openly wrapped valve set as apparently one can purchase valve sets for these horns.

[Tubadork]

The first MW travel tuba I played was pretty lousy. HOWEVER, I really liked the one I played at Midwest next year- nice clear sound, good enough low range, easy to play,... The price is still ridiculous though. People that don't get it think I don't get it when I suggest a marching baritone with a big (tenor tuba?) mouthpiece as a good substitute. If all you want is something to blow through and wiggle your fingers (and the MW will NOT give you anymore as a hotel room horn since it will play differently than whatever you got on the truck), something super cheaper with just as many non-practice-horn applications, a much lower price, and the same size makes a lot more sense.

It'd be -nice- if the Huashen had a more openly wrapped valve set as apparently one can purchase valve sets for these horns.

One is conical and one is cylindrical
3 vs 4 valves
Different mouthpiece and backbore
Different fundamental

Seems like telling a trombone player to just play a trumpet on tour.
Bill

[Wyvern]

By request I have posted YouTube playing both travel tubas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgAbktzdtZo

[rodgeman]

Thanks for the video. Sounds good.

I also appreciate the review and comparison.

Thanks again.

[Wyvern]

The first MW travel tuba I played was pretty lousy. HOWEVER, I really liked the one I played at Midwest next year- nice clear sound, good enough low range, easy to play,... The price is still ridiculous though. People that don't get it think I don't get it when I suggest a marching baritone with a big (tenor tuba?) mouthpiece as a good substitute. If all you want is something to blow through and wiggle your fingers (and the MW will NOT give you anymore as a hotel room horn since it will play differently than whatever you got on the truck), something super cheaper with just as many non-practice-horn applications, a much lower price, and the same size makes a lot more sense.

The thing is you really want to be practising with same size mouthpiece at same pitch which a marching baritone, or such like certainly will not give.

Anyway, these do provide a lot more than just a 'travel tuba'. I have tried the Melton in orchestra playing cimbasso and ophicleide parts to good effect. Also works well for some numbers in small ensemble (I have used with quintet and for Weill Threepenny Opera). No reason to think the Huashen would not also work much the same.

What about the musician living in a city who finds full size tuba too much to take on the bus or train home? These small tubas are great to keep in apartment for home practice.

The Melton/MW 14 is an excellent useful and fun little tuba although I can understand people finding too expensive - in which case the Huashen makes an inexpensive and seemingly effective alternative.

You might think you don't need, but I bet once have one of these babies, you would not want to be without!

[Michael Bush]

Has there been any movement on the question of getting practice mutes for the Huashen?

[Wyvern]

Has there been any movement on the question of getting practice mutes for the Huashen?

I would suggest to buyers to try a tenor trombone practice mute of their choice. I don't think anything special needs making.

[imperialbari]

Jonathan, eye measuring via photos is a treacherous task. Still I don’t think a tenor trombone practice mute will work. I am fairly sure it is too small.

But the problem is not that it might be the slightly more expensive versions for bass trombone or for horn. The problem for people living far from stores is about knowing exactly which sizes of mutes common in the market they may order successfully.

From your photo reports I take it that you have lots and lots of brass friends in your ensembles. Shoot them a mail, they should bring their mutes to your next rehearsals. You bring your video camera and the Huashen baby, and make somebody shoot ever so short sequences telling how well these mutes work in the mid, bottom, and top ranges.

My immediate candidates would be a Bremner bass trombone mute, Best Brass bassbone or horn mutes, or the Denis Wick baritone mute. The Bremner might be the most useful, as it is likely to be flush with the bell: benefit is goes into the case - drawback possibly going sharp (which is not critical for a practice mute unless you have perfect pitch).

Klaus

[bisontuba]

HI-
I just ordered a Voigt practice mute from Voigt in Germany for my ordered T.T. for whenever it arrives from the Far East--it is the same used on the M/W Trolly--bass trombone mute, 90mm across. The postage was almost as much as the mute! I was going to order a Wallace b-t-bone practice mute from Hickey's in Ithaca, but just thought I would get the same one as with the Trolly, since Jonathan said it worked fine on his--FYI---
mark

PS Dale/DP--be kind, not selling anything, just passing along info.......