Meinl-Weston 2155/MW-2000 improvement

[TexTuba]

[Kory101]

Maybe this isn't the place for my comment but I'm going to say it anyways!

I haven't spent an extensive amount of time on Meinl Weston tubas but the time I have hasn't been the most productive or constructive to MY playing.

I've owned a 5450 and honked on several 6450's.

The 5450:
-Great response
- So-so intonation
- Amazing low range response until around the low F# and down. I found it pretty stuffy.

The 6450:
-Even better response
-Better intonation
-Every not seems to just pop out.

My only "beef" with both of these tubas is the sound.

I'm always thinking about the kind of sound I want to make. When I was a younger player, listening to the old NYP recordings, I decided that's what I wanted to sound like!

But then my sound concept changed. ( see: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43687 )

I started studying with a player who spent a large amount of time in Europe in the Berlin Philharmonic Academy and studying with Mel Culbertson as well.

Listening to Alexander Von Puttkamer playing with the Berliner Philharmoniker changed how I apporach the tuba and how I want to sound.

That Meinl Weston line of horns didn't have the sound I craved.

The B&S tubas, while a little harder to get to respond like a 5450 or 6450 HAVE that wonderful bright, colourful tuba sound.

Anyways, end rant.

Thanks.

[SousaSaver]

It makes perfect sense. The design of the mouth pipe is probably the biggest factor in how a good professional Tuba plays.

[toobagrowl]

Listening to Alexander Von Puttkamer playing with the Berliner Philharmoniker changed how I apporach the tuba and how I want to sound.

The Meinl Weston line of horns didn't have the sound I craved.

Kory -

You do know that Mr. Puttkamer's contrabass tuba is a Meinl-Weston 197 'Hilgers' BBb, don't you?
The B&S PT-6 is a fine horn, but it sounds nothing like a M-W 197. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying your old M-W 5450 "Thor" was probably closer in sound to a 197 than your PT-6.

You have to remember - tubas can sound VERY different out in the hall than in your hands.

too "I'd like an extra l-o-n-g 45SL-P mouthpipe for my M-W 2155R" ba

[Bob Kolada]

Listening to Alexander Von Puttkamer playing with the Berliner Philharmoniker changed how I apporach the tuba and how I want to sound.
The Meinl Weston line of horns didn't have the sound I craved.

Kory -
You do know that Mr. Puttkamer's contrabass tuba is a Meinl-Weston 197 'Hilgers' BBb, don't you?
The B&S PT-6 is a fine horn, but it sounds nothing like a M-W 197. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying your old M-W 5450 "Thor" was probably closer in sound to a 197 than your PT-6.

That reminds me when I asked a guy with a new PT6P how he liked it- "I love it. It gives me that German sound that I wanted." Nothing's more German than a piston C tuba apparently (same guy doesn't like classic Miraphones; I don't that much either, but I still like them more than PT's ).

[Kory101]

Kory -

You do know that Mr. Puttkamer's contrabass tuba is a Meinl-Weston 197 'Hilgers' BBb, don't you?

I should clarify, I was talking specifically about the 5450 and 6450.

While I disagree with your assumption that a 5450 sounds closer to a 197 than a PT6, I will agree that all horns sound different in a practice room than in a hall, but every player sounds different as well.

With the equipment I have, I am easier able to duplicate that sound I want to hear coming out of the bell.

When I had the 5450 and PT6 is in my hands for a couple days they sounded WORLDS different, even in a practice room.

Agree to disagree,
Kory

[bisontuba]

BTW, the Meinl Weston 197 BBb tuba is a copy/clone of a Boland & Fuchs BBb Nazi SS tuba found in the archives of the Opera House by Hilgers........
Mark