Siegfried, the tuba

[Lingon]

There have been a lot of talking about the Siegfried by Miraphone earlier. Now I have had the pleasure to play, as bass trombonist, together with a couple of guys playing Siegfried over a couple of weeks.

I know many of you do not like my likings of Chinese made instruments, so unusually I have to say something about German made too.

The Siegfried must be one of the very best tubas I have played together with in many, many years. Beautiful sound, excellent intonation, great dynamic, worked together with the trombones in a superb way, did sound as a real foundation for the whole orchestra. All this without a lot of work, the players told me how easy it was to play. Almost to just look at it and think what you will sound like and it will instantly play great. I am not able to say anything that I do not like with that instrument, yet at least. And the other guys in the brass section had the same impressions. The persons actually playing the Siegfried also liked it a lot.

So if going for a large Bb rotary I wonder if there are any real alternatives, at least among new instruments?

Just for the sake of it, I do not sell the stuff either, only like it a lot

[GC]

Willson, Meinl-Weston, Rudolf Meinl, and Cerveny all make 6/4 BBb's with rotary valves. Are they the quality of the Siegfreid? Can't say, as I've only played the Cerveny.

[Lingon]

Willson, Meinl-Weston, Rudolf Meinl, and Cerveny all make 6/4 BBb's with rotary valves. Are they the quality of the Siegfreid? Can't say, as I've only played the Cerveny.

So, opinions, anyone, when comparing the mentioned horns with the Siegfried?

[Jess Haney]

We appreciate your comments.

Typically, it takes a couple of years (even for those of us who attend a few events) to actually see new models face-to-face. As an example, there were both a big Miraphone dealer and a Miraphone representative at the Army Conference...but no Siegfried. In a previous year when the M-W 2250F was introduced, it was not at the Army Conference (as the only one not sold in the U.S. was headed for TMEA).

As much as I expect Miraphone to offer forth fine products, I've seen some new European models of tubas overrated and I've seen some underrated (or - at first - overrated and then underrated...or vise versa), in my view, over the last decade or more (in this period of heavy introduction of new models of European-made tubas).

The proof, I've always found, has only been in one-on-one episodes with the instruments themselves, rather than (no matter how qualified the reviewers have been) with reviews.

This issue with new horns not being brought to conventions is a mystery to me. I remember the sadness when I attended an ITEC conference to only find out the new 1291 was not in attendance. As Walter Nirchl had not brought his big 6/4 CC either. I hope that I get to try this horn soon.

[Lingon]

...As an example, there were both a big Miraphone dealer and a Miraphone representative at the Army Conference...but no Siegfried. In a previous year when the M-W 2250F was introduced, it was not at the Army Conference (as the only one not sold in the U.S. was headed for TMEA)...

Very strange when comparing with for example car shows where even new models that are not even in production yet are showed?! The distances for european makers to exhibit all the new stuff in America and vice versa may be to long, or at least they may think it is too much to bring along the really big items? We do not see new models of American instruments here in Europe so often when they are really new and talked about at your side of the big water either.

Anyway, I am looking forward to play together with the Siegfried more times over the coming years because it lives here in town. I know there is even one more of them here

[Steve Marcus]

One of the reasons for the lack of availability of a Siegfried for each exhibition may be that Miraphone advertises that each Siegfried is handmade. With the longer production time, and undoubtedly some customers who have already placed orders, sparse inventory is not a surprise in the first year of production.

[Lingon]

Nice!

One detail is the top bow that is not exactly round, more rectangular with rounded edges, maybe that has something to do with the quality of the sound?

Regarding hand made. Is not almost all brass instruments more or less handmade?

[Bob Kolada]

There's been one at Midwest the last two years. It's a big, WIDE horn; like a 191 on steroids. I'd like to see one next to the similar looking Willson.

[bububassboner]

I played this horn at thomann music recently. Quite room all to my self. It's a pretty big horn. Wonderful miraphone valves. Personally I found the low end to be not that stellar. The in the staff range was wonderful but I found it not to be the easiest horn to play ever. It does everything my Nirschl 6/4 does but with about 10-15% more work required. I think a blokepiece symphony would really help the horn out. (I used the solo on it since that's what I use on the big horns) now in all fairness my horn has been heavily modified to make it the easiest playing horn I have ever played. But when I play a BBb tuba I expect the low end to be better than a CC tuba.

Try it out you may love it. It's a different flavor for sure from the big MW BBb tubas. Just remember that just because its big and shiny doesn't mean it'll work for you.

[DaTweeka]

Just remember that just because its big and shiny doesn't mean it'll work for you.

+1

[Mark]

... Personally I found the low end to be not that stellar. ...

I know it's hard to do on rotary horns, but I think moving the fifth valve after the fourth might make a big difference.