a note to Buffet - model 2155

[ASTuba]

This tactic seems par for the course with Meinl, doesn't it?

2155 - 2000
2157- 5450
2265 - 6450
3450 - 3225

Just to name a few.

[thevillagetuba]

I think the impression was that the 2155 was not a top of the line horn, as that title was reserved for the 2000, so it was dismissed as an "intermediate" line

I would have to agree with you, Mark. Some of the best, and easiest, horns I have played from MW (and other makers) have been the "intermediate" models and not their flagship/top horns. I have played a couple of 2155s and always thought them to be some of the best 4/4s on the market (I particularly remember them being way better than my 1291 ) and found them very easy to maneuver around for slide pulling.

I would also like to see this model come back to market with a decent push as I'm sure it would sell if it was presented as a real-world horn and not as a "It's not the 2000, but it's close, if that's good enough for you" type of horn.

[bort]

2157 was a suped up 2155 sold by Dillons only... Or at least that's what I thought!

[JCalkin]

2157 was a suped up 2155 sold by Dillons only... Or at least that's what I thought!

I can't say for sure if it was sold anywhere but Dillon, but I know Matt built the prototype for MW (I owned it for a time).

Yes, the 2157 was a 2155 with a couple changes. It had a larger bell flare (the one from the VMI Apollo F tuba, if memory serves) and a different leadpipe. I think it may have been the 45S-LP leadpipe, but I don't remember 100%.

It was akin to the "Baltimore Brass mod" of the 2145, but Matt's 2157 design did earn its own model number.

The 2157 did offer a slightly bigger tone than the '55. Matt built the prototype and a player fell in love with it, then it went over to Germany so MW could inspect the changes. While there, it was disassembled and relacquered, and "some of the magic was gone from it." The original committed buyer no longer wanted it. I bought it at the Army Band Clinic in 2005 or 2006.

From my hands it went to North Carolina, and I last saw it at the Great Plains Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference at Pitt State in KS back in 2011. Interesting horn, I just like my Rudy better.

[Matt Walters]

Josh Calkin was spot on. The Meinl Weston 2157 was a 2155 with a 19" bell from the Apollo F tuba and the now very popular 45SLP leadpipe. Meinl agreed to make a custom tuba for only us so that we wouldn't have to sell below dealer cost to match the pre-bankruptcy prices of Woodwind and Brasswind. They said, "we'll have to charge you more money but it is an exclusive for you." We got in the first batch and they were GREAT. Even at an extra couple hundred dollars, our more discriminating customers will buy them. Meinl's next response was, "Great. Now that you just bought a bunch of these tubas at a premium price, we're coming out with a new model 5/4 CC tuba [5450] that is going to cost even less than the stock 2155 and of course less than your even more expensive 2157".
There is a little back story for you about some of the crap a few Meinl Weston dealers had to go through while other dealers were given preferential treatment and terms in those pre-Buffet Group days.

Those were "good times" as they say

[bort]

I think it's funny that the old MW marketing literature says that the 2155 was designed as Warren's quintet horn.

[Scubatuba]

So.....have you thought about actually calling someone at Buffet?

[bort]

Not quite sure how that's helpful. (Oh wait, my comment isn't helpful either, crap!)

[roweenie]

This may sound like a stupid question (and I'm sure I'll be told so if it is), but if the 5th valve is on the small side of the MTS, why is it .807 bore? I would expect that size to be on the large side.

That means there must be a rapid increase in bore (in a distance of less than one onch) of .020 from the 4th valve (.787) to the 5th (.807); and this, just after another rapid increase of bore of .039 from the 3rd valve to the 4th).

Just curious - maybe these sudden jumps in size just don't matter all that much, but then again, I'm told by people "in the know" that this area of a horn is extremely critical.....

(Then again, certain horns that were "shortened" without regard to taper seem to be none worse for the wear, either...)

[bort]

Maybe Meinl Weston wants to manufacture only *current* NYPO tubist models, and not former NYPO tubist models.

[Pete Link]

Off topic a bit here...

While on a BQ tour recently here in Japan, I had a chance to play an "old" original 2165. I mean with "tone-ring" and all. It had seen better days, but it played great! I really had not spent much time with these horns, but this one made me wish I had a bit. I had a chance to buy one of Warren's personal horns(from him)years back and passed. This one was quite nimble and had a rock solid core center to it. Very nice indeed. I wouldn't mind using one in my orchestra time to time. More surprising it was in a high school band room and purchased by the band director for his students.

Anyhow, different horn I know. Back on topic...

[MartyNeilan]

Off topic a bit here...

While on a BQ tour recently here in Japan, I had a chance to play an "old" original 2165. I mean with "tone-ring" and all. It had seen better days, but it played great! I really had not spent much time with these horns, but this one made me wish I had a bit. I had a chance to buy one of Warren's personal horns(from him)years back and passed. This one was quite nimble and had a rock solid core center to it. Very nice indeed. I wouldn't mind using one in my orchestra time to time. More surprising it was in a high school band room and purchased by the band director for his students.

Anyhow, different horn I know. Back on topic...

I think the use of the "small piston" valveset also had something to do with this. The "small piston" valveset was also part of the magic of the early 2145 that was later lost and resulted in a more bland tuba.

[WC8KCY]

Buffet doesn't read TubeNet or Tuba/Euphonium when stuff is posted about (particularly when praising) their products...???

They most certainly read and even post responses in The Clarinet BBoard forum when it comes to clarinet gear. Buffet USA president & CEO Francois Kloc posts there fairly regularly.

So who knows, maybe they are lurking about here.

As a clarinetist as well as tubist, I must say this: the quality control on their clarinets is so notoriously variable, it doesn't bode well at all for any brasswinds made under their watch.