MW Thor

[Roger Lewis]

As I originally stated in the Tubadome web site when I was with them, the Thor is what I call a "holy crap" horn. You're going to play 5 notes on it and say "Holy crap!" Great sound and evenness of sound throughout the range, excellent intonation, superb response and the low register.....well, you play the low G 3 lines below the staff and it's like you just kicked it into overdrive and it gets better on down from there. This is a horn that has so much presence that if you get carried away while playing with the trombone section, it is very easy to get "the hand" from the conductor.

Best mouthpieces (for many) are the original Conn Helleberg (120 not 7B) or if you want to turn it into the "ubber tuba", I've heard that the G&W Caver jacks everything up a couple of notches. Jens Bjorn-Larsen did a FANTASTIC job in getting this horn right when bringing it to the market. I can't get them in fast enough to keep up with demand.

Just my $0.02.

Peace.
Roger

[mclaugh]

On this subject,of which I have considerable first hand knowledge,I believe I gave the best answer to the question.I'm assuming the OP really wanted to know about Thors.I gave the correct answer.

Wrong on two counts.

The OP did not ask for factual information about the Thor, he asked for thoughts on the horn, and for likes and dislikes. Thoughts, likes, and dislikes are all opinions, and opinion are like azzholes: everybody's got one, and everbody's is different. Therefore, there is—and can be—no correct answer.

Furthermore, to answer an opinion question, one must state one's opinion, which you did not do. Therefore, although your REPLY to the question may lead to posts that give your opinion, none of your replies to the OP provide your opinion, so you have not ANSWERED the OP's question.

[J.c. Sherman]

I don't mean to offend but this is the dumbest argument I've ever experienced. Mike made the point that you should read past posts(I agree, you will find huge praise for the THOR). Someone else said we cannot learn from the past and should only read current posts. Good luck with that approach!

Your point is that the original poster is looking for opinions. That's exactly what the past posts consisted of.....

The only negative posts toward this tuba that I have seen are from Bob who plays bass trombone primarily and is looking at tubas to move from a 3/4 three valved Eb. This guy is mainly a Eb and BBb player so I didn't consider this opinion as relevant when I was looking for a larger tuba.

I am still thrilled with my Thor and find just about any mouthpiece works well in it! The Conn Helleberg seems a little small on my face so I tried the Sidey SSH and it is a great mouthpiece on this tuba. Also the Caver is incredible and gives it a broader warmer sound. So I keep both of them with me and use the Caver most of the time...

I missed that - who said you cannot learn from the past? I\Of course you can. That said, I don't like being told to do research before having a conversation with peers... Simple. I know I can use the search function. But I don't consider this a research forum, or a qutoable reference source. It's a conversation forum. Certain poisters have some very strong backgrounds adding weight to their answers, but this is not research sight. Asking a question shouldn't be answered with "I'm tired of people like you bothering us with these questions (which, of course, they don't need to answer at all, but I digress) which have already been answered for all time with the only valid answers available". It's just discourteous, and mean-spirited.

Facts can be researched elsewhere.

J.c.S.

[MikeMason]

I trust the OP and many others have now searched the archives and are ready to admit just how right I am My mouthpiece search ended with a Caver Euro.I have used my Thor for 1 quintet gig,a private school graduation in a gym,with no problems.In a quintet recital situation,I still think it's too big and a tad to much "ooooo" in the sound at softer dynamic levels.Didn't buy it for a quintet horn though.

[MikeMason]

I tried both shanks and the Euro was noticeably more alive and just better.I thought the American shank would be the way to go with what I've heard,but,not so for me.It seems to be a receiver kind of like the new king 2341 that will accept either shank,but the Euro lit up the Thor better for me.

[sungfw]

Asking a question shouldn't be answered with "I'm tired of people like you bothering us with these questions (which, of course, they don't need to answer at all, but I digress) which have already been answered for all time with the only valid answers available". It's just discourteous, and mean-spirited.

Yup.

[MikeMason]

I guess it depends on if you just want to hang out and idly chit-chat(which i'm all for and do a bunch) or actually learn something(which I'm all for and do a bunch).Maybe I just misunderstood which camp the question was in.Nevertheless,I believe the OP's questions have probably all been answered.The goal achieved,albeit a bit messily.Also,there may be some folks who really don't know about the search function.It really maximized the usefulness of this site for me,once I finally,late in the game for me,began to utilize it.

[The Jackson]

G&W Caver

Was I using the Caver wrong when I tested one?! I used it with a Yam YBB-641 (Not exactly a Thor or Rudy 5/4), but I got a thin and wimpy sound out of it. I'm fairly sure it was the mouthpiece because my Marcinkiewicz brought me right back to what I usually do (not make thin and wimpy sound(?)).

[MikeMason]

Mouthpiece compatibility is not always scientific.You just have to put the thing in and try it.For me on my Thor,it works.

[The Jackson]

H2 has a larger throat and I think a deeper and more funnel shaped cup. Probably a better match for your rotary Yamaha. Just guessing...

Yep, it is a whole lot bigger. The Caver is also designed as a "solo" mouthpiece, right? It just didn't light my fire, I guess.

[Maurice]

I know Mike Mason is using the Euro Caver in his Thor. However, my understanding is that the Thor has a standard shank receiver... Anyone else using the G&W mouthpieces on a Thor? If so, which did you choose and why? I've been using a Standard shank but I have a Euro that I had planned to return. I tried the Euro again today and found it to be quite good. Maybe darker than the Std

Greg"I want good results NOW and I want them to come easily"

I get a lot of clarity out of an Alan Baer, clarity and warmth out of the Stofer Geib that I use the most and good clarity and resonance out of the Caver. While I really like the Caver I have an odd issuse with it concerning an upper lib quiver after about thirty minuets of use. Don't know if it's because of the rim or the rim diamater. All are 'euro' shank. I'd really like to find a mouthpiece that combines the good qualities of all three.... For now unless I can solve the quiver issue I'll stick with the Geib.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

opinionism....

(stuff)

ONLY your teacher and / or colleagues you sit next to can possibly do that, and, unfortunately, sometimes even those relationships can be a crapshoot. But the odds are better there than with the tubenet freak jury.

Now that was an informative, well-thought-out post that also happens to be dead-on-balls-accurate.

Well done, DP!

[MikeMason]

About an inch and a quarter for me. My tuning slide is out about that far too

[Maurice]

Just measured mine, 1 1/16".......

[TexTuba]

Just measured mine, 1 1/16".......

Don't worry Maurice...I've heard that diameter (as long as you have "technique") is preferred over length.

[Maurice]

Just measured mine, 1 1/16".......

Don't worry Maurice...I've heard that diameter (as long as you have "technique") is preferred over length.

"technique"-- I new I was missing something........