I don't know about the 2141, but the 2040/5 was designed as an Eb with the tone of a German F tuba, which I think it successfully achieves. I believe the bell originated on a M-W F.
The British style EEb's have quite different bells. M-W do make those for Mark Carter at Mr.Tuba (in the UK) which are sold under his own brand name.
2141 and YFB822 Question
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Wyvern
- Wessex Tubas
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DanClouse
- bugler
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2141
I've played the 2141 for about a year now and I've found it to be a very good "all around" horn. I've played the yamaha 822 a bit and I used to own a 621. So, here's my take:
The 2141 is a big horn. It's physically imposing and makes a big round sound. It's almost on par with a mid-sized C. However, you cannot push on it. I played it with the Baer/GW F mouthpiece in stainless and it makes a GREAT noise. It really sings in all the registers with that mouthpiece. There are a couple funky notes on the horn with that mouthpiece though, and I haven't figured out why. There are about three tones that don't center. I am playing Dvorak's New World Symphony this week, and as I was prepping "the chords" (learn your theory!) I figured out that two of my unfocused notes were right there, and the trombone section of an orchestra won't accept "missing teeth" from the tuba. I picked up my C and everything is right where it needs to be, and I'm looking for a new mouthpiece for the Eb to fix the missing teeth.
The 822 is another good, very usable horn. It's a bit smaller than the 822, and doesn't make quite the same quality or quantity of sound, but it does a very good job. The 822 will sound as good as you sound, so if you sound like you need work, the horn won't help you. However, if you've spent your time on long-tones and fundamentals, the horn will keep up with no problems and sing as pretty as you make it. It's got a good scale (with the usual quirks) and all the notes work, even the low D and C. In the basement it sounds like a C tuba, which some people like and others don't.
I was actually in the market for an 822 when I found the 2141. The 2141 is cheaper. SIgnificantly so. Being a cheapskate, that was important to me. I believe the 822 has a better resale value though, and may in the long run be a more trustworthy axe. I've never heard of anyone getting rid of their 822 because it wasn't doing it's job. At the moment there are two used 2141s at Baltimore Brass, for whatever that tells you.
The conclusion: both are good horns. Though the 2141 is more "fun" to play on and has a more colorful sound, there are quirks. The 822 has a slightly less colorful tone, but is more consistent in the mid register. Either way, if you get stuck playing in the key of E, you're screwed.
Hope my rambling was helpful.
The 2141 is a big horn. It's physically imposing and makes a big round sound. It's almost on par with a mid-sized C. However, you cannot push on it. I played it with the Baer/GW F mouthpiece in stainless and it makes a GREAT noise. It really sings in all the registers with that mouthpiece. There are a couple funky notes on the horn with that mouthpiece though, and I haven't figured out why. There are about three tones that don't center. I am playing Dvorak's New World Symphony this week, and as I was prepping "the chords" (learn your theory!) I figured out that two of my unfocused notes were right there, and the trombone section of an orchestra won't accept "missing teeth" from the tuba. I picked up my C and everything is right where it needs to be, and I'm looking for a new mouthpiece for the Eb to fix the missing teeth.
The 822 is another good, very usable horn. It's a bit smaller than the 822, and doesn't make quite the same quality or quantity of sound, but it does a very good job. The 822 will sound as good as you sound, so if you sound like you need work, the horn won't help you. However, if you've spent your time on long-tones and fundamentals, the horn will keep up with no problems and sing as pretty as you make it. It's got a good scale (with the usual quirks) and all the notes work, even the low D and C. In the basement it sounds like a C tuba, which some people like and others don't.
I was actually in the market for an 822 when I found the 2141. The 2141 is cheaper. SIgnificantly so. Being a cheapskate, that was important to me. I believe the 822 has a better resale value though, and may in the long run be a more trustworthy axe. I've never heard of anyone getting rid of their 822 because it wasn't doing it's job. At the moment there are two used 2141s at Baltimore Brass, for whatever that tells you.
The conclusion: both are good horns. Though the 2141 is more "fun" to play on and has a more colorful sound, there are quirks. The 822 has a slightly less colorful tone, but is more consistent in the mid register. Either way, if you get stuck playing in the key of E, you're screwed.
Hope my rambling was helpful.
Carry on my wayward son, there is peace when you are done.
Lay your weary head to rest, but not before you've learned your scales.
Lay your weary head to rest, but not before you've learned your scales.