At least $1,000 less than the Jinbao sort-of-like-it

[bloke]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176973277096

[the elephant]

I wonder whether it has pitch issues below the staff. He has the upper 4th out about six inches and the lower 4th out about three!

Isn't this the so-so horn they developed with great success into the Thor?

[bloke]

I picked up a 2155 for a stupid low price one time that was in brand new condition and - other than the mouthpipe being too large - it was amazing. I could play every pitch on it nicely without holding onto the first valve slide (much as with the F tuba that I've had forever).

It had the larger post-Nirschl valves that all of those instruments have to this day. (I don't know what the one for sale has...??)

I went back and forth with it with my a bit larger and more powerful 5450. It played better in tune than the 5450, but I guess I preferred the way the 5450 (that I already had) sounded, and I didn't have any trouble playing the 5450 in tune. Something else is that the mouthpipes on those are so large that those 2155 tubas really don't sing, but they DO sing with that smaller mouthpipe that is so popular - which people refer to as the 45slp taper.

I ended up selling that new condition 2155 to a Canadian military band for a very attractive to me price. Had I kept it, I would have certainly put the smaller mouthpipe tube on it.

It may have been exceptional, because I've played some of those model 2000 things - which are basically the same, but supposedly handmade (and pricey), and none of the 2000 things played as well for me (tuning) as that 2155 that I sold to that Canadian military band.

I had also played some earlier made 2155 tubas that didn't impress me a bit...which is why I was so surprised by that new condition one that I bought, and also why I probably wouldn't have bought it had it been priced much higher.

I suspect it's a tricky model design, and perhaps difficult to make it turn out the same every time... but (referring back to the 5450 that I decided to keep at that juncture) I have to admit that I've played some suck model 5450 instruments as well... and the 5450 that I owned for quite a few years certainly did not suck...to which Blake (having played it after I sold it) will attest.

... and I noticed that the 4th slide was pulled way out, but I really didn't think much about it. It's a slide, it moves, someone pulled it out.

[MiBrassFS]

At least $1,000 less than the Jinbao sort-of-like-it

Buy this and a tube of Wenol. Done.

[arpthark]

I don't think the Thor was based on the piston 2155, but rather the ill-fated 2155R. Having played several Thors (yes, including Joe's slicked out model), several 2155s and a single 2155R, the Thor's "footprint," especially the bell, seemed to be based on the rotary 2155R. I don't think the later production 2155 and 2155R were very much related.

I've never been too impressed with the stock 2155, but I've enjoyed the ones that I've played with the 45SLP leadpipe swap. Then again, I knew someone who was a total jerk who played one, so that probably colors my memory of them.

The 2155 was always sort of curious to me, design-wise, because they fit quite a few tight loops in the bugle inside the body of the instrument.

[MiBrassFS]

There were two distinctly different versions of the piston 2155. The one that, to me, is MUCH more desirable is the version wrapped like the 2000 (the first version of the piston 2155 was not wrapped the same as the 2000…).

This one in the eBay ad Joe posted is the later wrap.

[arpthark]

There were two distinctly different versions of the piston 2155. The one that, to me, is MUCH more desirable is the version wrapped like the 2000 (the first version of the piston 2155 was not wrapped the same as the 2000…).

This one in the eBay ad Joe posted is the later wrap.

That's interesting, I didn't know they changed it. I'd be curious to see an example of the non-2000-ish one.

[MiBrassFS]

The earlier version has a more open wrap right after the valve set similar to the 2165.

[bloke]

The earlier version has a more open wrap right after the valve set similar to the 2165.

That's my memory as well, and I noticed the same thing you noticed in the eBay listing pictures. Someone wanted to trade me one of those early design PISTON 2155 tubas a long time ago for one that I owned and was playing. I played that early piston 2155 for no more than a minute, and then turned them down.

Obviously, the 2155 rotary was a totally different instrument. When they were marketing it, they were trying to talk about how much like an Alexander it was, which was ridiculous. Those 2155R tubas blew very open and with a very open sound, whereas the Alexander's trademark sound is covered and throaty... and I don't use those words in a bad way, so don't pick up a negative connotation.

It's pretty obvious that they shelved the 2155R until those computer programs were introduced which compute optimum bugle taper for intonation, it was then redesigned, reintroduced as a piston instrument, with a later rotary version of the "Thor" piston instrument being introduced - which everyone knows they called "Tuono".

Just to be clear, most of this post has nothing whatsoever to do with the instruments for sale... Totally different .

[Casca Grossa]

Back in my Air Force days, we had a piston 2155 that was one of the first available in the US. It was a good horn but I wasn't a fan of the sound I got out of it and it did have some intonation challenges. I ultimately stuck with my 188 and the other tuba picker in our band decided he liked the 2155.

[bloke]

Back in my Air Force days, we had a piston 2155 that was one of the first available in the US. It was a good horn but I wasn't a fan of the sound I got out of it and it did have some intonation challenges. I ultimately stuck with my 188 and the other tuba picker in our band decided he liked the 2155.

Tubas such as The Italian 4/4 C can't-remember-the-brand-name and the (later-later) version of the piston 2155...they were either slight "misses" or HUGE "hits"...but none of the 2155 tubas COMPLETELY "hit" without changing out the mouthpipes for smaller ones...and (Dillon...??) I'm thinking some 2155 tubas were factory special-ordered with smaller mouthpipe tubes, yes?

Those great big mouthpipe tubes...remind me of so very many (certainly, these days) mouthpieces with great bit throats...all of them: "misses"...and "misses" that (at first) suck in players (ie. "wow!...free-blowing"...etc.)

[tubatodd]

Tubas such as The Italian 4/4 C can't-remember-the-brand-name

Kalison? I had a Daryl Smith model (which is what you are referring to) and yes it was hit-or-miss and very mouthpiece sensitive. Valves were fantastic though. Same as Hirsbrunner and Gronitz I believe.

[bloke]

I had one here for about two weeks once that I wondered about buying, it played so well. Yes, Kalison... and set up like a Yamaha 103, whereby the air passes through the valve block backwards.