Rudi Meinl 3/4 CC Tuba

[tubro]

I was wondering if anyone would like to share thoughts about the rudi meinl 3/4 cc tubas? Intonation, playing abilities, sound? Comparison to other 3/4?
I consider to buy a used one and would be thankful for any information

[matt g]

Basically a 4/4 horn with a great sound. Intonation won’t usually be as good as a Miraphone, but workable.

[Casca Grossa]

It was my main horn for many years. Definitely more of a 4/4 sized tuba. Closer in size to a Miraphone 186. Great all around horn. Intonation was pretty good on mine. I am playing it on this recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfNzMMZ ... Jg&index=2
If I remember correctly, the other tuba player was using an HB2P so neither of us were playing big horns but I think we sounded ok.

[tubamuphone]

I've had one for a little over 10 years now, I love it. It's basically the size of a Miraphone 186 but it will put out more sound. I've used it for solo performances, brass quintet, and in the orchestra. Extremely clear sound and fairly nimble up and down. Intonation is easier to manage with a 5 valve model (I play 2-3 Eb below the staff 1-5, all other 2-3 notes are fine, Gb at the top of the staff is better as 23 instead of 2).

If I had to sell all of my tubas and keep one, this would probably be the tuba I would keep.

JB

[Doc]

I had one for years, and I was a complete moron to ever sell it. Excellent tuba!

[bort2.0]

I borrowed one for a summer, while my Rudy 4/4 was in the shop.

At the end of the summer, I wanted to keep the 3/4 instead of the 4/4.

[Doc]

I borrowed one for a summer, while my Rudy 4/4 was in the shop.

At the end of the summer, I wanted to keep the 3/4 instead of the 4/4.

I agree that the 3/4 outshines the 4/4 in every respect.

@the elephant
Wade, I know you had an Alex, but didn't you have a 4/4 Rudy many moons ago? Am I remembering that all wrong?

[the elephant]

I played a 163 CC as my main tuba for twelve years. I traded it to Mark for my Holton in 2007. Never owned a Rudi.

[bloke]

yeah...
Oddly, the most in tune RM's in C - that I've played - have been SOME of the the 5/4 (defacto 6/4) ones.
The 3/4 (defacto 4/4) is the second-best, intonation-wise (some 6th and 8th partial sharp tendencies), and (in my experience) the 4/4 (defacto 5/4) offers the worst intonation of the three sizes (epic 6th and 8th partial sharp tendencies, and - sometimes - a pitch or two above the staff that - simply - are not reliable (ie. "might not come out" ).

Though rare - and you won't find one with 5-valves - there was a B&S-made rotary C tuba (imported by Selmer, USA and stenciled "Meister Gerhardt Schneider") that was just about the same size instrument as a RM 3/4 (defacto 4/4), and - perhaps - was a bit easier to play in tune...though I'd personally pick a 186 (any vintage) over either of those models.

Picture of (Communist/pre-unification) B&S/Schneider CC tuba (image found on the web).
These C instruments and the B&S "Symphonie" F tubas shared the same bell.
At the risk of causing confusion...Immediately post-German-unification, a C model
was produced called "VMI", which was also about this size, but appeared to feature
a WESTERN German (Melton/Anton Meinl) C tuba body with an EASTERN German
(B&S) rotary valveset pasted on to it.

Basically a 4/4 horn with a great sound. Intonation won’t usually be as good as a Miraphone, but workable.

[Doc]

I played a 163 CC as my main tuba for twelve years. I traded it to Mark for my Holton in 2007. Never owned a Rudi.

Hmm... I’m not sure who it was. It was long time ago, and my memory ain’t as young as it used to be.