New tuba!

[Sousaswag]

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd share with you all my new tuba. It is a Meinl Weston 2141 Eb, and I'm very excited about it!

I just picked it up yesterday, so I don't have a *ton* to say about it's quirks, characteristics, etc. I will tell you that it exceeds my expectations. It is just so easy to play, and so much easier than the Eastman F I'd been playing on for the last year or two.

I seriously wonder why there is such a prejudice against Eb tubas. If you want a tuba that plays great, that you don't have to think about playing, or don't want to change how you play, they're so great! That was important to me. I *hate* rotary F tubas. I know everybody says that you need to learn to play them, they're an acquired taste, etc... But I spent a few years on an Eastman and just didn't care for it. That was a big reason for going with Eb. The other reason is, I know, I know, ergonomics. I wanted something bigger and taller because I'm 6'3" with a long torso. Most tubas have leadpipes that are too short for me. This one is literally perfect. I can sit up nice and tall and the mouthpiece comes right to my mouth. Perfect!

So, here are my initial thoughts:

First, it's so much fun to play. And as I mentioned, so easy to play. It's my first "real" Eb tuba, as the other one I have is one of those 3 valve Pan Americans that leaks everywhere and needs a valve job. There is no bass tuba stuffiness to speak of in the low register. All of those notes are in tune with minimal slide pulling.

The mid register is also very full and easy to play. The mid and high registers require some alternate fingerings, mostly using 3 instead of 1-2, and the G at the top of the staff works better 1-2 instead of open. F# works better 2-3 instead of 2.

From the pictures I received from the seller, it looked to be in good shape. To be fair, it is, but there are two pings in the leadpipe that couldn't be seen in those photos that I'd like to get taken care of, and I wasn't able to see that the bell had been rolled out in the past. It's not level and you can visibly see that it's not completely straight all around. I suspect whoever did the work didn't quite know how to do it. Not ideal, but I'll get it fixed. It still plays and sounds great. And, from 5 feet away you can't even tell. All of the evidence is on the back of the bell! Would I like it to be pristine? Well, yes, absolutely, but it's an older tuba and isn't made anymore. Plus, I got a good deal on it.

The tuba was also cleaned before I got it, at least the inside was. There was a lot of grime on the outside of the piston casings and slide tubes. I cleaned that all up and it's shiny again. I wonder what it was, because it was really gross!

It has strap rings. Gross. Those will come off.

The Altieri gig bag is... Fine. I've never liked them, but need to cash some more paychecks and sell this bag. Then I'd like to purchase a Superfine bag. In the future!

If you notice, it has silver finger buttons. That's because the ones on it were mismatched and not the correct thread size, it seems. I had original silver buttons from my 5450 which has MAW buttons. I put those on. I do want to get some MAW buttons for this horn, and that will come in the future as well.

Lastly, it needed a mouthpiece. I didn't know it would be a Euro receiver. My 5450 isn't. The only F/Eb mouthpiece I had was too small and just went in all the way to the cup and never seated right. The horn still played well, but I knew that wasn't ideal. I tested some of the Wick Aaron Tindall pieces and purchased an AT7U for this horn. It really plays great with that mouthpiece!

Drive link with photos below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[LeMark]

I love Eb tubas, but I'm personally not a fan of that one. The one time I had a chance to sit down and spend time with one, I found the intonation to just be too challenging.

Maybe I played a dud. there aren't many of them around to compare one to another

[Sousaswag]

Mark, from what I understand, MW made some changes to these horns shortly after they released to improve intonation. I don’t know when they did that, but the 3 or 4 I’ve played including this one were at least manageable. When I used a mouthpiece that wasn’t Euro, intonation was pretty wacky. The AT poses no “intonation problem not solvable with an alternate fingering.”

[GC]

I don't know about a "prejudice against Eb tubas". In the general college and high school settings, probably, but around here there are a ton of posts talking about the virtues of Eb's (because there are a ton Eb players here). The general consensus is that Eb's are do-it-all instruments.

The perception of Eb tubas has changed radically over the 20 years I've been around here and on the old board. I agree that it used to be considered a brass band instrument, a specialty instrument with little general interest, or just a British thing, but it's not the general attitude among tubaists now (or tubists, if you insist).

[Doc]

Congratulations! New-tuba day is always a great day.

Happy honking!

[TubātōTubŏtō]

That model looks great in lacquer! I Bought an Eastman 853 this year, and I know exactly what you mean. They’re like the Hobbits of the tuba world. They may be small, but if you need to destroy the Ring, it just might work.

[Sousaswag]

It does look good! What I meant with the prejudice against Eb tubas statement is that it seems that they’re always overlooked. They sit on the market forever, there’s not that many to begin with, and you don’t see them in the hands of many “in the spotlight” players. Given, I don’t think that means much of anything, and I know many people play and enjoy Eb tuba, I just wonder why it’s not a very popular choice. It’s a very agile and versatile horn, and I’m really enjoying learning it. And it’s so light! It doesn’t kill my back to carry the tuba as compared to my 5450.

[prairieboy1]

Congratulations! Enjoy your new horn!