Elephant Room Impressions 2025 (Please add yours too)

[PlayTheTuba]

Borrowing @Diego A. Stine title from last year.

Thank you, I am terrible with names, for the person who had my folder that I left behind! I felt awful leaving it behind in the Elephant room on Friday.

Very, Very loooong post. I may brake it up later and edit parts of it.

SECTION ONE:

YYYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSS SSSSSSSIIIIIIIRRRRRRR

Wilson 3100 TA-4-O BBb 3+1 Compensator. 5/4 or at the very least 4/4++



About time I get to try one of these!



I did not think I would ever get to see one, let alone play one!Who owned it? Vendor? A persons own personal horn they were trying to sell? Whoever brought it, THANK YOU

Hopefully other rare birds show up in the future too.

I haven't checked all of the vendors websites for a long while and wasn't familiar with their game! Because they also brought some unique tubas too! Which is why the Army Workshop is one of the goats!

Some of the vendors also brought some unique horns too! Like the Grontiz (I am just going to call the same model as the rotary F since I do not know if it actually has a model name) FZ-127 Eb, 6 valve CC Hirsbrunner, the recording bell Alexander CC with both bells, and the recording York CC with both bells. The Adams F with the antique finish looked cool. I should have taken a photo.

Section 2: Tubas I liked or thought were nice

Due to time, I did not get to spend much time with the tubas. I did more listening to groups/artists than I ever did in the past. The only tubas that I spent some actual time are the Gronitz Eb, Wilson 3100 TA-4-O, and the Geneva Eb.

Wessex 6/4 front action "Grand" tuba and a front action Eb tuba... It is not the 3+1 "Elgar" ... Was it the Cavalry? I know I've tooted on the Calvalry before... But I don't see it on Wessex's US website... And I think the Eb tuba that was present at this years conference had a different name... Some can hopefully correct me so I can edit all of these words out.:

Gave good impressions. But I tooted on them super briefly.


B&S 4197 (PT20p) 4/4 Front Action CC: I still like it. I think I liked it more than last time I tooted on it. Could be because it wasn't super cold outside like the conferences usually are. I like my own 4097 (rotary valves) more of course.

B&S 3098 (PT6) 5/4 Rotary CC: I probably should've have played a little longer because for some reason I liked it ever soooo slighlty less... strange. I should've spent a little bit more time with it to be better accustomed to it. I am sure I will see one again next year though.

Meinl Weston Thor 5/4 Front Action Piston CC: I don't really like the Thor personally. But this time around, even though it was for a few seconds, I actually kind of liked it. Weird. They are other tubas I would prefer in a 5/4 size. How peculiar. Makes me wonder if MW brings back the smaller bell version how it would play and sound.

Meinl Weston 2011RA Gravity (small, 7/8?) 4/4 Rotary BBb: I did not think I would like this tuba as much as I thought I would. I think the last time I tried one was many, many years ago. This tuba pleasantly surprised me. I personally liked it a lot! I wonder if it is because the RT-82 and this tuba make a good pairing. Blows my mind how much I liked it.

Besson International 782 3+1 Compensating Eb: I like it. Not quite as nice as the Geneva Cardinal but I am sure nowhere near as expensive as one either.

King 2341 Old Style with upright bell 4/4 Front Action BBb: I love these and the 1241's when they are in nice playable condition. I am sure I will always love them until the day I die.

Gronitz FZ-127 Eb with 5th dependent valve, rotary: I liked this tuba. I personally don't really like the Miraphone rotary Eb's all that much. I will concede and say the Miraphone's are, most likely, superior. Spent the most time with this tuba. I even brought my tuner with the clip on microphone just to see what its tuning characteristics are. I couldn't see how "in-tune" the low register was since I had to hold the tuner with my left hand. Everything seems to be lipable and requires embouchre adjustments that I am not used to. I personally wanted to pull the third valve slide out a little bit more... but I decided to leave it alone. BUT, I think the Ab? Gb? in the staff I could NOT get into pitch outside of maybe 1+3... But I technically wanted to pull the 3rd slide a little farther out... I would hope a 4+5 combo exists to bring that note where it needs to be. Still, seeing as I liked this tuba, I wonder what the Kilngspor E5 is like...

I forgot to take a picture of it.

Baltimore Brass has it for sale currently.

Here is a link of what that model looks like
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0149/ ... 9870216165

Wilson 3100 TA-4-O 3+1 Compensating 5/4 BBb tuba: I am ssssssooooo happy that I got to try this tuba. I spent a good amount of time with this tuba too. I am not a fan of Wilson tubas myself. But, if I was getting one of their BBb's or CC's, this is the one I would personally get. The impression this horn, or maybe big Wilson's give do stick with you. Hmmm I'd probably get other 5/4 tubas over it... but there something about this model of tuba that my mind can't get over. I like though and it looks amazing too. I want it even though there are other 5/4's I like more. What a dilemma.

Another Photo


Geneva Cardinal JC 3+1 Compensating Eb: OOOOHHHH. I like this tuba. What would be really cool is to test this tuba with the other modern 3+1 Eb's. I was very impressed and glad it was at the Conference. The Silver plated version is less blingy too. Although, this lack the engraving that the photo found online has.






Here is a link of the lacquerd JC version. Lots of bling.
https://genevabandroom.co.uk/wp-content ... b_tuba.png

Hirsbrunner 6 Valve rotary CC: Maybe not as much as a wow factor when playing it. Nive tuba though. Didn't get to spend much time with it, but it grows on you. I also got a chance to speak with a kind gentleman about it too. I like it and very unique. Alexanders are the only other 6 valved CC tubas that I have heard of. I didn't even know that Hirsbrunner even made a 6 valved CC tuba. I assume it must have been a custom order.







Section 3: Tubas that I didn't care for personally.


Meinl Weston 2011FA Gravity: Meh. I really liked the rotary version though. This one not as much. Not bad but did not care for it.

Alexander CC with Forward and Upright Bells: I guess I am not an Alex kind of guy. Very happy that it was brought though.



York front action CC tuba with both bells: I generally like old American tubas. But I didn't seem to jive with this one. I think its only because I needed more quality time with it. Very pretty


Not a great angle of it though

Besson International 794 3+1 Compensator: I did not like this tuba at all. The entire tuba felt stuffy for me for whatever reason.

There were a few other horns I may have also tooted on but I think this is more than sufficient.

[Yahnay-san]

Checked out the Geneva Bandroom display, since a friend has a new euphonium from them and is crazy about it. Tried the Eb compensator (classic upright 4th valve on the side) and oh boy what a nice horn. Reminds me of of the similar Miraphone rarely seen on this side of the pond. At $15,000 I don’t need another Eb, but they offer convenient payment plans and trade in for old horn…….

[Sousaswag]

Baltimore Brass really has some cool stuff lately. That 6v HB2 is really, really cool, and looks like somebody took great care of it. Same with that Gronitz.

I will say, those Geneva Eb’s are very nice. A local gent who plays in one of the better brass bands has one of those (not sure of the model) and the small Willson Eb. He’s been using the Geneva. Sounds great.

[arpthark]

Who brought the Alex?

[Eric Murphy]

@arpthark Lee Stofer had the Alex. I immediately thought of you when we took it in.

Personally, I really enjoyed the HB2P at Baltimore brass. I thought it was one of the best examples I have played. The 6v Hirshbrunner played well, but it was heavy. 6 valves on a CC will do that.

The Lidl 684 at Buddy Roger's was also excellent.

[Diego A. Stine]

I could only go for a little bit but enjoyed my time at the workshop! Lots of fascinating and interesting presentations, performances, and educational opportunities.

Drawing inspiration from previous posts, I'll divide the horns I tried into 3 categories:

Purchase-worthy (if I had the money laying around)
Hirsbrunner 6v rotor C- excellent in every way. Dense, rich sound and great intonation. Built well, but heavy. Someone will be thrilled with this.
Symphonie in C- probably my favorite sounding instrument in the room, I kept coming back to it. Colorful, rich, flexible, perfect for chamber music. Maybe one day.

Rudy 5/4 C- huge sound, thick with a good amount of definition. Gets a bit foggy but I'd consider buying it if I was in the market. I'm happy with my PT-6 though, so no complaints here :)

Not bad, just not for me
Gronitz Eb- signature crispiness and response. Ok pitch. But sound got harsh quick

B&S Fossi F- really enjoyable. Great sound, good pitch, ergonomics are for someone with a much longer torso. Maybe this gets moved to "I can fix you", but I'm surprised these aren't more popular.

Josef Lidl small F- this tuba is fun! Nimble, good response and a nice sound. I didn't think it projected super well beyond my immediate vicinity though, but great for chamber music.

"I can fix you"
Cerveny 601 Bb- shockingly efficient and easy to play. Massive, even sound, and the folks at Baltimore Brass did a wonderful job modernizing the linkages. The only dealbreaker was the intonation.
Alex 163- oh man this tuba sounded and responded amazingly well. It was a typical Alex in terms of intonation though, the mts kicker didn't make it much easier.

To make a long story short, it's harder and harder to find a genuine lemon of a tuba. There's a pot for every lid.

[arpthark]

“I can fix you” is a great descriptor for tubas like that.

It’s been a long time since I’ve played a 601, but it was super fun. Those “true kaisers” are really interesting, with the sound coming out about three feet above your head.

Wish I could’ve made it this year for the Alex alone.

I will say, I’ve owned two 163s in the past and I’ve never found the need for a tuning stick or any slide pulling. The response is so uniform between alternates that I find it much easier to mash a different button, although you kind of have to get creative. Just my 2¢ (or in the case of middle-line D, my 45¢ [flat]).

[Lch3]

[Wessex 6/4 front action "Grand" tuba and a front action Eb tuba... It is not the 3+1 "Elgar" ... Was it the Cavalry? I know I've tooted on the Calvalry before... But I don't see it on Wessex's US website... And I think the Eb tuba that was present at this years conference had a different name...]

Regarding the front action Wessex Eb referenced above, here is what the Wessex folk told me:

1. This is a new member of the Elgar family, with the traditional American configuration of 4 valves front and in line. It is compensated and has a 19” bell.

2. It was shipped from the factory to the conference in polished raw brass (thus their request that gloves be worn when played).

3. It is currently not on the website but should be available in July.

4. It’s next stop is Texas - maybe TMEA?

I played it several times with different people having their ear in the bell. All agreed it had a nice tone and played in tune. It was very easy to play, no stuffiness even with the lowest nites. I ran the scale from pedal D to F above the staff and it was solid. It is lightweight and easy to hold.

I talked with others at the conference who played it and all comments were positive.

Anything could change from a marketing / name standpoint so that remains to be seen. Bottom line for me at least, it is a solid Eb compensating tuba.

[LeMark]

I really liked the elgar I played a year ago, so if this is as good with a real 4 valve inline, they might really have something there

[Three Valves]

I got there just after noon on Friday.

It was crowded and noisy.

Fun, just crowded and noisy.

[bloke]

I wonder if I'm personally not interested in shopping for tubas because I'm old, or because I'm really lucky to have what I have.

[PlayTheTuba]

I wonder if I'm personally not interested in shopping for tubas because I'm old, or because I'm really lucky to have what I have.

I'd guess it's mostly the latter, but still both.

I personally like to see what I am missing out on or what are other magical tubas that are out there. Essentially, instead of "guns, lots of guns" (Matrix) swap them out with tubas instead.

[MiBrassFS]

I just regret not hearing the many new interpretations of “The Ride” that were presented.

“Maybe next year!”

[UncleBeer]

I really liked the elgar I played a year ago, so if this is as good with a real 4 valve inline, they might really have something there

Looking like the 4-inline Elgar *will* be at TMEA.