New Tuba Day - Meinl Weston 2145

[tubatodd]

Like the Godfather, I saw an offer I couldn't refuse. Today I picked up a Meinl Weston 2145. It's in great shape. It can use a cleaning and some minor dent work, but it's been well taken care of. Did I need another 4/4 CC tuba? Nope. Was I going to let this go? Also, Nope.

[tubatodd]

@MikeMason I was told that this horn may have once been yours.

[arpthark]

Those are nice horns! Looks like we had a similar happenstance this weekend. Congrats!

[Big Francis]

Congrats!! As I get older, there are days that I miss mine. Hold on to it, especially if it’s a player.

[bort2.0]

Well, I suppose if you see an abandoned tuba in the middle of a field, the only responsible thing to do is bring it home.

[Stefan A]

I miss my 2155. But happy with the Eastman 832 I recently got.

[Sousaswag]

Sounds like you’ve been taking notes from Blake and me posting about all the stuff we buy over the last few years

Those 2145’s - Good horns! Fix that thumb ring and 5th lever placement and you’re in business!

[prodigal]

Now I've got to watch out for random tubas in fields this haying season!

[tubatodd]

Sounds like you’ve been taking notes from Blake and me posting about all the stuff we buy over the last few years

Those 2145’s - Good horns! Fix that thumb ring and 5th lever placement and you’re in business!

It's been quite a while since I owned a 2165, so I don't really recall the valve ergonomics. But, yes, the 5th valve trigger placement felt lower than I remember. Not sure what the best fix is.

[tubatodd]

Sadly that picture is my very weedy front lawn. I have a service coming out this week to spray.

[Sousaswag]

Sounds like you’ve been taking notes from Blake and me posting about all the stuff we buy over the last few years

Those 2145’s - Good horns! Fix that thumb ring and 5th lever placement and you’re in business!

It's been quite a while since I owned a 2165, so I don't really recall the valve ergonomics. But, yes, the 5th valve trigger placement felt lower than I remember. Not sure what the best fix is.

Here’s what I’d do - Wait until my 2165 makes its final transformation. When it does, Keith is going to take some measurements of the Baer linkage that I have. I’ll post those measurements here compared to the old one, and maybe someone would be willing to fabricate it for you. OR, just buy the Baer linkage from MW.

[bort2.0]

I've always liked these.

The small valve version was a lot of fun to play.
The BBC version was so good, I really regret not buying it.
All the rest were really good too.

The 5th valve was never too comfortable for me.

Some people will say how whatever partial is whatever cents flat or sharp and blah blah blah, and I'm sure it isn't 100% perfect because nothing is... but I never seemed to have trouble playing in tune enough for what I needed.

Fun fact, the 2155 (not the 2145) was marketed as being designed for Warren Deck to use as a quintet horn.

[graybach]

Fun fact, the 2155 (not the 2145) was marketed as being designed for Warren Deck to use as a quintet horn.

They were marketed that way, is what you said, but I’m curious: did he actually use a 2155 for quintet, or even at all, or was it just marketed that way?
The only horn I’ve seen besides the big one he used in the
New York Philharmonic was on a since-taken-down YouTube video of him playing Rogers Kellaway’s “Songs of Ascent.”
It was a world-class performance, but, like I said, it was taken down from YouTube, and I believe what the guys on the forum said at the time was that CBS had a copyright on the video. Not sure what horn it was, because I only saw the video one time, and it’s been at least 10 years ago, if not longer, but I’m guessing an F tuba, because that piece is in the stratosphere as far as range.

[Eric Murphy]

I also picked up a 2145 a while back. I modified a Willson thumb ring setup to fit my 2145. I LOVE it! I'll try to figure out how to post a picture of it later.

[Grumpikins]

Congratulations. I really enjoy mine. More so after I had the reciever angled up slightly for better ergonomics. It really caused me severe neck pain. Never had an issue with the 5th valve lever. Honesty, I rarely use it these days. Theres always one or more young collegiate fellows nearby overdoing pedals.

[bort2.0]

Fun fact, the 2155 (not the 2145) was marketed as being designed for Warren Deck to use as a quintet horn.

They were marketed that way, is what you said, but I’m curious: did he actually use a 2155 for quintet, or even at all, or was it just marketed that way?
The only horn I’ve seen besides the big one he used in the
New York Philharmonic was on a since-taken-down YouTube video of him playing Rogers Kellaway’s “Songs of Ascent.”
It was a world-class performance, but, like I said, it was taken down from YouTube, and I believe what the guys on the forum said at the time was that CBS had a copyright on the video. Not sure what horn it was, because I only saw the video one time, and it’s been at least 10 years ago, if not longer, but I’m guessing an F tuba, because that piece is in the stratosphere as far as range.

I remember some video of him on that big Conn rotary CC, which sounded amazing, but apparently was a nightmare even for HIM to play it.

[catgrowlB]

Fun fact, the 2155 (not the 2145) was marketed as being designed for Warren Deck to use as a quintet horn.

Warren Deck helped Meinl-Weston develop the piston/production 2155 as an all-around CC that he or his students could use in quintet and on some (lighter) pieces in orchestra. I have the Meinl-Weston catalog from that time - I'd have to dig it out. But the piston 2155 was introduced around 1995. The 2165 and 2145 were introduced years earlier. I think the 2145 was the first of that series of piston CC tubas; introduced around 1990.

Sam Pilafian helped Meinl-Weston develop the 2145 as a true quintet/chamber CC tuba. But the 2165 and 2155 were 'Warren Deck' model CC tubas

[tubatodd]

Posting this for @Eric Murphy

[tubatodd]

@Eric Murphy that is a beautiful horn and that setup looks fantastic!

[Eric Murphy]

Thank you, @tubatodd ! We had to remove the flange from the brass plate and grind the brass plate to fit the shape of the first valve tubing better. After that, we brazed it back together and formed the flange for the test fit. The thumb lever is the new style Willson lever. I just cut it to fit on the backside, shaped it, then drilled and tapped it. After that we had to make the linkage rod. I just re-used the stock uniball linkage ends. After I knew it all worked I buffed it all up and sent it off to Andersons to get silver-plated.

Personally, I find this the be a HUGE improvement over the original 5th valve and thumb ring setup. The original setup was virtually unplayable for me.