Bort's Rudy Meinl 5/4 BBb (it is here!)

[Rick Denney]

This would compare to an Alexander 164, not a 163, but I was reporting hearsay reinforced by micro trials from years ago.

Rick “don’t quote me” Denney

[bloke]

"Judy, Judy, Judy!" ---"Rudy, Rudy, Rudy !!!"

[bort2.0]

Yesterday's rehearsal confirms all previous thoughts.

This tuba is great, and it's going to stay with me for a good long time. (Joke all you want, I'm serious )

May need a mouthpiece change to really dial it in, but will put in more time on the horn first before changing that. It's a winner.

[humBell]

Yar?

[bort2.0]

Yar?

You betcha

[dp]

Yesterday's rehearsal confirms all previous thoughts.
<snip>

you went to a rehearsal??

[bort2.0]

Yesterday's rehearsal confirms all previous thoughts.
<snip>

you went to a rehearsal??

For real... It's been years (grad school and babies...)

I've been playing with a local orchestra since February

[cjk]

Awesome! Thinking about gig bags, I agree, get rid of that Altieri ASAP…

In my view…
Altieri is to tuba bags as Unitec is to tuba cases.

…and others will have differing opinions.

So you're saying Unitec is the best?

[cjk]

Congrats on your new tuba @bort2.0 . I hope it gives you many months of joy.

[bort2.0]

Congrats on your new tuba @bort2.0 . I hope it gives you many months of joy.

[Three Valves]

[bloke]

So you're saying Unitec is the best?

Here's how to increase the value of a Unitec:

Disassemble it into its 4'-long and 2'-long pieces of 3/4" plywood.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-in-x-4- ... /206971071

[YorkNumber3.0]

.

[bloke]

… and the only reason I’m making a big deal about my recent acquisition is because I’ve been chided for years about ~not~ having purchased a particular model about which I have consistently offered glowing reviews…
…so the underlying purpose of my thread is to - in a good-natured way and with a good-natured attitude - “call out” those who have chided me.

[bort2.0]

@bloke, you are also the most vocal, so naturally ou get a lot of peanut gallery jokesters coming after you. I can't imagine anyone not being sincerely happy for you.

@YorkNumber3, I appreciate the quasi-Yogi Berra-ism of "I own selling my tubas." I've always said it and meant it, there is no shame in buying, trying, and moving on. It's like dating, except the tubas sure don't care either way. Tuba life is no secret, and not like 20+ pounds of a 3+ ft tall metal object is hideable anyway. I mean... Why else would we all be here?.

You don't know until you try. And, it's a moving target of needs, preferences, available options, physical abilities, and skill level (hopefully increasing). I've met more than a few 60+ year old players who are like "I used this tuba my whole 40 year career and never changed or tried anything else. Then I just tested some new horns and couldn't believe how much easier they were to play." After 40 years, which variable made the difference? Who knows...

At some point, by love or by exhaustion, you stop and keep what you have. For me, this Rudy represents the former and not the latter. The honeymoon will wear off for sure, but to have a big easy sound that will carry any size group, and be limited only my my abilities... I'm quite seriously digging that.

[Sousaswag]

We all like to poke fun at bort switching around tubas...

But I agree with him! I don't need to be married to my tubas. Truth be told, bort's probably tried more tubas long term than many of us! That's the only sure way to know if a tuba is right for you- You'll never figure that out in 15 minutes in an elephant room, at a conference, or even trying before you buy.

The way I (and bort, I think) see it, why settle for a tuba when there's something you don't like about it? If you have the means, play as many tubas as you need or want to. I've surely enjoyed nerding out over the different tubas I've owned, but that number doesn't even approach the astronomical number that bort's owned

Playing on the same tuba for years and years works for some people, but I love trying different equipment. I think I've found what really works for me, but who knows? 1, 2, 10, etc. years from now, my opinions may change yet again!

Have fun with the Rudy! Let us hear it sometime

[Doc]

We all like to poke fun at bort switching around tubas...

But I agree with him! I don't need to be married to my tubas. Truth be told, bort's probably tried more tubas long term than many of us! That's the only sure way to know if a tuba is right for you- You'll never figure that out in 15 minutes in an elephant room, at a conference, or even trying before you buy.

The way I (and bort, I think) see it, why settle for a tuba when there's something you don't like about it? If you have the means, play as many tubas as you need or want to. I've surely enjoyed nerding out over the different tubas I've owned, but that number doesn't even approach the astronomical number that bort's owned

Playing on the same tuba for years and years works for some people, but I love trying different equipment. I think I've found what really works for me, but who knows? 1, 2, 10, etc. years from now, my opinions may change yet again!

Have fun with the Rudy! Let us hear it sometime

I've gone through my share. My choices, changes, etc. have always been related to what might be best for my current needs, and like many of us, those needs change, and sometimes equipment comes available that more easily helps us meet those needs. I try to play samples and research as much as possible prior to purchase. Normally, I have a good idea what model I'm going to get, and it comes down to the individual example making the grade or not. But I've taken a chance before. Just do what you have to do for what you want and need. And if you go through a bunch in the quest for what works, so be it. Just try not to buy high and sell low, which Brett seems to avoid quite handily.

Thankfully, most everything I've previously owned has paid for itself (some took longer than others). The only tuba I have now that hasn't yet made a dime (and wasn't bought with the idea to pay for itself) is the JP 377 Eb. Sure, I may use it in brass band before long (that was a half-assed justification when I started thinking seriously about getting one), but it was really the only purchase I've made that had no work-related $$$$ justification - a purely self-indulgent purchase - but I freakin LOVE the thing, so I have NO guilt. I imagine Brett feels the same way about his Rudy... and maybe Joe with his 98? I like it so much, that I decided right away to start reading on it daily, and this weekend I will finally play it for remuneration ($$$, food, and beer).

Anyway...

I agree: WE WANT TO HEAR THE RUDY!

[bloke]

I don't judge → Brett for selling and buying tubas often...
I don't believe anyone else does, either.
I'm sure he has a whole bunch of fun with it.
I suspect that Brett does not go to tuba shindigs and - since he doesn't do repairs - it's about the only way he has of finding about about diverse models.

I'm VERY glad that I made a "rule" (for myself) of NOT being a tuba "collector", and to ONLY being a tuba PLAYER (and an income-receiving "blue collar" one - not an "artiste").

Currently, I have (and use at engagements) nine different instruments...and I'm not counting stuff like bass guitars, guitars, a pocket trumpet (ONLY used at polka band gigs), and other miscellany.
I've sold (even some that I "built") some REMARKABLY fine instruments (with - nearly every time - Mrs. bloke encouraging me to NOT sell them). Had I NOT sold them, I would be a "collector" (which I am not, and do not wish to be).
Truth be told, MOST tubas and euphoniums are NOT very good, but - were I to keep every "remarkably fine" tuba/euphonium that ever crossed my threshold (and ONLY the "remarkably fine" ones), the situation would be BADLY out of control.
It requires a good bit of effort to "keep up" with the instruments that I currently own/keep use - as to "knowing" their response and intonation characteristics, as well as keeping up my familiarity with each of them to a "grab and go" level.

THREE instruments (not "Mid-South Music, Inc." instruments, but bloke's "personally-owned/utilized to generate income" instruments) DID recently disappear (in order to fund my most-recent acquisition, as I strive - very hard - to NOT spend money on "playing the tuba", but - rather - to MAKE money playing the tuba. ...and yeah: each of those sold for something more than (albeit epic inflation - sadly - is occurring) more than each of them cost to purchase. ...so I did negotiate a "bloke-motivating" price on my most-recent acquisition, but (having liquidated the three for the one) I also did a bit better than "breaking even".

[bort2.0]

I don't judge → Brett for selling and buying tubas often...
I don't believe anyone else does, either.
I'm sure he has a whole bunch of fun with it.
I suspect that Brett does not go to tuba shindigs and - since he doesn't do repairs - it's about the only way he has of finding about about diverse models.

I never stopped to think about it ... But I lived in Baltimore until about 2009... And during that time would visit BBC a few times per year, and Dillon music once a year or so (a lifelong friend since I've been 8 years old lived up there at the time, so I'd do a tuba/friend visit combo). And clearly, would go to the Army Band conference.

During that time, I owned two tubas -- one, to get myself going again after college (I needed "something", but actually got something quite good), and sold that a few years later to get the tuba that I actually wanted (after research, testing, etc).

I could have easily kept that 1291 for life, nothing wrong with it, and if would have done me just fine the whole time. But, after a while and being out of the home zone for a while, you start to stray... So, here I am now. Had to let some great tubas go along the way, but no regrets. Can't keep them all.

As for being a collector... Besides not having the physical space or the mental desire to collect ... There's just no way I could (or could justify myself to) afford it. Especially at this stage of life, where things like houses, kids, day are/tuition are a constant drain of funds. Again, no regrets there... But owning a bunch of tubas sure ain't my priority. Not even my 5th place priority, TBH.

[cjk]

...
As for being a collector... Besides not having the physical space or the mental desire to collect ... There's just no way I could (or could justify myself to) afford it. Especially at this stage of life, where things like houses, kids, day are/tuition are a constant drain of funds. Again, no regrets there... But owning a bunch of tubas sure ain't my priority. Not even my 5th place priority, TBH.

I'm certain people kid you because they like you. I don't think anyone is judging your priorities. I, for one, think they are firmly in the right place.