Posted by Daryl Fletcher on August 22, 1999 at 21:48:59:
In Reply to: stuffy Meinl Weston? posted by Winton on August 22, 1999 at 05:43:03:
I have a Model 32 that I bought used about 12 years ago. I'd have to say that it's a pretty good horn over all. I have received positive comments over the years about how nice it sounds. One thing about it is, like you say, the low range is a bit quirky. If I'm playing in a large ensemble, the bottom end notes really don't cut through at all. I didn't know if I was the horn or just me, but I find it interesting that other people have had similar problems.
In my opinion, the 32 is a good quintet tuba. It can have a mellow "singing" quality in the medium and high ranges, so I've had good results with it as a solo horn.
The other quirky thing about mine is that it's so darn heavy. It's made of really thick brass, and it's built like a 1957 Cadillac. That's good because it has held up well over the years and probably helps darken the sound, but it sure isn't much fun to carry around. It's not a very large tuba, but it has to be one of the heaviest I have played. I wonder if the newer MW tubas are built like that.
I was told that my tuba was made in 1963. The serial number on mine is 1125. Does anyone know when the Model 32 was first marketed in the United States?