Posted by Michael Russo on December 01, 2000 at 09:54:00:
In Reply to: 45S-LP vs. YFB-822 posted by Jon Brady on December 01, 2000 at 07:56:56:
Hi!
I've played a lot of both of these horns. My personal choice is the MW. I like the amount of sound you can put out with it, but more importantly, I like how soft I can play on it. (The sound quality doesn't change.) I also like the more German sound of this horn. The only drawback I can come up with for this instrument is the stroke on the valves is so long. That's a real drawback for some people, but I've found that it's easy to get used to. (If you have a MW CC tuba, the stroke is the same, so it's really easy to get used to.) Also, for the price, I really feel you can't go wrong with the MW.
The Yamaha has a great low range, but I don't feel the sound is really what I want. It sounds like a small CC tuba. Even though the MW is a large F, I still feel it can produce a light singing sound when needed. But, I'd say my biggest complaint about the Yamaha is that it's $2000 more than the MW. I just can't justify that kind of cash for a bass tuba. (That's from someone that sells both of these horns!)
Play a lot of stuff and find the sound that's in your head. The biggest thing to keep in mind when shopping for an F is that you'll probably have to compromise something. The perfect F tuba doesn't exist. Find the horn that has the sound you want, then learn how to play it. If you have to use a few alternate fingerings, that's a small price to pay for a sound that you like to produce. (Ask anyone that has owned an Alex if that's true!)
My $.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002
:)
Take care!
mike russo
Brasswind
(800) 348-5003 ext. 2266