Re: Re: Re: Gronitz, Conn, Miraphone


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Posted by everyone's got one on March 18, 2003 at 22:35:22:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Gronitz, Conn, Miraphone posted by a different opinion on March 18, 2003 at 20:31:33:

It is great you have an opinion as well, just as it is great that you have a horn that works well for you. Here's the perspective that shaped my brazen post:

1) Didja play on several Conns when you selected yours, or was it just shipped to ya? If you played multiple horns, were every one of the Conns you played pretty much equally-comparable to the next? Not just in playing characteristics, but in build-quality? If so great, but most reports are that if you line up 5 52's, you have 5 dramatically different-playing horns. If you just received one with out play-testing it, it's great that you're happy with your horn - but it was more the luck of the draw than consistency. With the Mirafones, you get a crate of 5 and they demonstrate much more equal playing characteristics, and they are hands-down a better-built horn.

2) German rotary horns have different playing characteristics from American-style horns. That topic has been beaten to death here, so no point in repeating. I think it's likely that you simply found you prefer the style playing that your Conn requires. Attacks, sustains, breath control, articulation, intonation, ALL require a completely different approach when using such different-style horns. That combination of different approaches sounds like it works for you, and thats great. But remember, these horns were named by the poster, and that we're not really comparing apples and oranges here, more like comparing fire trucks and ambulances.

3) Gronitz are not mass-produced, made in batches of 2 or three perhaps 3 or 4 times a year. That's it. They are exceptional-playing hand-built horns, which DOES NOT mean they are something for every-body. Period. The Miraphone 186 is still the all-around tuba for the masses. Tubas like your Conn ARE nice, there is NO doubt about it, but they just are not the best all-around horn for Joe Average. There's a reason why Miraphone has sold thousands and thousands of 186's. Nothing personal, but why insist on arguing with the consistency and reliability of such a design? If you want different, fine, but if you don't know one way or t'other WHAT you want, stick with a Miraphone. You can't go wrong, and if your style changes or you decide the horn is limiting you or "you've grown up"...you can always replace it a few years downstream, after you've grown up ;^}. And for price shoppers the 186 is a better buy e.g. a young player's parents who may be shopping from a catalog, than ANY Conn 5x.

Rgds,

dp


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