Posted by Martin Matthies on December 07, 2000 at 06:43:47:
In Reply to: MW Factory Tour posted by Jon on December 07, 2000 at 01:03:30:
We'll welcome players at Meinl-Weston of course. Here you'll find all the details (including directions etc) on visiting us in Geretsried: http://www.meinl-weston.com/tour.htm
Currently, we have most of the horns here to try out (including CC-Tubas 2155, the new 2000, F-Tubas 182, 45, 45SLP, BBb-Tuba 11, 25, 197, new 195 Fafner prototype). If you are interested in trying a specific horn we recommend to check for availability first, though. Note these are all demo horns used and needed for exhibitions. You can also check some instruments in the U.S. at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago (our booth: 1812) from Dec 19 - 22, 2000.
As far as purchasing direct is concerned, Meinl-Weston / Melton instruments and accessories are sold through authorized agents, and each individual distributor sets their own retail price (more details at http://www.meinl-weston.com/agents.htm).
In Germany, most dealers focus on BBb-Tubas and F-Tubas as these are played in the Orchestra - it is a bit unusual to find someone who stocks CC-Tubas here in the "Old World".
Also, the valve setup on F-Tubas is different here - we use mostly 6 valve F-Tubas, and German 5 valve versions don't have the 5th valve thumb operated as in the U.S - here the "4+1" or "4+2" setup is used; so this is what you would most likely find at German retail shops. (I guess you won't mind the german brandname "Melton" instad of "Meinl-Weston" on the instruments we sell to Germany... (More info on that: http://www.meinl-weston.com/brandname.htm)
Hope this helps.
Martin Matthies
--
Wenzel Meinl GmbH
Seniweg 4
D-82538 Geretsried
Germany
http://www.meinl-weston.com
http://www.melton.de