Meinl Weston 2141 - $8200

[Sousaswag]

Looks like one of the good ones. I am going to assume the lyre holder was added later, and the strap ring looks to have been as well.

Has the other telltale “new-ish” 2141 signs. Adjustable thumb ring (which is missing), updated leadpipe bend, and (before it was added) no lyre holder on the leadpipe.

Also has serial above 3000, which supposedly meant it is one of the better 2141’s. I’d suspect the serial listed is from the valve block. The other one is probably on the receiver, and is likely hard to read. (Edit: I just looked. Just like mine, it is indeed there, and also hard to read)

Someone will really like this horn if it IS indeed a newer version. (I’m 99% sure it is)

https://flemingrepair.com/products/mein ... eq=uniform

[bort2.0]

That music store has a few other interesting tubas for sale, like an Alex 163 and a Miraphone 190, and an old L&H Eb. Music store prices... But neat horns.

[Bob Kolada]

I lol'd at this. I played a Hirsbrunner Eb at the Army SOM that was pretty rough, low C and C in the staff was like a 3" different 1st slide pull. No idea why they had this, I asked the supply NCO if he had an Eb and he pulled this out. Everyone else played a 1291 Bb except for a woman in the preceding class (2 week overlaps) who had her Besson 983 shipped in.

"What makes this specific horn even more exceptional is its history—it is an Ex-USAF instrument, meaning it was vetted and maintained to perform at the highest national level for a premier military ensemble."

I played a 2141 several years before, to my recollection they played pretty similarly, though I liked the HB sound more (I found the MW to be surprisingly dark), but the MW's intonation was much better. The valve angle was super uncomfortable so I unfortunately put it in the nogo list.

That music store has a few other interesting tubas for sale, like an Alex 163 and a Miraphone 190, and an old L&H Eb. Music store prices... But neat horns.

I owned a 1890s L&H front valve Eb that was a Conn stencil and currently own an actual Conn. The first horn was great, good intonation, great sound and could put out a lot of it. My current Conn is very charming but the intonation is a little worse and it feels a little fragile. The first one had a sharp 6th and this one has a flat 5th and 4th. I don't really play it anymore but iirc neither of them had/have that wide octave issue which a lot of old Eb tubas do. I have a 'medium' King that has a wonderful sound and plays very well, almost like a modern horn, but it's got that wide octave. I have a good feeling about this horn, the price is bonkers though. Another 500-700 bucks and you're in the 321/small Besson range. iirc my first one was $400 and the second $600, of course that was before the dollar was further devalued.

[Sousaswag]

Yes... I chuckled at the provenance blurb too. Great sales tactic, I suppose!

Whatever the case, it's probably a nice tuba.

$8200 is steep for it, IMO. Yes, I understand it's music store pricing and all that, and that they can charge whatever they or the owner wants to charge. (I say that mostly because I get a lot of jabs when I comment on pricing )

Anyway - Your comment on ergonomics - I'd bet it's because of the wacky thumb ring and lever placement on these (and other 21xx) tubas. I plan to rectify that on my own 2141. Extend that lever, move the ring to mount on the outer first slide tube, and things should improve.

[kingrob76]

$8200 is steep for it, IMO. Yes, I understand it's music store pricing and all that, and that they can charge whatever they or the owner wants to charge. (I say that mostly because I get a lot of jabs when I comment on pricing )

"Optimistic Pricing"