Wessex Tornister BBb arrived today, first impressions

[TriStateFans]

My new Wessex Tornister tuba arrived today, I've only had a chance to fiddle around with it, so I only have first impressions to share.

Shipping was fast from England to Missouri took 5 days. The packaging was good, the horn and case arrived in pristine condition. I got it on Black Friday deal so the horn was $200 off and the shipping was $26 FedEx Air.

This thing is TINY. I mean I knew it was small, but it's REALLY small even compared to my Dillon 995 (a King 1140 copy). Sits easily on my lap and I'm looking down into the bell. No question about being able to hear my tone accurately.

After reading the reviews, I was concerned about it being "stuffy". It would make a lot of sense if it was stuffy, as many turns as the bugle has in it. In my limited time of playing (basically I just ran through some scales and played a bit of improv dixieland grooves) I didn't find it stuffy at all... until I tried to raise the volume. Not surprisingly, the harder you blow the stuffier it gets.

That's fine, I didn't buy this horn to play concert halls or to keep up with a large ensemble, I bought it to sit in my living room and practice with it.

The horn came with a Wessex HB mouthpiece, which is Wessex's take on the Helleberg. It's surprisingly decent, I actually quite like it so I'll just leave it with the horn and use the mouthpiece.

The case is suitcase size, has an extending handle and rollers. Pockets on each side, and inside the pocket came a cleaning kit, oil, straps and surprisingly an extra tubing section that I have no idea why it's included. My first thought was "Oh, cool, they included the tubing to make the horn a CC or a BBb" but no, it's just a duplicate of the BBb tuning slide (or at least it appears to be).

I know that there is a CC slide you can use to change the pitch of the horn, but this appears to be a duplicate BBb for whatever reason. I dropped Wessex a note but it's the middle of the night over there so I won't know until they answer.

I did put the horn on a tuner app and it's bang-on tuning wise, so that's good.

Photos to follow as I get some taken.

Ken

[LeMark]

That wasnt a CC slide, it was a slide to cover the difference between 442 and the other tuning that some countries or ensembles use. (higher)

[TriStateFans]

That wasnt a CC slide, it was a slide to cover the difference between 442 and the other tuning that some countries or ensembles use. (higher)

Thank you, I had never considered that. The one that came installed worked perfectly, and I had never paid attention to the fact that other may use different tunings.

More on the horn as I get used to playing it. I think it's my Tubachristmas rig for this year.

[Three Valves]

When I tested them in the past I found the low range excelled but the higher end broke up.

It’s great for noodling, micing and tight spaces/tuba Christmas.

[TriStateFans]

When I tested them in the past I found the low range excelled but the higher end broke up.

Interestingly, it really does have a good low end on it, and I too am finding the high end breaking up some. From the size you would think it was the opposite, but the low range is solid down to as low as this player can go (the limitation down there is me, not the horn).

I did manage to put my first scratch on it, annoyingly enough. The bell caught the music stand just slightly, so there's now a very small scratch inside the bell. It happens to all horns, but I was hoping to keep it pristine for a lot longer than this. Fortunately, it's one of those "you have to know where to look to even see it" kind of scratches. Still, annoying.

Going to take it for TubaChristmas this Sunday in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Ken