Wessex 6/4 Eb!

[Doc]

I'm playing it in the morning!

Super! Please post your impressions.

[Doc]

OK, I just spent two hours hanging with Carl and geeking out on Tubas. Here's my impression of the new 6/4 Eb.

Well built, not stupid heavy, seems to have good intonation top to bottom. I didn't put a tuner to it, but the only note I found to be off was the High Bb.

BIG sound, bigger than my Cerveny CC, and one of the thickest tones on an Eb I've ever heard, outside of maybe the Willson Eb, which is twice as expensive and seems like it's twice as heavy

I wouldn't call it completely free blowing, especially at Bb below the staff and below. There seem to be a noticable amount of resistance anytime the 4th valve is used. I know that's not unusual for any Eb or F tuba, but I've played better, so I can't call it amazing, It's somewhere between Good and very good. If I was going to sell every tuba I have and had to get one horn that could do it all, this one would be on my list for consideration. Nimble, but thick, and mostly in tune. I would probably find an alternate fingering for the Bb at the top of the staff.

I have a video of me playing The wessex, Carl's Eb, my Frankentuba Eb, my Cerveny CC, a wessex Gnagey. and a BMB Eb all in the same sitting. I'll edit it into a useable form and post it.

[groovlow]

here's the video

[donn]

What's the older looking brass one with silver plated valve tubing - is that yours? To me, that's the one with the real bottom.

[LeMark]

That's Carl's tuba. It's amazing, and not really fair to compare it to any other tuba for sale because it's one of a kind, and not for sale

[edfirth]

Nice job Mark, thanks for posting this. You sound good on all of them. The Wessex6/4 has alot going on in the sound, and it doesn't look as strange with you playing it as it does in the website picture. And you looked pretty comfortable posture wise with all of them.Best, Ed

[LeMark]

yeah, it was very comfortable. No complaints about that one. Let's not talk about the hand position of the Gnagey

[donn]

That's Carl's tuba. It's amazing, and not really fair to compare it to any other tuba for sale because it's one of a kind, and not for sale

That's sad - I could tell it liked you.

[Doc]

Thanks, Mark. You seemed to get more acclimated as you went along. Did your impression of it improve as time went on?

[LeMark]

not really, the amount of resistance in every horn was about the same, except for Carl's. If his hadn't been there, the Wessex 6/4 would have been my 1st choice

Listening to the recording, the flat high Bb is more noticeable than it was in person. that's one of the reasons I recorded myself.

It's a good tuba, I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars. If I needed a large Eb and couldn't afford the Willson, it would be on my short list of horns to get

[bort2.0]

That's Carl's tuba. It's amazing, and not really fair to compare it to any other tuba for sale because it's one of a kind, and not for sale

That's sad - I could tell it liked you.

Why don't they put that into production instead?

Also, how are ergonomics for a non-7-footer?

[LeMark]

They committed to the one design, I doubt they would then go back and change it. There is still then possibility it could be tweaked. Carl seems to think the metal is thinner on his horn. I think there is something about the 4th valve that makes the low range play a touch stuffy. Both of those could be looked at. They changed the 4th valve wrap on the Festivo after it was introduced.

Both Carl and I found the horn comfortable. He's not short, but he's not 7 feet either

[matt g]

I’m assuming it’s because the horn is new and setting up the slides is something of an unknown, but overall pitch consistency sounded the weakest on the Wessex. Sound was good, but certainly did sound like a different horn with 4th being used.

[York-aholic]

I can't think there are many places you could go and compare that many Eb tubas (granted you and Carl each had your personal horns there but...

That was good to hear them all back to back. Thank you @LeMark and @UncleBeer .

[groovlow]

Mark, great job playing & recording the examples! Thankyou! Carl too.
I WANT to play the horn!
When the horn travels to Chicago it needs to visit middle Tennessee!
Heck I'll work to find a good room and players.
Jonathan?
Joe "Always wanted an Eb 'lapsousa'" H

[UncleBeer]

Not to contradict Mark, but I haven't noticed the 4th valve idiosyncrasy that he did; at least not more than any other tuba where you're throwing in a bunch of straight pipe when engaging the 4th valve. Intonation is better than my horn, and the low range is a bit broader and darker than mine. If I didn't already have a great Eb, I'd be all over this like ugly on an ape. Definitely a contender for "all-purpose" tuba.

Here's a vid I threw together early this morning. Don't judge me.

[Doc]

Not to contradict Mark, but I haven't noticed the 4th valve idiosyncrasy that he did; at least not more than any other tuba where you're throwing in a bunch of straight pipe when engaging the 4th valve. Intonation is better than my horn, and the low range is a bit broader and darker than mine. If I didn't already have a great Eb, I'd be all over this like ugly on an ape. Definitely a contender for "all-purpose" tuba.

Here's a vid I threw together early this morning. Don't judge me.

Thanks! You sound great (as always ), and the tuba sounds full, even, and responsive. Looking forward to honking.

When will these be available for sale?

[UncleBeer]

Thanks, Doc!

When will these be available for sale?

September! Message me for a special discount code when ordering.

[Three Valves]

Great little video, @UncleBeer!

It’s indeed great hearing multiple people play on the same horn for some additional perspective. Mouthpiece selection, physiological differences, and mental approach to playing all impact what comes out of the bell.

[Three Valves]

Super! Please post your impressions.

Judy, Judy, Judy!!

You Dirty Rat!!

Play it, Sam.

I gotta million of em, ha, cha-cha!!