Sold: Wessex Chicago Presence Prototype
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:20 am
Wessex Chicago Presence production prototype - 1 of 4, according to Jonathan Hodgetts since it has no serial number. The immediate difference between this model of 6/4 CC Tuba and all the others on the market is the 18" bell, which adds a lot more potential for zing and clarity in the sound when desired. The closest analogue of any other instrument I've played is the original MW 5450 with the smaller bell. Chuck Nickles and I discussed this model extensively at the last in-person Army Tuba/Euph workshop and he indicated the ONLY difference between this instrument and their "York" model is the size of the bell flare / pancake, or the last couple of inches of the tuba. The throat and taper of the bell is the same otherwise. Chris Olka detailed the differences in the two models in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U5GWZl0u4E&t=782s
Now, let me get this out of the way. From what I know, Chris was sent a prototype of each instrument to evaluate as they were new right around the time he released this video. Knowing that my horn is also at prototype means there's a 1 in 4 chance it's exact same instrument Chris play tested. Knowing mine has a poorly-repaired dent in the same location as the instrument shown in the video means I believe it's the same instrument. Either way, it's from the same batch.
There's another difference worth mentioning. Wessex lists this model at 22 lbs and the York model at 23 lbs - mine is lighter than the current version. Chuck also told me they went with a thicker metal than I have on mine for later models - while they liked the resonance of the lighter horn, the thicker metal was more tolerant of abuse. I haven't weighed mine (yet) but I will be surprised if it isn't 21 lbs or less. This is a VERY light instrument.
For me, the combination of very light weight and the difference in bell flare make this a very unique 6/4 CC tuba. I can still make it sound like any other 6/4 out there by plugging in a large mouthpiece and "letting the horn do the work", but I can plug in some smaller or more funnel-type stuff and really light up the sound. One of my buddies in a DC service band and I spent a couple hours swapping between a 2165 and this horn, playing duets and excerpts for each other in one of the band's smaller performance rooms. A mutual friend of ours who plays trombone stopped in to listen and commented he thought this horn would make an excellent audition horn because of the clarity and type of sound it produced ("it's the sound we look for" was his quote).
The horn is somewhere between very very good and excellent condition, but it's not new. No silver wear. One small dent (not pictured) in the bell which is being addressed next week. Comes with two tuning slides - I use the longer one in warmer conditions, and the shorter one in cooler conditions. Comes with a generic wheeled MTS-style hard case which is in excellent shape. Comes with YOUR choice of either my beloved yellow and black triple-padded Gotz bag (which arrived WAY too small and was modified to fit by Tom Rice at Superfine) which has a very snug fit, or a new Miraphone bag. The Gotz bag is a better bag for protection, but I recognize that yellow isn't everyone's cup of tea. The pictured Gotz bag now has a black side gusset and not yellow, but you get the idea.
Price is $8,000. Not looking for trades right now. Shipping at your expense. Horn is located in Reston, VA which is 30 minutes west of DC. Pick up the horn locally and you can have both bags and the rest for $7,800 and I'll even throw in a Stonelined large aluminum mute. There are cheaper versions of this horn for sale, I am aware of that, but this horn is IMHO a better version of the later production models for the reasons I have already stated.
I will update the pictures after my visit to my tech next week.
Now, let me get this out of the way. From what I know, Chris was sent a prototype of each instrument to evaluate as they were new right around the time he released this video. Knowing that my horn is also at prototype means there's a 1 in 4 chance it's exact same instrument Chris play tested. Knowing mine has a poorly-repaired dent in the same location as the instrument shown in the video means I believe it's the same instrument. Either way, it's from the same batch.
There's another difference worth mentioning. Wessex lists this model at 22 lbs and the York model at 23 lbs - mine is lighter than the current version. Chuck also told me they went with a thicker metal than I have on mine for later models - while they liked the resonance of the lighter horn, the thicker metal was more tolerant of abuse. I haven't weighed mine (yet) but I will be surprised if it isn't 21 lbs or less. This is a VERY light instrument.
For me, the combination of very light weight and the difference in bell flare make this a very unique 6/4 CC tuba. I can still make it sound like any other 6/4 out there by plugging in a large mouthpiece and "letting the horn do the work", but I can plug in some smaller or more funnel-type stuff and really light up the sound. One of my buddies in a DC service band and I spent a couple hours swapping between a 2165 and this horn, playing duets and excerpts for each other in one of the band's smaller performance rooms. A mutual friend of ours who plays trombone stopped in to listen and commented he thought this horn would make an excellent audition horn because of the clarity and type of sound it produced ("it's the sound we look for" was his quote).
The horn is somewhere between very very good and excellent condition, but it's not new. No silver wear. One small dent (not pictured) in the bell which is being addressed next week. Comes with two tuning slides - I use the longer one in warmer conditions, and the shorter one in cooler conditions. Comes with a generic wheeled MTS-style hard case which is in excellent shape. Comes with YOUR choice of either my beloved yellow and black triple-padded Gotz bag (which arrived WAY too small and was modified to fit by Tom Rice at Superfine) which has a very snug fit, or a new Miraphone bag. The Gotz bag is a better bag for protection, but I recognize that yellow isn't everyone's cup of tea. The pictured Gotz bag now has a black side gusset and not yellow, but you get the idea.
Price is $8,000. Not looking for trades right now. Shipping at your expense. Horn is located in Reston, VA which is 30 minutes west of DC. Pick up the horn locally and you can have both bags and the rest for $7,800 and I'll even throw in a Stonelined large aluminum mute. There are cheaper versions of this horn for sale, I am aware of that, but this horn is IMHO a better version of the later production models for the reasons I have already stated.
I will update the pictures after my visit to my tech next week.
