It's been a decade, and I never found my 2900
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2022 12:40 pm
About ten years ago, my Willson 2900 was taken out of my car in my driveway as I was packing it for a weekend visit to the parents.
It was never found, and I've since given up hope, but damn do I miss that horn.
I was able to get an insurance check shortly after, but instead of buying a new euphonium, I realized the replacement check paid out much more than my horn ever made me on gigs. I think the most I made playing euphonium was around $500 altogether; whereas buying my Kay bass for $750 has since put a roof over my head. I still play that Kay (although I'm using a company bass on this tour).
About a year before the horn was stolen, I called the top bassist in Orlando as the new guy in town looking for advice on gigs. He told me, "well, if you play jazz bass, and you have euphonium chops, you really should learn tuba. It wasn't until the euph was stolen did I really start practicing tuba seriously. Took me about three years or so to feel like I was as good on tuba as I ever was on euph in the technique sense, but combining my knowledge of standards and bassline construction landed me gigs very shortly after I played through the daily routines the first time, even though I couldn't yet play below a low Bb. I essentially doubled my gigs--which was easy to do in Orlando, since Disney was all about hiring NOLA style musicians from the 70s to the 90s, and the musical culture persisted here.
Still, I miss that horn. As far as Willson euphoniums go, it was still an exceptional one--to the point that Brian Bowman even offered to trade horns. I really haven't touched a euphonium much since, but it was really difficult losing my musical voice, but I did take that theft as a sign that I need to concentrate on instruments that bring in an income.
And while I've given up hope, if anyone ever comes across a 2900S with a serial of W2177, I'd really love to hear about it and still bring it home.
It was never found, and I've since given up hope, but damn do I miss that horn.
I was able to get an insurance check shortly after, but instead of buying a new euphonium, I realized the replacement check paid out much more than my horn ever made me on gigs. I think the most I made playing euphonium was around $500 altogether; whereas buying my Kay bass for $750 has since put a roof over my head. I still play that Kay (although I'm using a company bass on this tour).
About a year before the horn was stolen, I called the top bassist in Orlando as the new guy in town looking for advice on gigs. He told me, "well, if you play jazz bass, and you have euphonium chops, you really should learn tuba. It wasn't until the euph was stolen did I really start practicing tuba seriously. Took me about three years or so to feel like I was as good on tuba as I ever was on euph in the technique sense, but combining my knowledge of standards and bassline construction landed me gigs very shortly after I played through the daily routines the first time, even though I couldn't yet play below a low Bb. I essentially doubled my gigs--which was easy to do in Orlando, since Disney was all about hiring NOLA style musicians from the 70s to the 90s, and the musical culture persisted here.
Still, I miss that horn. As far as Willson euphoniums go, it was still an exceptional one--to the point that Brian Bowman even offered to trade horns. I really haven't touched a euphonium much since, but it was really difficult losing my musical voice, but I did take that theft as a sign that I need to concentrate on instruments that bring in an income.
And while I've given up hope, if anyone ever comes across a 2900S with a serial of W2177, I'd really love to hear about it and still bring it home.