My Wessex Wyvern tuba as it came. I noticed there are no videos like this so I thought I would give it a shot. Shot using a cell phone so sorry for that quality.
Nice detailed video, Jonathan is a great guy, actively taking feedback from so many people about his instruments and always improving them. Just a side note, the mouthpiece is a copy of a conn chief.
The bumps in the valves are normal. My BMB 6/4 has them as well and it doesn't prevent me from playing the horn decently. If it bothers you though, have MAW valves made.
Thanks for your review. I have been wondering whether I should buy a Wessex BBflat Excelsior and your video was a great help. As soon as they are in stock I shall be getting one. I have seen the bumps in valves you spoke of on other instruments.
David Ashworth Did you end up getting the BBflat Excelsior? I’ve been strongly considering getting one. It seems 4-5k is a great price for a compensated tuba.
Hey me from 2 years ago, the bumps on the inside of the valve tubes are caused by there not being enough space between the tubes, therefore cutting into one another.
Hi Aaron. You mentioned that you have a Mack 410 CC Tuba. I was considering purchasing one. How is the quality and intonation of that instrument? Thanks in advance.
Stanley Ross I enjoyed my Mack 410. I would say the quality is decent. To me the metal felt a bit thin and my biggest complaint was the quality of the rotary valves. My wessex horn also suffers from the same feel in the rotary valve, they are often loud and never quite feel broken in. I played a yamaha for 4 years in High School with rotary valves and the quality just didnt match up. Overall I would say the Mack intonation and tuning was decent (not amazing), but the quality of the valves made me feel as if the horn was never "the one" so I spent the extra cash and got the Wessex Wyvern. If you are planning on using the Mack as a stepping stone instrument, that is you want to buy it (used or new) and then move to something higher quality after a few years - I can highly recommend for that purpose. But if you are lookibg for a horn that will last decades in my particular case the Mack just didnt cut it.
Yeah the bumbs are completely normal i have a trumpet anf of course its much different from a tuba but i use valves to and my valves also have bumbs on them and i still play fine and of the bumps affects the tuba obviously you should get new valves or take it to a repair shop
Until recently, JinBao 410's, and their other rotary instruments were a crap shoot! I paid a good chunk of change over the last 6 years, to have Dan Obeloh re- machine JinBao's rotor bearing plates! One 410(JinBao branded) came with a 4th. rotor that obviously had NEVER moved!(That ax had passed "Q.C." multiple times as it moved down the line!) It couldn't have, as Dan had to build a new bearing plate from scratch, it was so bad! Even though the rotors functioned, I still had to pay Dan to re-machine ALL five rotors on one ax, and two others on yet another 410(the latter was a Schiller stenciled horn)! Both Jonathan (Wessex proprietor)Hodgetts, and Chuck(Wessex Designer) Nickels , have assured me that those issues, as well as the poor valve casing threads of Older JinBao's, have been addressed at Jonathan's insistence! Why other, major re sellers, such as Laabs, the old Tuba MM, et.al. couldn't get this done, is beyond me! Having played all 4 of Wessex' 6/4 offerings, as well as several of their new Eb's, I can tell you the rest of the industry better watch out! Once Wessex Tubas, and other Brasses pass the "tech approval test", there will be no stopping them from becoming the next Yamaha!
I've been hearing from more and more people about how their techs have been approving of the horns. I agree, the wave is coming and those new Wessex 6/4 horns are going to be incredible horns.
They ARE incredible indeed! I had the pleasure of playing each of them, about two months ago! My tech is, arguably , THE authority on Brass repair/restoration. If Wessex' new Horns can pass his test, then, they will have arrived!
Scott Triplett I’ve been considering buy the BBb Excelsior compensating tuba. In your opinion, is that a great horn for a tuba in the 4-5k range? I would like to do paid gigs with it ;)
Speaking of which on this old comment. I do have issues threading the valves. You can tell the quality is not the greatest there. Ive had a few horns that thread so much easier. But its a minor annoyance, just a matter of trying for a minute or so.
When it comes to college if you are planning on tuba performance or a music major, most ppl suggest waiting for your professor to help you decide on a brand and key of the horn. With that said from my experiences playing other peoples horns. Wessex is about 98% as good as many much more expensive horns. You should also look at used horns at the $3000 range however they will often have a significant amount of wear and tear.
Basically the extra 2% of quality difference between wessex & other brands like Yamaha, Meinl, etc. doesnt mean anything when you think about the 60-80% cost savings you get by purchasing one of these.
I know this post is almost a year old, but putting a drop of piston oil on the rotor is better than nothing! Some players prefer a mix of rotor, and piston oil, btw! also, some rotors are better lubricated by simply removing the screw that holds the rotor arm in place, and simply oiling the round "crack" that is there in most cases! Any rotary instrument player should carry a "precision" screwdriver set in case of the unforeseen! Don't risk embarrassing your self by hitting up the woodwind players! LOL!
Nice detailed video, Jonathan is a great guy, actively taking feedback from so many people about his instruments and always improving them. Just a side note, the mouthpiece is a copy of a conn chief.
The bumps in the valves are normal. My BMB 6/4 has them as well and it doesn't prevent me from playing the horn decently. If it bothers you though, have MAW valves made.
Thanks for your review. I have been wondering whether I should buy a Wessex BBflat Excelsior and your video was a great help. As soon as they are in stock I shall be getting one. I have seen the bumps in valves you spoke of on other instruments.
David Ashworth Did you end up getting the BBflat Excelsior? I’ve been strongly considering getting one. It seems 4-5k is a great price for a compensated tuba.
The wierd bumps in the valves are in my Boosey and Hawkes Euphonium as well. I never knew what they were for
The mouthpiece looks to be modeled after a conn helleberg style of design
The two bumps I’ve always seen in valves
The bumps are to allow space for the tubes to pass by each other, with reasonable space.
Hey me from 2 years ago, the bumps on the inside of the valve tubes are caused by there not being enough space between the tubes, therefore cutting into one another.
Great information, thanks so much
Hi Aaron. You mentioned that you have a Mack 410 CC Tuba. I was considering purchasing one. How is the quality and intonation of that instrument? Thanks in advance.
Stanley Ross I enjoyed my Mack 410. I would say the quality is decent. To me the metal felt a bit thin and my biggest complaint was the quality of the rotary valves. My wessex horn also suffers from the same feel in the rotary valve, they are often loud and never quite feel broken in. I played a yamaha for 4 years in High School with rotary valves and the quality just didnt match up. Overall I would say the Mack intonation and tuning was decent (not amazing), but the quality of the valves made me feel as if the horn was never "the one" so I spent the extra cash and got the Wessex Wyvern. If you are planning on using the Mack as a stepping stone instrument, that is you want to buy it (used or new) and then move to something higher quality after a few years - I can highly recommend for that purpose. But if you are lookibg for a horn that will last decades in my particular case the Mack just didnt cut it.
Aaron Wilson Thanks. Your comment is very helpful.
Yeah the bumbs are completely normal i have a trumpet anf of course its much different from a tuba but i use valves to and my valves also have bumbs on them and i still play fine and of the bumps affects the tuba obviously you should get new valves or take it to a repair shop
Until recently, JinBao 410's, and their other rotary instruments were a crap shoot! I paid a good chunk of change over the last 6 years, to have Dan Obeloh re- machine JinBao's rotor bearing plates! One 410(JinBao branded) came with a 4th. rotor that obviously had NEVER moved!(That ax had passed "Q.C." multiple times as it moved down the line!) It couldn't have, as Dan had to build a new bearing plate from scratch, it was so bad! Even though the rotors functioned, I still had to pay Dan to re-machine ALL five rotors on one ax, and two others on yet another 410(the latter was a Schiller stenciled horn)! Both Jonathan (Wessex proprietor)Hodgetts, and Chuck(Wessex Designer) Nickels , have assured me that those issues, as well as the poor valve casing threads of Older JinBao's, have been addressed at Jonathan's insistence! Why other, major re sellers, such as Laabs, the old Tuba MM, et.al. couldn't get this done, is beyond me! Having played all 4 of Wessex' 6/4 offerings, as well as several of their new Eb's, I can tell you the rest of the industry better watch out! Once Wessex Tubas, and other Brasses pass the "tech approval test", there will be no stopping them from becoming the next Yamaha!
I've been hearing from more and more people about how their techs have been approving of the horns. I agree, the wave is coming and those new Wessex 6/4 horns are going to be incredible horns.
They ARE incredible indeed! I had the pleasure of playing each of them, about two months ago! My tech is, arguably , THE authority on Brass repair/restoration. If Wessex' new Horns can pass his test, then, they will have arrived!
Scott Triplett I’ve been considering buy the BBb Excelsior compensating tuba. In your opinion, is that a great horn for a tuba in the 4-5k range? I would like to do paid gigs with it ;)
Speaking of which on this old comment. I do have issues threading the valves. You can tell the quality is not the greatest there. Ive had a few horns that thread so much easier. But its a minor annoyance, just a matter of trying for a minute or so.
Do you think wessex is great for high school and collage im looking for a tuba under 3000 and that has qulith
When it comes to college if you are planning on tuba performance or a music major, most ppl suggest waiting for your professor to help you decide on a brand and key of the horn. With that said from my experiences playing other peoples horns. Wessex is about 98% as good as many much more expensive horns. You should also look at used horns at the $3000 range however they will often have a significant amount of wear and tear.
Personally love my wessex and wouldnt trade it for even a "higher quality" horn because it feels like "my horn" now
Basically the extra 2% of quality difference between wessex & other brands like Yamaha, Meinl, etc. doesnt mean anything when you think about the 60-80% cost savings you get by purchasing one of these.
Please make an Review of the Tuba
Nice Video, very good explained
are you the guy who commented on lazar beams video?
No idea of which you speak :)
@@aaronwilson6611 oh ok nvm
Tryna let me buy that mouthpiece off you bruh
I know this post is almost a year old, but putting a drop of piston oil on the rotor is better than nothing! Some players prefer a mix of rotor, and piston oil, btw! also, some rotors are better lubricated by simply removing the screw that holds the rotor arm in place, and simply oiling the round "crack" that is there in most cases! Any rotary instrument player should carry a "precision" screwdriver set in case of the unforeseen! Don't risk embarrassing your self by hitting up the woodwind players! LOL!