First impressions on my new Wessex BBb Tornister Travel tuba

[mr_funypuns]

I've been playing now for a few weeks, in a teaching band for home school students. I fill in as "third chair". The student players are astounded by two things, first that I can get a lot of dynamic range out of the horn (read: play loud and brassy, or mellow and soft). The second, is that I can reach the pedal notes they cant. Low e-flat, low d is in range of this little wonder.

I turn it into a lesson on breath support, and evangelize about Arnold Jacobs' lessons on breathing.

[itai]

Looking forward to know how good is the CC version. Is it going to be available in a Raw brass preorder too?

[Wyvern]

Looking forward to know how good is the CC version. Is it going to be available in a Raw brass preorder too?

I can say that the CC version is good enough that French Professional who tried in Paris this last week, ordered one for himself immediately. We can at present take pre-orders for raw brass. Currently early enough in production to finish as requested.

[Greg Lecewicz]

As I noted in a previous post, my BBb Tornister had a noticeable buzz when played and a dark blemish or corrosion spot on the 4th valve tubing. I exchanged some e-mails with Wessex about either exchanging the horn or getting it repaired locally. Unfortunately, Wessex and I were not able to work out our differences and I returned the horn for a refund.

I am disappointed for a couple of reasons. The first is that I think, if I had received a horn of higher quality, I would have enjoyed having the Tornister in my stable. The second is that I paid out $90 (Wessex's shipping costs and my own) and received nothing. I guess we chalk this up to an expensive lesson learned.

Do you have pictures of the blemish ? It's hard for me to comprehend that Neptune would not make it right. I don't know him but he is an excellent businessman ( from reading all the posts) and I doubt he would mess with taking the horn back if he could make you happy by adjusting for the damage and just go on to another transaction. What exactly did you want him to do and what was the response ? Personally I would not disturb the factory finish just to fix a spot on the valve tubing cause the touch up is usually more visible than the blem itself. If I could live with it I'd accept certain credit to compensate for it. The math is simple: If he gave you min 100 bucks credit it was better than loosing 90 for the shipping. I'm very curious about this transaction as I anticipate to deal with Wessex in future.

[imperialbari]

We must learn how to lead spatial lives in the face of discontinuity. The canopy of transformation is now happening worldwide. Soon there will be a condensing of freedom the likes of which the quantum cycle has never seen.

[Tubacube]

Just a friendly heads up, the bumper stops on the rotors are not oil resistant . One or two drops of oil due to an unsteady hand can end up with dissolved bumpers! A needle oiler is highly recommended. Or perhaps just replace the bumpers with black neoprene. A small screw driver set comes in handy to tighten the rotor set screws when you hear some clicking. Not a defect, but just good maintainance.

[Tubacube]

BTW, I found my condenser mic to be a bit fragile when folks step on the cord. I did find an easy solution, get a 5" lyre and attach a snare drum mic mount with flex able gooseneck ! Just use the house mic with the standard mount. Works great and should fit in the gig bag attached to the instrument. Just flex the gooseneck under the bell! Will
use it on tour to San Diego and Sacramento Music festival!

[Tubacube]

Also just discovered today that a smaller diameter mouthpiece with a really deep V cup really focuses the mid and upper register while maintaining the low stuff!
Your mileage may vary, but is worth looking into if it works for you!

[opus37]

Are the rotor bumpers different on the tourister versus the bubbie? The ones on my bubbie are nylon and seem to be fine with a little oil on them.

[saktoons]

I apologize that it has taken me a year to respond to the questions about my tuba. Due to some health issues, I had stopped playing for around eight months.

As I had said, I liked the horn except for the two issues I had noted. I had pictures of the corrosion/solder blob, but I can't find them. The primary problem, however, was the buzz. I had taken the horn to a local tech, but he said he didn't want to start soldering and unsoldering on a horn that's still under warranty. After a few e-mail exchanges with Wessex asking if they preferred that I use a local tech and if they wanted a price quote prior to agreeing to reimburse any repair charges, eventually the response came to send the horn back. My lesson learned was that, if I really wanted to keep the horn, I probably should have found a local tech who was willing to attack the issues. The $90 shipping that I had spent with nothing to show for it would have been spent better getting the horn worked on locally.

My experience is mine, alone. I do not believe I gave the impression that Wessex was conducting business poorly, or that the issues I had, necessarily, are reflective of the Wessex product line. I have ordered two other brand-new horns online (or on the phone), and both of those arrived with no issues. Perhaps my view of the experience with the Tornister is colored by the previous successes?

[Three Valves]

My only concern is whether I would keep interested in it after the novelty wore off, presuming I had a few other tubas to play.

It's so easy to just pick up and begin tooting on though...

[bighonkintuba]

Anyone measure sound pressure level at your ear while playing that thing at normal volume? It has 'hearing damage' written all over it.

[Three Valves]

WHAT??

[bighonkintuba]

WHAT??

I have serious hearing damage in my right ear which I attribute to playing bell-up euphonium (the only significant asymmetrical exposure as far as I know) for many years.

These travel tubas look like potential sources of damaging noise due to end of bell placement at ear level.

[MaryAnn]

I am concerned to hear that problematic tubas are being received. I ordered from Wessex because they told me that the difference between them and other dealers is they check the instruments before they leave the factory. Then how are out-of-tune and blemished tubas being delivered to paying customers?

[Wyvern]

I am concerned to hear that problematic tubas are being received. I ordered from Wessex because they told me that the difference between them and other dealers is they check the instruments before they leave the factory. Then how are out-of-tune and blemished tubas being delivered to paying customers?

I am not discussing individual cases but will make the following points;

1) When someone says a tuba plays out of tune, do not necessarily take at face value. Experience over the last 4 years selling is that an out of tune tuba to one person, may not necessarily actually be out of tune - but could be so because of the mouthpiece used, or individual playing. An example of this is an Eb tuba I had that had been play tested by two top London professionals who had commented on how good its intonation. An amateur came to buy and said it played out of tune in the high register. Of course I knew it was him not getting on with the tuba, rather than an actual fault.

2) As we know that not every tuba will be a good match for every player, we do give two week return period for refund.

3) Wessex has always tried to maintain high quality, but I realised that if we receive a horn in UK or USA with problem, then best we could do was mitigate. Much better to never let any quality issues leave the factory, so last year (after this thread was started) I initiated Wessex quality checking every instrument at factory to stop any problem leaving and sky rocket quality beyond that provided by any other supplier (my aim is for German quality at Chinese prices). We know the issues which have concerned customers in the past and pay special attention to those areas, ensuring nothing gets accepted which customers will be unsatisfied, be it slide alignment, valve cap threads, or general finish - and with every horn being play tested against tuner. With these checks we can assure quality and playing every time. Every horn so checked has signed Quality tag attached as below, so when you receive your tuba, you can be sure it was so checked.

We are not afraid to reject anything not up-to-standard. At last inspection in January I refused 24 tubas for a minor cosmetic issue - which the factory had to re-do as I knew more particular customers would be unsatisfied.

I know your tuba is one that I checked personally in January, so you can be sure it will be good.

[BMadsen]

Hey Neptune,

Have you considered asking for a discount on those blemished instruments (assuming they play just fine), and offering them at a discount on your site? For those of us who don't really care how an instrument looks, but only how it plays, I bet you could sell a fair number of those, so long as the QC remains top notch on the playing aspects. I could care less about cloudy lacquer or minor scratches, if the instrument plays well.

[Three Valves]

I suspect that is what the second hand market is for.

But scratch and dent??

Returns??

??

[Three Valves]

The problem with the retailer is thus;

I know guys who buy factory seconds shoes to save money.

Then all they do is complain about the flaws and return them!!

[pgym]

Would you pose this same question to the Germans?

Don't have to. The Germans have already been doing it for years. Wutthe'ell do you think all those [s]BS[/s] B&S stencils are?