Schiller mini = Bubbie?

[Michael Bush]

Laabs must have been losing money on the 186 CC copy, HB BBb copy, and a bunch of others all this time.

I wonder why they would want to do that...? Altruism or craziness, I guess...

It looks to me like their prices on those instruments pretty much line up with everyone else's, with the HB copy on the high side... ???

[Dan Schultz]

... That's terrific! Who says nobody cares about poor, old tuba players?

Once every house contains four or five of these cheap horns... there are going to be a heck of a lot of parts available! People who don't even play tuba will have to have two or three out on their deck with flowers in them.

[bort]

$100 deposit ain't bad though.

[Wyvern]

Was just told that, sadly, none in stock at Wessex USA to take advantage of the offer without making a deposit.

L, I think you are just being mischievous!

Andy has already told you there is a Bubbie available for you next week. If you don't want, then say so, and he will let one of the people who paid $100 deposit against next delivery have instead.

$100 deposit ain't bad though.

And they won't have to wait a year - next batch is already in production at factory

BTW Wessex Tubas is of course just starting in USA, so naturally at these early stages, stock is limited. It has taken 18 months in the UK to get to situation were most orders can be delivered immediately from stock

[Wyvern]

It sounded to me (being cc to messages) just like you and Andy are both busy and keep on missing each other's calls. No-one is trying to avoid selling to you L - really!

Andy will no doubt be in touch early next week...you will be welcome to try some of the other Wessex tubas when you collect

[Dan Schultz]

'Travel tubas'?.... or children's horns?

[Wyvern]

'Travel tubas'?.... or children's horns?

It is interesting that 95% of sales of these tuba we have made have been for adult players. Main reasons people buy that I know about are;

As Practice tuba (useful for people living in apartments)
Travel Tuba (particularly professionals)
Lightweight tuba for standing gigs (band players)
Small tuba for elderly person, who find carry full size tuba too much
For disabled player (unlike most full size tuba, can be played in wheelchair)
To play in church band/orchestra
Novelty, or fun tuba
Play in Jazz group
Substitute cimbasso
For child to learn

[Wyvern]

'Travel tubas'?.... or children's horns?

It is interesting that 95% of sales of these tuba we have made have been for adult players. Reasons people buy that I know about are;

As Practice tuba (particularly useful for people living in apartment when used with practice mute)
Travel Tuba (particularly professionals)
Lightweight tuba for standing gigs (band players)
Small tuba for elderly person, who find carrying full size tuba too much
For disabled player (unlike most full size tuba, can be played in wheelchair)
To play in church band/orchestra
Novelty, or fun tuba
Play in Jazz group
Substitute cimbasso
For child to learn
Play on canal boat (full size tuba too big!)

[MackBrass]

100% of those that I sold them to were all adults. I dont see much demand on the horn for chilren here in the US becuase they dont start off in F/Eb. This is very interesting to see what other parts of the world are doing with young students. I know this model was call a chilrens tuba, but here in the US its a travel tuba.

By the way, I also have the childrens french horn here as well. Dont plan on carrying them but they do look cool for display on my wall. Have no idea how it play but I really dont care either.

JMHO.

[Dan Schultz]

..... I dont see much demand on the horn for chilren here in the US becuase they dont start off in F/Eb. This is very interesting to see what other parts of the world are doing with young students. I know this model was call a chilrens tuba, but here in the US its a travel tuba.....

Trends change. There WAS a day... perhaps about fifty years ago when the Eb tuba was the instrument of choice of school band directors for beginning players because they were a good way of teaching treble clef fingerings and having a tuba player, too. These 'travel tubas' would have been perfect back then. I remember the days of lugging a fairly large Conn Eb back and forth to school when I was a ten-year-old. It seems to me that the 'travel tuba' would be very practical today in a grade or middle school environment.

[MaryAnn]

Well, I still want one but am financially strapped now what with having to build a house, and storage-strapped what with living in a 16 foot travel trailer. I bought a P-bone and am having fun with it but don't think I have room for even a tiny tuba right now. Maybe one of the sellers will hold the price for me, since I got them all this business but can't take advantage myself, until I have room to store and finance one.

MA

[MrBasseyPants]

...but the important question is....what kind of deal will Wessex USA do on an in-stock silver Bubbie?

Jc

[MrBasseyPants]

Well, I am the dork who bought the Schiller. I am heading out to NYC for Tuba Christmas and I was having no luck finding a horn to play (I didn't want to take any of my big horns with me). I figured the hassle of finding a rental and the cost would start to come "close" to the price of the Bubbie....so I figured...I'll try it...and if I hate it....well someone else might like it.

I've never played an F tuba before but it does seem pretty interesting! It is definitely much harder to get a good sound on it than a Bb...for someone like me who is an F tuba novice. The included mouthpiece is OK. I had a Loud LM-15 and tried that....much better. I also tried a Loud LM-12 just for fun. It actually worked well, but I didn't look and see if the larger shank affected the intonation...which I am sure it did. I did not try the Eb slide...and the case is impressive for being an included case...

Sorry Jonathan, I didn't get a Wessex Bubbie...but this was a last minute idea...and I'll be honest....Laabs price was right and their stock was ready to ship to me just one state away. However this horn is worth much more and your November offer was very generous.

Now, I just need to determine if I like it enough to keep it after the weekend....although I kind of like silver horns and this one is lacquer.

jc

[markrubin]

I bought one off of eBay and must say it's worth every penny. The case is JIVE, but I found a Reunion Blues baritone case at the local Goodwill for $9, which works great and still have room for a change of clothes. I've played about 2 dozen gigs with it, everything from busking to big concert stages and pronounce it awesome. I've carried it on and put it in the overhead of even the little CJ100 puddle jumpers. Some say stuffy, but with enough air it blows nice and clear. Need more volume? Clip on mic and good to go. Mark says dig it.