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Ken38 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:35 pm I have been playing on Willson 3400FA-5S for 3 years now, moved from Besson 983. 3400 is a great horn, it can be used for anything. Sweet sound with a lot more core than 983, good response and stable low register. 3400 however needs more power to play, particularly high note; it requires more concentration and air to hit above high Eb (983 is much easier to get there). Since I also play CC tuba (Willson3050 previously and PT-6P currently), I wanted to try F tuba as well. Then now I am testing B&S 3099 (borrowing) besides 3400 - obviously they are quite different. Although I think 3400 is also great for solo works, B&S is in a different world. After playing B&S for a while, I felt 3400 is similar to a small CC tuba... it depends on you, but if you need an instrument which has clearly distinct character than CC, choosing F might be a better choice. In case you want to use an Eb as a main instrument, 3400 is a perfect choice.

Me? Considering to "add" B&S3099 to my collection

Michael Grant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:14 pm The Willson 3400 has been my main horn since 2000. Most of that time it was my only horn. So, needless to say, I’ve used it for pretty much all playing. The sound is amazing. Blows free and easy in all registers. Solid tuba. I’m not an orchestral player so I have not used it in that setting but I know players that have and loved it. For brass quintets and brass ensemble (large and small) it really shines. Great chamber work horn as well. If you don’t have a water key added to the 3rd valve slide bow you’ll need to do a little spin to get the water out. Intonation is great. I use the 5th valve for one note and one note only. The low E. That’s it. Everything else works great with just 4 valves. Comfortable to hold and play. You can play it soft and lovely and you can let it rip. Because it is such a thick walled horn and heavier it can take it. The weight doesn’t bother me as I play sitting down (ha! Don’t we all). It sits comfortably on my lap and ergonomically is easy to hold. Overall, I love this horn. I really don’t play it as much as I used to as most of my work is done in a small early jazz and blues ensemble. I picked up a King 2341 for that and that is pretty much my main horn now. However, the 3400 is such a great horn I hate to get rid of it. If nothing else, it’s just plain fun to play. I’ve use the Marty Erickson designed ME1 that came with the horn for the first 21 years. It felt and sounded great with it so I never had a reason or desire to try anything else. On a whim, I recently started using my G & W Willowaw. That is the mouthpiece I use on the King and it’s feels and sounds great on the Willson as well. Since it also works very well with the Willson I figured why change mouthpieces between horns if I don’t have to. I highly recommend the 3400.

Michael Grant wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:14 pm The Willson 3400 has been my main horn since 2000. Most of that time it was my only horn. So, needless to say, I’ve used it for pretty much all playing. The sound is amazing. Blows free and easy in all registers. Solid tuba. I’m not an orchestral player so I have not used it in that setting but I know players that have and loved it. For brass quintets and brass ensemble (large and small) it really shines. Great chamber work horn as well. If you don’t have a water key added to the 3rd valve slide bow you’ll need to do a little spin to get the water out. Intonation is great. I use the 5th valve for one note and one note only. The low E. That’s it. Everything else works great with just 4 valves. Comfortable to hold and play. You can play it soft and lovely and you can let it rip. Because it is such a thick walled horn and heavier it can take it. The weight doesn’t bother me as I play sitting down (ha! Don’t we all). It sits comfortably on my lap and ergonomically is easy to hold. Overall, I love this horn. I really don’t play it as much as I used to as most of my work is done in a small early jazz and blues ensemble. I picked up a King 2341 for that and that is pretty much my main horn now. However, the 3400 is such a great horn I hate to get rid of it. If nothing else, it’s just plain fun to play. I’ve use the Marty Erickson designed ME1 that came with the horn for the first 21 years. It felt and sounded great with it so I never had a reason or desire to try anything else. On a whim, I recently started using my G & W Willowaw. That is the mouthpiece I use on the King and it’s feels and sounds great on the Willson as well. Since it also works very well with the Willson I figured why change mouthpieces between horns if I don’t have to. I highly recommend the 3400.