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Today I picked up a couple of Chinese travel tuba from the factory where they are made over 3 hours drive from Beijing. I could not have been made more welcome at the factory and after an incredible lunch was shown around by the boss. The factory was not situated in some urban industrial area as I had imagined, but out in the countryside, a very friendly environment including garden and duck pond. As we were shown around it was also obvious that the bosses kindness runs to his staff too, as my wife commented they all look happy - so any buyers of tubas from this factory need have no ethical concerns - the staff conditions are very good!

I have visited a number of German tuba producers, and the manufacturing process looked much the same, although I noticed the tuba bells are made in two parts, which is different from B&S/MW if I remember correctly. I looked all around the components store and the parts looked of good quality (everything from valve caps to joining rings and slides). The valve blocks are drilled by computer controlled drills to ensure accuracy. I was told that quality checking takes place at every stage and the final instrument is pressure tested to ensure no leaks.

Going by the finished instruments, quality at this factory which is celebrating its 40th year making musical instruments exceeds JinBao, so not all Chinese factories are equal.

At the end of my tour I was shown into an impressive showroom of all the company's brass instrument and the two travel tubas I am taking back to England were brought in for me to try. My first impression was them rather stuffy, but after 10 minutes playing and getting the feel, I liked although I perceive them narrower bore than the Melton/Meinl-Weston. I will do side by side comparison once home and post my review, so keep a look out.

I was then left to try whatever other instruments I liked while the travel tubas were taken away to have my 'Wessex' engraving added. The models I particularly liked were a 4/4 size rotary CC, although it only had four valves (although I discussed with them adding a 5th), a larger (5/4?) rotary BBb which produced wall shaking sound, a large sousaphone with short action valves and a CC/BBb large bore rotary tenor tuba which played well with both slides and took American shank tuba mouthpiece - I thought that maybe a good one for CC players to use for French C repertoire. All those models I plan to get in stock at Wessex Tubas. I liked the look of a euphonium finished in frosted silver with gold highlights and am ordering a future travel tuba in that finish.

I am impressed with how this company does business and hope can liaise with them on future new models.

Here are some photos of my visit. Sorry, none in the factory, as like B&S they don't like competitors to know details of their production processes.

and some more pictures

Thank you very much for the photo story.
One man's opinion, but I'm thrilled to see the "birth of a business - insider's view".
There's a number of businessmen here to whom this is probably all old hat, but it's all new to me, and I'm interested in hearing more of the joys and travails of bootstrapping a tuba business, from the deliberations of stocking/inventory decisions, to merchandising, to financing considerations, to time management, to policy compliance, to "challenging" customer interactions, to on and on . . . Don't know if it's time-feasible or possible to share such without "giving away the store", but would be very interested in following a blog or hearing the odd anecdote, and I can imagine that it must be good for business to put a face and story behind it, e.g. Mr. Oberloh.
Thanks, again. Really enjoyed your post.

Sorry if I've missed this, but who is the maker of these fine looking horns?

goodgigs wrote:Jonathan,
I realize that Wessex is a UK market store, but it would kind of you to show us Yanks what's in the future of low priced instruments for schools.

There was a 3 top valve BBb and a narrow bore 4 front action BBb which may be good for US schools. I will send Al and Tom details should they wish to stock

goodgigs wrote:Where's the fiberglass ?! (Is this JinYin ?)

Not here, that is JinYin

tokuno wrote:Don't know if it's time-feasible or possible to share such without "giving away the store", but would be very interested in following a blog or hearing the odd anecdote, and I can imagine that it must be good for business to put a face and story behind it, e.g. Mr. Oberloh.
Thanks, again. Really enjoyed your post.

Pleased you enjoyed. I will post what I can, while keeping in mind business confidentiality. I look by posting this I am doing a little to de-mystify and give a human face to the Chinese tuba business

KiltieTuba wrote:These look like the Conn short action valves, but instead of off-setting the finger buttons, they leave 'em straight in line.

Yes they are indeed short action valves in the sousaphone, but unlike the Conn they are 'normal' stainless steel valves, but with squashed oval ports. I will take close up photos of the valves and post when I get the sousaphone in stock.

SFA Tubajack wrote:Sorry if I've missed this, but who is the maker of these fine looking horns?

Their name on the bell is 'Huashen', but no doubt any you see in the west will be stencilled - however I think we should start calling it the Huashen travel tuba, instead of Chinese travel tuba.

I forgot to mention before, but for those of you looking for valves for rebuild projects, this company are prepared to sell the valve sections alone. I will share the ordering details with Al and Tom so buyers in the USA contact them. I will be happy to supply buyers in Europe. However, note with the exception of the sousaphone short action valves, they do not currently make any large bore piston valves.

One amusing thing I only just learnt chatting with my wife this morning. It was very hot yesterday and sitting in the bosses office my arm got dirty from the old leather. New sofas were ordered and only two hours latter installed, so when we came back at the end of tour there were new sofas on which to sit - now that is taking care of customers!

This is a real family run business, the current boss is son of the founder.

Here are some more pictures of the travel tuba. As you can see it comes in nice lockable case

Hi
Check out Tuba M&M Web site they have pictures of some of there buyers playing the Travel tuba
WWW,TUBAMM.COM

Michael

KiltieTuba wrote:

tubamlb wrote:Hi
Check out Tuba M&M Web site they have pictures of some of there buyers playing the Travel tuba
WWW,TUBAMM.COM

Michael

Those pictures look more like the Bb junior tuba (baritone octave)

Not much difference between the Bb junior tuba and the F travel tuba (more like a barfonium in F).... only a little 'fatter'.

Jonathan-
Thanks for the great pics! Looking forward to receiving my micro/travel F--hopefully shortly..
mark

TubaTinker wrote:Not much difference between the Bb junior tuba and the F travel tuba (more like a barfonium in F).... only a little 'fatter'.

Actually the F travel tuba is only about 2/3 of the size of the Bb Junior Tuba - a lot smaller

Lingon wrote:

Neptune wrote: ...was told that they believe the workers better understand the needs of musicians and take care in building the instruments if they play music themselves. They therefore encourage them to learn to play and join the band. The band picture is in the company catalogue which I will scan and post once home.
...At JinBao they are very proud that their instruments were used at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There are pictures of such in the JinBao catalogue...

That is a great philosophy, I think, which will be good both for the makers, have fun in the band, and the buyers, have fun in the band. Always better with people that are proud of what they make and also use their own products. Like what we are when we manage to make reasonable noises in tune with our horns.

Looking forward to see the catalogue scans...

Here you are, the Huashen factory band

Jonathan-
Neat pic-thanks!
mark

Slightly off-topic, but have you had a chance to try the Besson 755 baritone clone (3 valve compensator)?

If you have, how was the intonation?

Thanks.

derrenba wrote:Slightly off-topic, but have you had a chance to try the Besson 755 baritone clone (3 valve compensator)?

If you have, how was the intonation?

I am not sure what model that is? However, I did not try anyway - only played the tubas.

Neptune wrote:Here you are, the Huashen factory band

Thanks Jonathan, fine pictures. Would be interesting to hear them perform too.

Now another question. In Japan Yamaha have their music school. What about China, are there any music instrument makers that has something similar to Yamaha's? We have heard about the piano revolution thanks to Lang Lang, but what about other instruments, tuba for example?

That is one I can't answer. Will ask the next time over there.

Thank, looking forward to that.

Wow! Thanks for that! Neat pics, and I love the idea of playing what you make!

the elephant wrote:Those are great photos. I wish I could hear them play. I have a love for adult beginner musicians. A band full of people who actually made the instruments they were playing would be a wonderful group to hear.

Maybe like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkbBeZkgC9Q? Ok, not Chinese but they may have made their instruments...