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In putting together development prototype for the new Wessex Excelsior (http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/excelsior-is-conceived/), parts were used from two existing BBb tubas and afterwards Jim Langley was left with the rest of the tubas.

I visited Jim Langley this week and out of these parts he has put together yet another new BBb tuba, just for fun...which was out for me to see. He has named it the 'Wessex Fusion' - his description being '5/4 Concert Tuba combining the Best of Anglo-American design'.

It is a fine looking tuba using old B&H Imperial body and Wessex front action valve set. Here are some pictures for your interest.

I am not presently planning for us to put into production - but it plays great and Jim is currently enjoying as his main tuba.

Very cool!

He must be a tall guy because to me, the horn looks huge when he's sitting, but rather small when he's standing next to it! What was the valve-set from?

That's the King style valve set, right? I still want to see that on an Eb.

KiltieTuba wrote:Ah cool!
Does this mean entire valve section can be purchased?

We unfortunately cannot order the valve section alone

Bob Kolada wrote:That's the King style valve set, right?

No, this is 0.77" bore valve set. The tuba it is from is not yet in our range. Will be out August - in effect a front piston valve version of the 'Luzern'.

Neptune wrote: We unfortunately cannot order the valve section alone

You know there'd be a market though, right? Probably more so than for ophicleides...

UncleBeer wrote:

Neptune wrote: We unfortunately cannot order the valve section alone

You know there'd be a market though, right? Probably more so than for ophicleides...

How many of you guys really need clusters that bad?
There is one company selling Chinese tubas that is willing to sell complete clusters but i won't mention it here as to not start controversy, pm me if you want to know who.

I like the idea. I had been looking for such a tuba, but finally gave up and put a Besson bell on my Miraphone 186.

How about a project like this with the older style Besson 17-inch BBb bell (New Standard series), which is basically the same as a Yammy YBB321 bell? I think that would provide a good balance of projection and breadth, and I personally would be really interested in such an instrument with, say, the same .730 bore. I really like what that bell does on my Miraphone valve block and bugle. Remember that the leadpipe on a rotary is so long that by the time it gets to the valve block, a .770 Miraphone-style valve block has about the same .730 up stream in the lead pipe at the same distance from the receiver that a Besson New Standard or Sov has at the point that lead pipe goes into the valve block.

Jose the tuba player wrote: How many of you guys really need clusters that bad?

Whatdya mean by "that bad"? Plenty of folks interested in tinkering on project horns, and Chinese valve sets would (presubably) be affordable.

So ... what's your objection?

UncleBeer wrote:

Jose the tuba player wrote: How many of you guys really need clusters that bad?

Whatdya mean by "that bad"? Plenty of folks interested in tinkering on project horns, and Chinese valve sets would (presubably) be affordable.

So ... what's your objection?

I have no objections if you guys got the time and money tinker away ,I'm just pointing out that allot of people need the clusters.Maybe i phrased it strangely but i don't see how that statement would constitute that i am against the idea, hell at least I'm willing to tell people where to get clusters instead of claiming they can't be bought from the factories.

Jose the tuba player wrote:claiming they can't be bought from the factories.

I am not "claiming they can't be bought from the factories", but stating we have enquired about selling for that purpose before and the factories were not happy to supply for that use.

Neptune wrote:

Jose the tuba player wrote:claiming they can't be bought from the factories.

I am not "claiming they can't be bought from the factories", but stating we have enquired about selling for that purpose before and the factories were not happy to supply for that use.

maybe they are not happy about it but i know some factories under a certain brand will provide parts if you go through one of their dealers.

I could do with a new set of rotors, so add me to the list of affordable valve cluster buyers ...