TubeNet

I am a tuba performance major and I purchased a Wessex eb tuba about a year ago. I have had major troubles with the 3rd valve. The bottom of the valve was too large. Dealing with them to get this problem fixed has been a stressful experience. When I first asked for a new valve they never responded and my tuba instructor had to email them. However once they respond they are very good at sending it quickly, however, they valve is still not right but I love the tuba in general.

There is a three year warranty on the horn.

Why haven't you returned it for them to fix it??

Dumb question -- are all the valves the same size? Is it possible that the wrong valve got reinserted in the wrong casing after a cleaning and messed something up?

Like Joe, my thought was that if the valve was the wrong size, unless the valve grew or the casing shrunk, it seems like it should have been noticeable from the start.

Also, I think it's only natural for a company to ask questions and try to clarify the issue. The tone of those conversations can make all the difference, but also realize, it's hard to diagnose a problem over email or telephone, and mailing replacement valves is about the last solution that you'd want to try (as you've found out)!

and that was buddy95's first post. Troll.

OP, I'm sorry you're frustrated. However, your post is unlikely to be interpreted here in your favor. There are too many people (with post counts in the hundreds and thousands) who have had good experiences with Wessex.

Might be a good plan to try to reset the conversation with Jonathan and Andy. The experience of basically everyone who has dealt with them, certainly including me, is that they go out of their way to be helpful and flexible.

I will comment having just spoken with Andy.

This tuba was supplied about one year ago and we heard of no problem until beginning March this year when OP contacted that valve guides were badly worn. Andy sent a complimentary set to replace and enquired what oil used, as we have not heard of worn valve guide problems before.

Next we heard the 3rd valve is still sticking and we advise should be checked by tech as most likely a dirt problem.

We are then informed that the "bottom of the valve is larger than the top". This we obviously queried. How can that be so for a valve that has been working fine for the last year, unless it has been damaged in some way (like dropped)?

However despite our doubts about the problem, or cause we order a replacement valve from factory, as not something we had in stock, as part rarely required (remember we quality check each valve at factory before accepting tubas, so any manufactured unsatisfactory, such as rough port are replaced then).

This obviously took a couple of weeks to arrive by mail from factory, during which time we get email from OP instructor.

When the valve arrived, we checked against valve in stock Eb tuba and found matched perfectly (positions of ports, etc). Even inserted with good fit without lapping.

We send valve complimentary to then get told by OP that we have sent "wrong valve" - which we explain it cannot be as we checked against valve in another Eb tuba before sending.

I am sorry to hear OP is unsatisfied, but I don't know what we can do further, unless he returns the tuba to Wessex to be checked. We are quite happy for that to happen to get to the bottom of the actual problem.

I see this is your first post. Did you joint TubeNet just to make this a public issue?

Call WESSEX and make arrangements to send your tuba to Michigan for evaluation.

The first time I removed my valve guides on my Wessex tuba I made a mistake when I re assembled the valve.
There are 3 holes in the top of the valve 1 for the threaded stem 1 for the tab on the bottom of the guide and 1 for the air to bleed through.
I put the location tab into the air hole and had a similar result to the OP.
I would suggest you try again before you ship your tuba.

Jonathan and Andy have fought quite a (largely uphill) battle to earn respect for their product especially here on Tubenet. Their efforts have produced some very positive and unique results and they continue to grow and change just like any company selling tubas. I think they deserve some recognition. Others offering a similar service have not been nearly as honest or responsive in their dealings. Some have even fallen by the wayside for it.

I bought a Wessex horn last year and found that it more than exceeded my expectations. I did not go into it blindly though and have had a constant stream of two-way feedback with Jonathan and Andy. They have been very responsive and gone beyond what I expected in their service, including shipping me some replacement parts and even sending me back a mouthpiece that I accidentally left in Michigan. I always put time and effort into my investigations when I have questions or problems with my horn, and do my best to offer feedback to them that will allow them to more efficiently answer my queries. The result is that I feel I am getting 100%+ out of my investment, be it small or large.

Wessex have taken good care of me, and I suspect many others as well.

I also think every undergrad should sign up to take a class called "Due Diligence 101".

I made my tuba purchase from Wessex public because I was so thrilled to find one that looked like it might work for me. Even though the tuba itself turned out to not be the right one for me, it was not because it was Chinese, and there was ZERO problem with dealing with Wessex, who went full out to try to fix my problems. So I'm looking a little askance at the OP.

I've only dealt with Wessex through Andy Loree in MI, but he has always been very quick to respond to questions and very helpful.

The Only valve problems we have seen is when a player drops the piston an damages the unit

Since a new tuba has very close tolerances it doesent take much to have problems

Since we also sell some of the models that Wessex sells for the last 8 years we think the tuba should be taken to a tuba tech by the player so He can be informed on the piston care

Yes we did have 1 player that put the guide in the wrong pin hole
he said it was a learning curve
Thank you
M&M Instruments
Michael

Thumbs up for Wessex, MM, Mack, Dillon and company. Ten years ago, where could I go to buy a first class cimbasso that I could afford and not wait an eternity for. Also as a doubler, I can now obtain the peripheral instruments that I need, or in some cases just want, without having to settle for an old beater with all sorts of issues. Thanks guys. I believe we are indeed living in a better world - brass wise.