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Has anyone taken the opportunity to play and compare these three piston Ebs?

I haven't played the Gnagey Eb, but I have played the 983 and 2141 back to back in a large room for a good hour maybe 7-8 years ago. I was, and still am using Conn Helleberg mpc.

983-
good intonation
pretty sound, especially in the mid and upper registers
played/felt very even across the instrument's range
good low register (compensating)
fastest and quietest piston valves I've ever played on
comfortable to hold
seems to be more silver than laquer horns 'out there'

2141-
ok intonation
overall darker sound than the 983
not as even as the 983, but still fine
low register was a bit more open than on the 983
valves were fine,
comfortable to hold
I've only ever seen laquer 2141's


I bought my 983 new @WWBW in 1999, never loked back.

The best EEb in my opinion is the 983. Great all around horn and very easy to play.

Roger

I'm guessing that the Gnagey/Wessex is going to be a great value, from watching the Eb market.
I've been on the hunt for a couple of years noticing many higher end Ebs, B&S, MW and Besson etc.. entering a growing Eb market. I think people might be moving these horns before
the Gnagey/Wessex is available. On the Gnagey/Wessex thread from the Army Con,
no one had anything definitively negative to build consensus that the horn needs development.
Hand placement??? The design looks very similar to Yamaha CC.

I've found that the compensated Ebs are very job specific, including the 983, Brass Band
or big ensemble. For my taste not enough tonal range and color at lesser volumes. On the positive side the cash register range is large (low A, +2 octaves to Bb ) very solid.
Joe

About the only thing that bothers me about most of the front action piston Eb's in the US market (Besson 983, MW2141, PT22, Willson 3400) is that they seem roughly the same physical size.

It's too bad there isn't at a least a modern equivilent to the 6/4 (monster/jumbo/giant), or the 3/4 (American).