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Has anyone ordered the new Wessex BBb helicon?
If any of you live anywhere on the west coast it would be awesome if I could try the horn out.
I would really like to get one of these, but I would rather try one out than get it shipped to me and have to pay return shipping, etc.
Thanks!

I'm hoping one shows up to the Tuba Conference in DC next year...

Three Valves wrote:I'm hoping one shows up to the Tuba Conference in DC next year...

Certainly will be at DC next year and probably TMEA Feb 2018

I was hoping to try it out at NAMM earlier this year. But it wasn't there. I, too, am very interested, and on the west coast. I've never purchased a new instrument in my nearly 25 years of playing. I'm not eager to break that streak. Also, the herd definitely needs thinning. My wife is accepting of 2 sousaphones but for some reason 3 is too many. And I currently have 3. I'm already on borrowed time.
And I'm pretty sure she's not gonna fall for the old "but this is a helicon" argument.

KiltieTuba wrote:

Kirley wrote:...I'm pretty sure she's not gonna fall for the old "but this is a helicon" argument.

All sousaphones are helicons.

That's not being helpful AT ALL!!

58mark wrote:Woah! That's big news! Wessex at tmea! Awesome

Yes, I am determined Wessex attend in 2018. With both new 6/4 BBb and CC, new Helicons - and some further new models you don't even yet know about, I think it worthwhile

Any chance of Wessex being at the ITEA Midwest Regionals next April?

Bump!

So, does anyone here have one of these things yet?

I tried the BBb Helicon at the Wessex shop in Michigan this past Summer.
A large instrument, with a very full and resonant sound.
4 valves of course.
The detachable bell was a great feature.
To me it played like a very fine 5/4 BBb tuba.
Intonation was pretty darn good. Nothing stuck out as so grossly out of tune that it could not be adjusted.
Plus the 1st valve slide was such that it could be pulled.
In bright silver, it was a magnificent looking instrument.