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Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:52 am
by Frank Ortega
Hello Tubenetters,

I just noticed the New Wessex 6/4 BBb and BBb Helicon on their website.
Has anyone tried either of these and formed an opinion?

Very curious!

Thanks,
Frank

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:33 am
by Ken Crawford
This is Tubenet. Do we really need to have tried something before expressing a definitive opinion?

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:53 am
by Voisi1ev
Based on the website pictures, I'd say they look world class.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:40 pm
by Frank Ortega
Wow.

Can't a guy ask an honest question without getting a bunch of sarcastic wise *** remarks?

What a shame, it really turns off professionals looking for valid information.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:54 pm
by Travis99079
Frank Ortega wrote:Wow.

Can't a guy ask an honest question without getting a bunch of sarcastic wise *** remarks?

What a shame, it really turns off professionals looking for valid information.

We are tuba players after all.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:58 pm
by bort
I'm not much help, but perhaps there will be some of these models at USABTEC or TMEA, and people can give them a try and offer some feedback.

If it were me, I would specifically ask people what they disliked about the tuba. I think we're all going to know what the good things are, and it's easy to get caught up in that. What was the worst thing about it? Start there, and you'll get a different perspective.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:15 pm
by Three Valves
bort wrote:I'm not much help, but perhaps there will be some of these models at USABTEC or TMEA, and people can give them a try and offer some feedback.
Until that time, we will have to suffer the TNFJ responses!! :tuba:

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:33 pm
by Ken Crawford
No nastiness intended.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:28 pm
by Frank Ortega
And so the answers get nastier. I will think twice before posting again, thanks.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:31 pm
by bort
I tried to help. :|

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:19 pm
by Oldschooltuba
I will be at TMEA, with my York. I'll play both bats there and report back.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:46 pm
by WC8KCY
bloke wrote:hmm...
...no fart jokes or beer girls here...
...scrolling...
Eino and Toivo were at a book store.
Eino asked, "Toivo, do you like Kipling?"
Toivo replied, "I don't know. How do you kipple?"
Eino exclaimed "Like THIS!"...and farted loudly.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 5:07 pm
by UDELBR
I've tried the 6/4 BBb "Grand". It is nothing short of fantastic. It's got that broad, resonant singing quality throughout all ranges which everyone wishes their 6/4 CC BATs had. I liked it a bit better than either version of the Wessex 6/4 CC "Chicago" tubas (either 18 or 20 inch bells), but they were both really good instruments as well. The voice of the "Grand" really spoke to me though.

I also own one of the Wessex Eb helicons. It's a ton o' fun! I do occasional strolling gigs, and this will be perfect for it. Enough low resonance to be credible as a bass instrument, yet facile enough to afford a lot of fluency in solos.

Fit and finish are pretty darn good on both instruments. Full disclosure though: I'm affiliated with Wessex, but I wouldn't offer these opinions if I didn't truly feel them.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:41 pm
by The Big Ben
Frank Ortega wrote:And so the answers get nastier. I will think twice before posting again, thanks.
Huh? That stuff was nasty? You must be living in a pretty safe neighborhood if those comments were considered nasty. Somewhat sarcastic, perhaps, but not nasty.

The questions were asked less than a day ago. Give it time. Both of those instruments haven't even been available from the factory for very long. You've gotten one legitimate response since this morning.

My answers? No and No. I have no need for a 6/4 anything and prefer Czech-style helicons. I am willing to hear others opinions about them, though.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:08 pm
by PlayTheTuba
You can find some information in the Sponsors section. As The Big Ben said these instruments are very new. I am also interested in 6/4 BBb and in the compensating one too!

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:00 pm
by PaulMaybery
Okay. Played the BBb helicon in Michigan this summer. Plays like a really great 4 valve 5/4 BBb concert tuba. I did not dwell on it as I was there for other business, but I should have taken one home. And yes, I prefer the silver. Tried the 6/4 BBb Grand last year in the prototype stage and I was fighting the high leadpipe and with a sore back. The general timber alone was magnificent. But I'm not a BBb guy the way some are and would probably pop first for the smaller piston BBb that I would save for concert band. For me the BBbs simply make the music/fingerings a bit more idiomatic for the traditional flat keys of band music.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:00 pm
by Wyvern
PaulMaybery wrote:Tried the 6/4 BBb Grand last year in the prototype stage and I was fighting the high leadpipe and with a sore back.
Chuck Nickles has made a number of improvements since Grand prototype #1, so do try the updated production version at Army/TMEA, etc. this year.

FYI If you are the kind of person who is more worried about performance, than cosmetics of helicon - Wessex USA does have a couple of BBb helicon with minor shipping damage at reduced price at present. Contact Andy Loree for pictures/prices

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 11:26 pm
by Art Hovey
I played on the BBb helicon last week at the Army Tuba Conference and liked it. I also brought in my own Buescher (with the Bohm & Meinl valve section which has been my favorite tuba and main money-making horn for 50 years) for comparison. I am still happy with it, but would be equally happy with the Wessex. The removable bell is an especially nice feature.

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:08 pm
by ken k
The BBb helicon played very nice. But it was VERY heavy. Much heavier than my Pan American.

kk

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:06 pm
by tubaport
I played the Bb Grand prototype last year. It was by far the first Wessex horn I’ve enjoyed the sound on and will consider owning. Resonates well and has a big dark sound. Intonation was good (all issues fixable). Not really anything I could compare it to which is kind of nice since it is its own model. Would love to hear how it sounds in a large ensemble but all early tests looked good to me.