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I just want to gather some opinions on budget Eb horns. I primarily will be using this as a chamber music, and do everything(that my Yorkbrunner is inappropriate for) horn. My main priority is an easy low range and good intonation.

The horns I'm looking into:
Wessex Gnagey (Have tried and fell in love with the low range, front runner as of right now)
Wessex Cavalry
Wessex Champion
John Packer JP227s
Used Besson 981/982/983

Any opinions on these horns or suggestions of other horns I should consider? My budget is firmly $5,500 including tax and shipping. Thanks in advance TNFJ!

Depicted here is my only experience actually playing Eb. A dumpy 3v low pitch HN White.

My favorites are 3+1 Compensating Eb tubas. They usually have good intonation, good ergonomics(easy on your hands once you acquire the coordination with the 4th valve) and are extremely versatile. Some disadvantages are more resistance in the 4th valve and limited flexibility in regards to the timbre (color/type of sound). The later can be overcome with a different mouthpiece or by purchasing one with a 15-17 inch bell instead of the 19 inch bell.

Some of my favorite Eb 3+1 Compensating tubas are:

JP 377
Besson 981/982
Wessex Champion
Wessex Solo

Good luck in finding a great Eb tuba. They are extremely versatile and will serve you well.

Meinl Weston 2141? If you can find one used I'd recommend taking a look at it!

You may recall Marty Erickson who did quite well on the Willson 3400 EEb, 4p & 1r. The 3400 is Av is a vert good tuba by any standard so much so that a player of the Hirs HB 50 would find it to o exactly compliment his CC tuba.

I'm quite happy with my Packer/Sterling JP377. It's a better horn than the 277. Check around for pricing; it's pretty variable. It's not a perfect instrument, but it's pretty blamed good. I haven't tried the Wessex Champion, but I hear good things about it.

Wessex Solo and champion are the same bore, just different bell sizes 16 3/4” vs. 19”. Great Horn- very easy to play (Solo).

I'm not sure what the market is like now but I've played on a 983 for about 10 years. It has its quirks but I've played everything on it (pit orchestra, solo, chamber, brass band, etc).

Intonation/playing: No tuba is perfectly in tune, and this one is no different. Of the half dozen I've played, I've come to the conclusion that they were not made very consistently. Some are more free blowing and some are more stuffy (resistance to the input I'm trying to give). This may be the player but I found around g in the staff and higher can be flat. I compromise by having the main tuning slide a little more in that it should. Again, this may be the player, but I also use different mouthpieces for different types of playing (shallower cup for solo/chamber playing and deeper for mostly ensemble playing).

Ergonomic: If you prefer having the compensation system all in one hand, this is a great setup. Slides are all easily available for changes. The third compensation slide (third valve) can be bent a little if you don't take it out when using a gig bag (I found it poking me anyway). As a tall person (about 6'3''), this tuba fits fine in my lap. The instrument is susceptible to dents on the outer edge of the body (the metal is thin).

Quirks (Could be more and maybe only for me):
-open G in the staff is flat (practice lipping it up, alternative fingers, compromise main tuning slide)
-Around middle C and up is flat (same as just mentioned above). I had a teacher once point out that if you put your finger on the inside of the bell (about 4 to 8" in), the high register immediately was more in tune. I haven't used this in a performance but I guess this means the bell is a bit too big for the horn.
-achieving clear articulation instead of a tubby sound (mouthpiece selection has been my remedy but could be me as the player)
-awkward fingering patterns for quick playing in the lower register (you will need a strong pinky. Pat Sheridan shared with me that he does a rolling motion with a flat hand to get through this type of stuff instead of perfect curved finger tips.)
-low register being "stuffy" if you're not used to the compensating system (when using the 4th valve). Practice low Etudes so you're not surprised when you change registers on the horn.
-third compensating slide (third valve) will need to be removed while in a gig bag. It will either poke you in the back or start bending. Maybe both.

Don't know much about the current version of the 983, but their website says they tweaked it in a few areas. The big thing I read was the bell being a little smaller. This probably helps with the overall intonation.

I bought a Wessex Cavalry about a year ago that I still enjoy. I use a Besson 981 at work some of the time and recently made the decision to use Eb as my "4/4" instrument for quintet and other outside gigs. One of my complaints with the 3+1 horns was the lack of slide adjustment and the resulting need to always lip down low E and sometimes low F. I know some people have no problem with the low end on these horns, but it was an issue for me.

Although the Cavalry needed some cuts to bring some notes up to pitch (1st, 4th, and main), it has been a good buy. It has the 19" bell like the 981/982 that helps with a broad sound for larger ensembles, some smartly placed water keys, and the valves are vented. It is a lighter horn than the Besson, I feel it vibrates more easily and has a robust, clear tone. For those who are confident in what they want in a horn and have easy access to a good repairman for adjustments, I would say it's worth checking out.

Street price on the Eastman 853 is within your budget. Similar package to the Cavalry but the workmanship on the Eastman blows it out of the water. Best tuba I’ve ever owned. See my post history for a lengthy review.

There's a B&H 3+1 compensating e flat on Facebook for 2100.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 898610982/" target="_blank

Thanks for all of the replys folks! I have settled on a John Packer 377, which is actually set to arrive tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting a handle on the compensating Eb!

Bnich93 wrote:Thanks for all of the replys folks! I have settled on a John Packer 377, which is actually set to arrive tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting a handle on the compensating Eb!

Hey, how is your Packer working out for you?

Theres a Besson 983 on eBay easily in this range. If you like the Gnagey, you should like this too