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This week I went to visit Jonathan Hodgetts of Wessex Tubas. I had heard some good things about his instruments, which are imported from China, and was keen to try them for myself.
The horn that interested me most of all, was the so-called “Bubbie” tuba, a travel tuba in F (or Eb with the extension slide). Although the photographs on the Wessex website illustrate graphically how small the thing is, nothing prepares you for the experience of holding it and playing it for the first time. It’s roughly the size of a Tenor Horn, with a 9″ bell and four rotary valves.
Obviously, with such a narrow bore, there is a lot of resistance, and it feels stuffy compared with a full-sized bass tuba. With a bit of careful placing of notes, though, it’s possible to get a good tone out of it. It’s much happier in F than it is in Eb, which is to be expected. What I didn’t expect was that the notes below the stave would sound as good as they do. It has a sound of its own – somewhere between a tuba and a bass trombone. Initial blowing suggests that it’s a multiphonic toybox too – I was pleasantly surprised to find that upper partials rang out clear and strong.
I’d be reluctant to use the Bubbie for any normal playing purposes when playing out (unless my big Eb happened to be in for repair), but I can see it being really useful in the context of ORE.
What of the other Wessex instruments?
The tuba that impressed me most was the 5/4 CC [rotary JBCB-410]. For the money I think it’s stunning. Gorgeous tone, easy to play and very well in tune. If I had the room for one and the cash to spare, I’d have one, without question.
The BBb tubas were less to my liking. I’m not really a Bb player, but have owned one in the past. The best of the bunch was the 4/4 rotary BBb, with a really solid, meaty bass tone. It felt great once I’d switched from my normal mouthpiece to an extra-large one supplied by Jonathan [Denis Wick Heritage 1L]. The front-action piston-valved BBb had a massive bore and a wonderfully huge tone, but I found it difficult to fill with enough air. That probably has more to do with me than the instrument. The 3+1 BBb I didn’t like at all. I found its intonation a bit lacking compared with the others in the higher registers, but realistically if it was used as a band instrument it would probably be fine.
The 3+1 EEb plays really well – nice clear tone, and well in tune. For me, the height of the lead pipe was uncomfortably low, as I’m long in the back. Jonathan assured me that that’s something he’s working with the factory in China to set straight, although he will carry on stocking instruments with the lower lead pipe for younger players. That seems eminently sensible to me.
I also tried the (rather unexpected!) saxhorn, the C/Bb tenor tuba, the excellent euphonium, and the tenor horn, all of which I liked.
I’m really excited by what Jonathan is doing. There will always be a market for higher-end instruments, and I’m not about to give up my beloved Sovereign, but for players on a budget, or for players who need more than one instrument, there’s now a sensible way of doing it without heading for bankruptcy. Yes, I have my reservations about the BBb tubas, but I’d still happily recommend them based on their price alone.
As for me, I’ve ordered a silver “Bubbie” and look forward to getting to know it in due course, and I shall be watching Wessex Tubas develop with interest.