Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

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Which version of BBb tornister tuba would you prefer?

Poll ended at Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:26 am

I like the existing tornister tuba best
13
46%
I would be interested in tornister with forward facing bell
4
14%
I would be interested in tornister with larger upright bell
3
11%
Would never want tornister of any version
8
29%
 
Total votes: 28

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Wyvern
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Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Wyvern »

Wessex are considering making new version of our Mighty Midget BBb travel tuba with larger 12" bell to provide a broader tone above players head for concert/performance use - although that would negate its compactness for travelling, although the existing model would still be available for that purpose.

The new version would be about euphonium size.

I attach pictures of a couple of concept models and would be interested in feedback if there is any interest in such, and if so which version, upright bell or forward bell?

Your chance to steer new model of tuba!

Existing Mighty Midget
Image

Bell Front Tornister
Image

Large Upright bell tornister
Image
Last edited by Wyvern on Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:27 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Rebel
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Rebel »

I like the upright bell like what you are showing. I was really impressed by the BBb Mighty Midget at the Tuba/Euphonium Workshop last month at Ft. Myer, VA. That was the first time I had played one of them, and although they are "baritone sized", they are a very real tuba in range, just smaller. Nice horn.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Bob Kolada »

Cool!! Sounds like a great opportunity to make some 1/4 tubas by assembling them the standard way (maybe even some F's and Eb's too?)! :mrgreen:

How are you fitting the extra length in?
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Wyvern »

We can adjust tuning by means of varying lengths of leadpipe or/and main tuning slide. The BBb Midget and CC Gnome use different parts, so by use of some shorter Gnome parts we can get in tune with higher bell without upsetting intonation.

I am not keen on removable bell, as bell collars are heavy and we do not want to add appreciably to weight, as that is rather defeating the point of the small tuba.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by bort »

How much does it weigh now, and how much would it weigh with a bell collar?

The lightest tuba I've ever held was my old Cerveny 3/4 F tuba. I think it was just barely over 14 pounds, and for a tuba, that's extremely light. As this is designed for people who typically play something much larger, I think while it's good to be aware of weight, is it *really* a dealbreaker?

Not at all interested in any version of this instrument, but thought I'd chime in.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by The Big Ben »

The Tournister would lose the essence of the Tournister- the ability to put it in a backpack. That concise small package is what that horn is all about. If I was designing a tuba and wanted either the upright or forward bell of these versions, I would make the tubes of the body much larger to take advantage of the increased size because of the bell. Think a Piggy (CC or BBb) reduced in size by 1/3rd by shrinking the diameter of the tubes but not the length. Would it sell and would it sound any good? Don't know.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by circusboy »

How 'bout a Gnome with a forward-facing bell? I think I'd be all over that.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by opus37 »

The primary purpose of a tornister Tuba is portability. Any of the other options compromises that attribute.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Wyvern »

opus37 wrote:The primary purpose of a tornister Tuba is portability. Any of the other options compromises that attribute.
It would not be tornister with larger bell - but just very small tuba.

The existing tornister would continue being available - they have a character all of their own!
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by cjk »

I could never see myself owning more than one small tuba like this.

If there were kits to change it from one configuration to another via interchangeable bells/tuning slides/leadpipes, I *could* possibly see myself having one tuba and multiple kits.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Peach »

Could you not try to engineer the bell collar down at the ferrule from the bottom bow? That might give a few options but not weigh so much as it'd be a smaller collar? (it would need an attachment from bell-to-top-bow obvs...
Dunno what you'd do about pitch variation. Leadpipe would screw up intonation I expect but you could look at main slides (maybe).
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by pgym »

Peach wrote:Could you not try to engineer the bell collar down at the ferrule from the bottom bow? That might give a few options but not weigh so much as it'd be a smaller collar? (it would need an attachment from bell-to-top-bow obvs...
Kanstul offers an interchangeable bell comp euph that uses that exact setup.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Toobist »

Will these options be available on the C version? Also... If you need a home for any prototypes, lemme know.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Wyvern »

Toobist wrote:Will these options be available on the C version?
No plans for such
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Ken Crawford »

Removable recording bell. And since its removable leave option for upright. I'd buy one today!
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by Toobist »

kmorgancraw wrote:Removable recording bell. And since its removable leave option for upright. I'd buy one today!

Yes, that would be a great option. It opens up a can of worms regarding packaging/case/shipping, but if you can overcome that, I'd say that's the winner right there.
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Re: Possible New Concert/Performance Tornister tuba

Post by tubasaz »

Toobist wrote:
kmorgancraw wrote:Removable recording bell. And since its removable leave option for upright. I'd buy one today!

Yes, that would be a great option. It opens up a can of worms regarding packaging/case/shipping, but if you can overcome that, I'd say that's the winner right there.
Yup. Both Bells And five ( 5 !! ) valves, please ! Then that will be the Winner !! :tuba: :tuba:
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