WILLSON

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:20 pm

Well..I bought a Willson 3100 FA5 today through tuba exchange. Bright silver. They said it was the only "new" one in the U.S. and was a demo somewhere in the Northeast. Since it had 1 tiny scratch on it, they lowered the price and threw in a hard case. Couldn't pass up the deal.. and I cant wait to get it in!!

Bob Kolada · Post by **Bob Kolada** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:16 am

Cool!

oedipoes · Post by **oedipoes** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:32 am

congrats on the purchase!

I will have a 3100 FA-5 BBb for an 8 days-trial tomorrow.
First week of December, I'll have the rotary (rotax) 4-valve equivalent 3100 RZ-4 BBb also for 8 days.

Played them both in Frankfurt, but I'm really thrilled to play them for a longer time !

Wim

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:58 am

TUbajohn20J wrote:Well..I bought a Willson 3100 FA5 today through tuba exchange. Bright silver. They said it was the only "new" one in the U.S. and was a demo somewhere in the Northeast. Since it had 1 tiny scratch on it, they lowered the price and threw in a hard case. Couldn't pass up the deal.. and I cant wait to get it in!!

AWESOME!! Definitely need a report on that one . . .

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:33 pm

Yep, I´d like to hear about Your impressions, too.
Here are mine:
I know first hand (i.e from my eMail conversations with them preceding my purchase of a 6500 RZ5) that their Contrabass tubas of a given pitch share basically equal dimensions (bore, bell shape...), in part even among BBb and CC.
So actually MY horn isn´t that much different to a 3100 except for the branch arrangement. Rolled straight out, I was told they´d be basically the same horns.

I know for sure my horn will never let me down. At first it´ll seem "hard" and a little stubborn to play, especially if You come from CC.
One will get used to it, and that extra practise time needed for that adjustment will pay off incl. interest.
That horn likes to be taken to extreme corners of Your range. High passages are easily and safely (!) accessible at all dynamics.
It´ll be grateful if fed with lots of air through a big trough ...errrm mouthpiece.

I might like to get a nimbler horn some time to make life in ensemble easier, but don´t really feel the need to do so.
I recently got to test their 3200 (I think) XL F-tuba. Great horn, big sound more like an EEb comper. Comes with a 5th valve AND... TATAAA... main slide trigger !
Wouldn´t mind at all if this one ever fell of a truck right into my lap.

oedipoes · Post by **oedipoes** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:30 am

jonesbrass wrote:
TUbajohn20J wrote:Well..I bought a Willson 3100 FA5 today through tuba exchange. Bright silver. They said it was the only "new" one in the U.S. and was a demo somewhere in the Northeast. Since it had 1 tiny scratch on it, they lowered the price and threw in a hard case. Couldn't pass up the deal.. and I cant wait to get it in!!
AWESOME!! Definitely need a report on that one . . .

I've picked up the horn for trial yesterday.
One word: magnificent !

The pistons are much faster than my fingers will ever be.
( 5th rotary Rotax valve as well.)

The horn is quite heavy, but very compact and therefore easy to hold.
I have no tuba stand yet, but could easily play it, supporting the horn with my legs, for 1,5 hours without much trouble.

I know Rick Denney will be interested what I did with my left hand...
After I was pleasantly surprised that my tuner gave me 'the green light' on all notes almost without any 'lipping' up or down, I only used that hand for supporting the horn on the lower side of the outer bow, just above my leg.

I used the 5th valve (long whole step) only for the pedals, and those notes were really a pleasure that way.

The horn speaks easily in every register, even very high (Vaughan williams on BBb...) and low.
My teacher came along, and remarked that the sound was a bit CC-ish... whatever that is, but he meant very nice.

I'll play it some more this week, also on the rehearsal on friday.

This is a first-class instrument for a 'normal' price, and definitely worth to consider !

Wim

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:48 pm

thanks for the stories! this just makes me want it even more. I should get it in a few days. And when I do, I'll post pics and write my thoughts on it. thanks!

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:16 am

Well..my 3100 FA5 arrived today, and so far, I love it! Haven't had a chance to do a full test run yet because I had to rush off to work. But I got to play it with my college's wind ensemble today and it's amazing. Lots of fun to play..excellent pedal notes..easy blowing..great high range..easy to hit super high notes. LOVE IT! I will write more once I get a chance to play it more..by the way, it came with a brand new Willson case and the factory Willson WT2 mouthpiece. If anyone has any experience on this mouthpiece or any thoughts on it, I would appreciate it. Here's some pics. (This isnt me in these pics..just some other tuba buddies)

Bob Kolada · Post by **Bob Kolada** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:25 am

You let your friends play your new $10,000 tuba standing up/screwing around outside?!

But congrats!

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:29 am

It was in the bed of my truck..they were sitting down..but I trust them because I know they know how to take care of a horn . I wouldnt let them play it without my supervision of course. and thanks!!

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:07 am

Congratultations! She's a real beauty . . .

I doubt you'll find a finer BBb.

oedipoes · Post by **oedipoes** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:14 pm

jonesbrass wrote:Congratultations! She's a real beauty . . .

I doubt you'll find a finer BBb.

Yup, very true !

Hey, Jonesbrass and TUbajohn20J ,

When I tried this model last week, I had the impression that water was stuck in the upper 3rd valve loop every now and then.
I could not get it out by the standard 'pushing-water-key-and-then-blow-while-pushing-pistons' procedure. (although there are 3 water keys)
I only got that water out by putting the horn on its bell, taking the 3rd valve upper tube out and empty it.
Please tell me there is a better way !

THX

Wim

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:12 pm

oedipoes wrote: Hey, Jonesbrass and TUbajohn20J ,

When I tried this model last week, I had the impression that water was stuck in the upper 3rd valve loop every now and then.
I could not get it out by the standard 'pushing-water-key-and-then-blow-while-pushing-pistons' procedure. (although there are 3 water keys)
I only got that water out by putting the horn on its bell, taking the 3rd valve upper tube out and empty it.
Please tell me there is a better way !

THX

Wim

Wim,
You might try just laying the tuba across your lap and pulling out the top third valve slide, then tilting the tuba towards the bell. Should come right out.

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:19 pm

Well...I bought a set of white nylon gloves to handle the tuba with to eliminate fingerprints and body oils. (I plan to use them while playing) and 2 silver polishing cloths to keep her looking new. I also went to Lowes and bought 6 feet of small , clear, flexible plumbers tube..cut a slit all the way down, to wrap it around the bell lip so it wont scratch if I ever set it down on cement or hard surfaces. Gotta keep this baby new. Here's pic of it and my 20J

bigbob · Post by **bigbob** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:50 am

WOW! Beautiful horn!the 20 j it looks so much bigger. Is it reconstructed? I like it!...............................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank" target="_blank

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:13 pm

Thanks. And no that is a factory 20J with an upright bell conversion

oedipoes · Post by **oedipoes** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:46 pm

jonesbrass wrote:Wim,
You might try just laying the tuba across your lap and pulling out the top third valve slide, then tilting the tuba towards the bell. Should come right out.

ok, thank you !
I'll try that next time, which could be very soon... really liked it !

TUbajohn20J, jonesbrass,
do you use a playing stand with this (3100, 3050) horn, and if yes, which one?

thanks again.
Wim

TUbajohn20J · Post by **TUbajohn20J** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:07 pm

No, I don't use a stand or tuba rest. This horn is comfortable to me without it!

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:39 pm

oedipoes wrote: TUbajohn20J, jonesbrass,
do you use a playing stand with this (3100, 3050) horn, and if yes, which one?

I hadn't used one until I was in a car wreck (recently had two trucks try to park in the trunk of my car . . .

). I've had a lot of pain in my back, so started using the Baltimore Brass tuba rest with the 3050S, and love it. Don't need one for the Willson 3200S F or Cerveny 653.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:49 pm

oedipoes wrote:I only got that water out by putting the horn on its bell, taking the 3rd valve upper tube out and empty it.

Not uncommon on tubas with the vertical valve arrangement and the 90-degree port for the valve branch. I get water there in my Holton, too. I just lay it over my left leg so that the top is lower than the bottom, and then pull and dump the slide. It works better when the slides work as they should, and mine do.

The Willson is a fine tuba and there are only a few Bb tubas I've played that I would rather have. They are old and long out of production, and good examples are rare.

I would not consider playing this instrument without a stand, by the way. Using a stand will free up those muscles to just be relaxed like they should be.

Rick "whose issue with the Willson was ergonomic as much as anything" Denney

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