First impressions on my new Wessex BBb Tornister Travel tuba

[David Richoux]

Tornister tuba at Jazz Bash by the Bay Monterey Ca
http://youtu.be/rHdX2Rzrvpo" target="_blank" target="_blank

How was the mic set up? Can't quite see if it was a clip-on or what.

[Tubacube]

Clip on condenser mic purchased at guitar showcase, mounted on a lyre. It is a flexible gooseneck intended for tenor sax. It will also clip on the bell, but I find a better angle mounted on the lyre!

[Tubacube]

You can hear the tornister better on this tune! http://youtu.be/7Ljujeh42pM" target="_blank

[Tubacube]

FYI I am flying to Chile with it, one of the aircraft is a Bombadiar CRJ, I'll let you know if the little squirt fits in the overhead! Wish me luck! Shameless plug: I am performing on the MS Zaandam with the High Sierra Jazz Band, and I am using the tornister for the 9:00 AM jams sets for passengers that bring their horns!

[Tubacube]

One nice thing going for me is that my wife is a "towering" 4 ft 9", and is willing to have the tornister under the seat in front of her!

[Tubacube]

Here is a cut of the tornister playing on a slowe ballade, note you can see the mic mount on the lyre! This little horn can sound pretty too, just lay back and play easy. http://youtu.be/al4kVT5wPeE" target="_blank

[Tubacube]

I am happy to report from LAX that my tornister made it on a Bombadiar CRJ from San Jose to LAX . One qualification , we had a very kind stewardess let us put the tuba under the seat in front of us! In the event we don't get the same kind stewardess on the way back, our plan B is to put the empty gig bag overhead and put the tornister under the seat in front. Bear in mind I am using a reunion blues euphonium gig bag which is larger, while I am waiting on the Wessex bag coming in May. Next leg LAX to Santiago Chile, wish me luck!

[Dan Schultz]

Here is a cut of the tornister playing on a slowe ballade, note you can see the mic mount on the lyre! This little horn can sound pretty too, just lay back and play easy. http://youtu.be/al4kVT5wPeE" target="_blank" target="_blank

Well, damn! I guess I need to quit referring to those things and 'children's instruments' and go ahead and buy one. Sounds good. Well done.

[Pat S]

Here is a cut of the tornister playing on a slowe ballade, note you can see the mic mount on the lyre! This little horn can sound pretty too, just lay back and play easy. http://youtu.be/al4kVT5wPeE" target="_blank" target="_blank

Kudos to the tuba, but an additional tip of the hat to the baritone player. That's not an instrument we see very often fronting a band. Well played!

[Tubacube]

That's my nephew Brandon Au on English Baritone!

[Tuba Guy]

Out of curiousity, are those Brandon and his brother on bone and trumpet the same guys who play with the Element Brass Band up in Sacramento?

[Pat S]

That's my nephew Brandon Au on English Baritone!

Talent must run in the family...

[ralphbsz]

Cool jazz, cool horn, cool playing. Very nice.

[Tubacube]

Yes Brandon and Justin also play with the Element Brass Band!
Happy to say that air travel with the tornister was a success ! No problem with a 767, plenty of room in the overhead for both a trombone and the tornister!
Some observations: in a heavily carpeted and curtained room it can be hard to hear acoustically played, but the condenser mic works very well to counter the situation!
Gotta go play a set on the MS Maasdam, more later, and thanks for the kind words everyone!

[Tubacube]

6ft swells at sea today, good thing I am playing the tornister , would have fallen forward with a full size horn!

[Wyvern]

For those interested (I know not everyone reads the Sponsors pages), we are now taking orders for the new CC version, http://www.wessex-tubas.com/cc-travel-tuba/

[Tubacube]

I'm in Porte Madrid Argentina playing the tornister this morning, nice little workhorse tuba!

[Dan Schultz]

Interesting endorsements! I just got my hands on one of these horns yesterday. Fun little horn. The 'feel' of the horn is good and intonation is actually much better than I expected from such a small bore. The response is good even in the lower registers.

Don't expect this horn to be a 'one size fits all' tuba. To my ears... the sound output and timbre is about the same as an extremely small bore cimbasso. It gets 'edgy' very quickly if I try to produce any volume at all. With exception to perhaps playing it in a small practice room... a mic and amplifier would be an absolute must in most any ensemble.

Overall I'm impressed with the 'Mighty Midget'. However... this is most certainly a 'special purpose' tuba.

[saktoons]

As I noted in a previous post, my BBb Tornister had a noticeable buzz when played and a dark blemish or corrosion spot on the 4th valve tubing. I exchanged some e-mails with Wessex about either exchanging the horn or getting it repaired locally. Unfortunately, Wessex and I were not able to work out our differences and I returned the horn for a refund.

I am disappointed for a couple of reasons. The first is that I think, if I had received a horn of higher quality, I would have enjoyed having the Tornister in my stable. The second is that I paid out $90 (Wessex's shipping costs and my own) and received nothing. I guess we chalk this up to an expensive lesson learned.

[Wyvern]

As I noted in a previous post, my BBb Tornister had a noticeable buzz when played and a dark blemish or corrosion spot on the 4th valve tubing. I exchanged some e-mails with Wessex about either exchanging the horn or getting it repaired locally. Unfortunately, Wessex and I were not able to work out our differences and I returned the horn for a refund.

I am disappointed for a couple of reasons. The first is that I think, if I had received a horn of higher quality, I would have enjoyed having the Tornister in my stable. The second is that I paid out $90 (Wessex's shipping costs and my own) and received nothing. I guess we chalk this up to an expensive lesson learned.

We have not been able to find any buzz on checking returned tuba and the 'corrosion spot' was in fact just a big of excess solder on inaccessible inside tubing which was missed on cleaning. If you want replacement tuba, we will send with no shipping charge. If you would like, I will send from UK (duties paid) and check personally before shipping.