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[nycbone]

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[Wyvern]

The ophicleide is being made to be able to adjust to tune for modern, or period group. It has quite a long tuning slide.

http://www.wessex-tubas.com/ophicleide-bb/

[Lingon]

Does it mean that it would even be possible to use it all the way up to about A=444-446 without any modification?

[nycbone]

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[Dan Schultz]

Egads! Americans have just have waaaay too much money! Now there will be two or three of these darned things in every tuba household, too. Can it be made in the keys of F, Eb, and C as well as Bb? I think I need four of 'em!

The short answer is that this horn can only be in tune at the fundamental pitch. The rest is up to the operator.

It's nice that the Chinese have found something to clone that doesn't require close tolerances or much quality control!

They ought to sell for around $49.95.

[Lingon]

...I think I need four of 'em!...

Like this?!

[Dan Schultz]

...I think I need four of 'em!...

Like this?!

Yup. REAL ones!

[Wyvern]

Changing the tuning slide won't change relative distances between tone holes. So, I guess my question should have been, 'To which standard is the entire instrument tuned or at least most in-tune?'

Thanks.

As you will know pitching with ophicleide is more flexible than tuba, but it plays well in tune at A = 440. It is good enough that Tony George is to use prototype for concert in London on May 27th

[Wyvern]

It's nice that the Chinese have found something to clone that doesn't require close tolerances or much quality control!

The Chinese have not found anything to clone. The ophicleide is being made specifically for Wessex and I am surprised as an instrument repairer you would not realise that the tolerances are as critical as any tuba. Each one of those keys needs to be level and airtight.

[nycbone]

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[Wyvern]

Lingon, is the large one a contrabass in Eb?

Has been suggested for us to make in the future, although I am not sure of what repertoire it would be used!

[nycbone]

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[Wyvern]

Any plans for a metal serpent?

Another suggestion already received!

All depends on how well the ophicleide sells...

[Lingon]

Lingon, is the large one a contrabass in Eb?

Has been suggested for us to make in the future, although I am not sure of what repertoire it would be used!

As I am no ophicleidist it would only be a specualation from my side to tell you what it is but it looks very large indeed Regarding repertoire, if there are new instruments, and people that can make them sound nice, the composers will have more colors on their palette to work with

There is a nice picture at Robb Stewart's website showing him playing the cb ophicleide. At that page there is also a nice picture of Robb's beautiful replica of the English bass horn, the instrument Mendelssohn wrote for in the Midsummer Nights Dream

Btw, have you heard the interview with Tony George where the contrabass ophicleide is playing in the background?

[Donn]

Lingon, is the large one a contrabass in Eb?

Has been suggested for us to make in the future, although I am not sure of what repertoire it would be used!

I trace the image back to this wikipedia page on the topic Figle, apparently the name by which this instrument is known in Spanish. The caption is

Soprano en Do, contralto en Mi♭, bajo en Si♭ y contrabajo en Mi♭.

... confirming your surmise. As we have often read that the tuba replaced the ophicleide, I suppose there was an ophicleide that was useful in a similar range, and evidently the repertoire would be fart noises currently performed on tuba in default of the historically correct ophicleide. It would be interesting to hear what that sounds like. There are plenty of nice sounding clips of "bass" ophicleide; I was playing a nice one from someone named Oscar Abella, and the lady of the house guessed it might be a Bb horn - not much of a "bass" instrument there.

[sousaphone68]

With thanks to Donns post meta data from photo
http://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Ophicleides.JPG" target="_blank

Complete family of ophicleides. From left to right: soprano in C by Robb Stewart, alto in E flat by Halari, bass in B flat by C. Sax, contrabass in E flat by Robb Stewart

[Dan Schultz]

It's nice that the Chinese have found something to clone that doesn't require close tolerances or much quality control!

The Chinese have not found anything to clone. The ophicleide is being made specifically for Wessex and I am surprised as an instrument repairer you would not realise that the tolerances are as critical as any tuba. Each one of those keys needs to be level and airtight.

On the contrary. I've done play conditions on several of these things.... including fabricating an entire small stack for one. Even the hinge tubes can be sloppy since all of the keys are independant. Leaks?... on the original horns, the leather pads were normally with the leather rough side out. I'd just like to see something original come out of The Orient... just for once.

[imperialbari]

Klap i!

[Wyvern]

I'd just like to see something original come out of The Orient... just for once.

Here you are - not a tuba, but entirely original design for Wessex.

I had a couple of bands contact me that want Tenor Herald Fanfare Trumpets, but the prices for those currently available (Kanstul and Smith-Watkins) are prohibitive for amateur bands. I had the idea of making using valve block from existing bass trumpet. Took the idea to Production Manager at factory. Later the same day there was Cad drawing in front of me to check if that was what I wanted and five months later here is the new model. My idea which the Chinese effected.

The Chinese are not going to come up with new brass instruments designs themselves, as they do not play them much - but they can realise ideas presented to them by Western Players. It just requires Western Players to work with the factory to develop.

[ad4m]

Some the posts on this forum seem to be a little on the offence. As an Ophicleide player I thank Jonathan for deciding to manufacture these instruments and I am amazed at how well I am told they play (once you get round the increased weight from a 'normal' ophi). Also it is great to see Ophicleides being mass produced again! The idea of a production line and mass production was being used by French instrument makers since the 1800's to make Ophicleides and other such band instruments and it's great to see them being made again. As for Americans having to much money and an Ophi appearing in every Tuba household I think that is a good thing. Having to concentrate on intonation and stability in the high register on the Ophi has helped my tuba playing in ways I wouldn't have thought of. On more of a side point on repertoire, as an Ophicleide player (who has done far to much 'further reading') I can't say I have seen any rep. for an Eb Monster however I have found some good pieces for a normal Bb/C Ophicleide, Cliff Bevan's 'Complete guide to ophicleide repertoire' is a must have to start. I play Bb Ophicleide and it fits comfortably in the range. Also I believe there are 2 or 3 concertos and if you can't find original ophi rep Handel arias work very well! Also I have discovered that because of the perceived novelty value of the Ophicleide composing friends of mine are all offering to write pieces for me leaving me with no shortage of things to play.

Thank you Wessex-Tubas