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[TexTuba]

How is this thread still going?

[imperialbari]

Any lead on the Chinese brass?

Klaus

[MartyNeilan]

and absolutely no one has demonstrated allergic reactions to "raw unlacquered brass"

I played for almost two straight years on a Bach 12M that belonged to my teacher. 100% raw brass rim, seemingly polished. I never had a single problem.

Your milage may vary.

I'm allergic to cats.

As long as I cook them thoroughly, I never have any problems with them.

[bbocaner]

Any lead on the Chinese brass?

Klaus

Us and german brass has lead in it, too. Doesn't seem to bother anyone (although I'm a little hesitant to use an unplanted mouthpiece for a long period of time because of this)

[bbocaner]

i'm going to blame that one on ipad autocorrect. unplated, of course.

[Wyvern]

and absolutely no one has demonstrated allergic reactions to "raw unlacquered brass"

Joe, If you, or anyone else particularly wants a nickel-plated ophicleide we will supply to special order - but it is just not a finish Wessex want to stock. I believe most people that want a silver look will prefer silver-plated.

Raw brass may cause allergic reactions in some people, but many others like to enhance the tone and for that period look

[UDELBR]

Us and german brass has lead in it, too.

Mmm, that might be true for larger pieces like rotors or casings that are likely to be put on a lathe (aka: "free-cutting brass"), but sheet metal as used in tubas shouldn't contain lead.

[emcallaway]

As a player who has always been interested in playing period-style instruments, but never wanted to deal with one-hundred and fifty year-old brass instruments, this sounds like exactly what I'm looking for!

Sorry if I'm forcing you to repeat yourself, but could you please clarify one point for me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you say that that the instrument's tuning slide can be used to adjust the instrument for modern or period groups...

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/

...won't the hole placement only really be "correct" for a single tuning? When I push in or pull out the tuning slide to achieve different tunings, the hole placement (relative to each other) won't change, so I would sort of expect there to be a single tuning that would be easiest to play in tune. Obviously, a skilled player can correct for minor idiosyncrasies in tuning, I'm just curious about which tuning will be easiest to play in. Perhaps A = 440 Hz?

Best of luck getting these together-- I'm very much looking forward to trying one when they come out!

[Wyvern]

The body is made to A = 440, and plays very well in tune at that pitch, but I understand that intonation on ophicleide is a bit flexible (by lipping) and a key can also be virtually moved by masking one side or the other of hole.

There are three places to make tuning adjustment;

1) Main tuning slide
2) Mouthpiece receiver which will fit like on a flugelhorn with some adjustment (with multiple size receiver supplied for baritone, euphonium or tuba shank mouthpiece)
3) Where the neck goes into body

The idea is to make ophicleide flexible in adjustment for players with multiple different requirements. A modern ophicleide to use in performance, rather than museum piece.

[PMeuph]

The quality of videos on youtube has gotten much better...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKwd_8ts9Zc" target="_blank

[Wyvern]

Patrick Wibart sounds fantastic - hearing him play is what convinced me the ophicleide is an instrument well worth resurrecting...

I hope to have video of Tony George demonstrating the Wessex ophicleide up on YouTube in a couple weeks. The beautiful sound he made trying it when we met before is still ringing in my ears!

I am hoping that including a tutor book compiled by Tony George (complete with ophicleide solos) with the Wessex ophicleide will encourage new players to this wonderful instrument

[Donn]

Someone must dare to play the lower range of the instrument, in public. Listening to people play sweet melodies in the high register is like looking at a woman decked out in one of those Moslem tents. Cute eyes, but what else do we have here?

[oedipoes]

Also my experience with nickel-plated tubas, is that they do not resonate so well. For those two reasons, Wessex will sell no nickel-plated instruments

Hmm, I might disagree to this ...
My Rudy 4/4 BBb is Nickel plated and resonates quite well !
I find it to have a bit more 'ring' to the sound, sounds a bit clearer than standard lacquered, and I like that sound well.

Also, it is probably the strongest plating available on brass instruments, much harder than silver plating.
It doesn't turn black as fast as silver neither...

[Dan Schultz]

Solid nickel-silver would be a nice alternative.

[ad4m]

2 weeks ago I gave a short performance on the ophi, when I finished the audience (most of which had only heard of the ophicleide through it's some what harsh reputation)was left speachless at the fact it sounds like a real instrument!

[David Richoux]

Going down the Patrick Wibart rabbit hole I found this interesting article: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/Ent ... d=32483736

[UDELBR]

2 weeks ago I gave a short performance on the ophi, when I finished the audience (most of which had only heard of the ophicleide through it's some what harsh reputation)was left speachless at the fact it sounds like a real instrument!

I think we all profit occasionally from folks' astonishingly low expectations of the tuba as well.

[emcallaway]

Jonathan...any chance of sellling one with the optional dragon head bell???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rSBughZ9IM" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I second the motion!

[bbocaner]

Mmm, that might be true for larger pieces like rotors or casings that are likely to be put on a lathe (aka: "free-cutting brass"), but sheet metal as used in tubas shouldn't contain lead.

Except I'm talking about casting brass used to make keywork on an ophicleide, which is probably 5-10% lead, not sheet brass. (which probably still does have some small amount of lead content as well)

[bisontuba]

Jonathan...any chance of sellling one with the optional dragon head bell???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rSBughZ9IM" target="_blank" target="_blank

Hi-
Like this one ? FYI-mark

OPHICLEIDE in Bb. FRANCE; c. 1870.
Unstamped. Eleven keyed.
Tuning slide bocal.
Zoomorphic bell, probably later, with polychromatic painting.