Big CC tuba? Wisemann? Eastman?

[Salazarsam33]

Hello long time reader first time poster,

I've been playing tuba for my university for about 4 years, I won the audition at my university even going up against a couple music majors, I just really enjoyed and had a passion for tuba playing. Now I'm looking to get more serious about my tuba playing

Since I'm going to study music and tuba performance I need to squire a CC tuba (what my professor asks me to get) . At my university I'm using a Chinese "miraclone" of the 191 BBb. I have been raising the money this past year working breaks/ doubleshifts/ graveyard shifts to purchase a good tuba .

So far I have only been able to raise 6,000 with the income I will have earned this winter break. I had my eyes on the wisemann 900 5/4 CC tuba. The only problem is that I cannot find anybody who is stocking them, mackbrass, Baltimore brass, tuba exchange, Dillon, are out of stock.

So I was wondering if anyone k owns where I could get my hands on a wisemann, or if anyone is selling their horn?

Also I'm looking for a advice because thinking of a wiseman because it's in my budget, it's a CC tuba and its BIG.
I tried out a 186 wessex Clone and it played nice but it had a Farley small sound.
The only tuba I have heard that has a big sound that is in my price range is a wiseman, but if anybody k ow or recommends another 5/4 CC tuba that has a big sound i would like to know what you guys recommend.
I've heard great things about the new Eastman CC tuba but I haven't had a chance to hear it or see anybody with it.

So in short I'm looking for a 5/4 CC tuba in the 6000$ range

Than you guys very much and happy New Years !
P.S sorry for my spelling , my English is not quite so good.

-Sam

[Art Hovey]

Have you tried a Bigmouth Brass?

[Unatuba]

BMB 844 CC tuba. Very nice, open, big. Try one of these tubas.

[balchb]

I really liked the BMB line. I did not try their BAT, but the 4/4 CC is an excellent instrument.

[balchb]

A side note, as my horn may not be appropriate for professional use, and I'm certainly not a pro but a band director still fairly active, I've had a lot of complements about the smoothness and resonance of my Wessex CC. As a "recreational/hobbyist" instrument, it is awesome in quintet and chamber brass ensembles. I can't wait to rejoin a fine community band in a nearby city as I miss being in a large ensemble. The price is also very attractive. It may not be the "hammer" some are after with a Thor or those of that design, but it gives me plenty of what I need it to do. The upper register is a dream - my Miraphone 186 BBb was very stiff up there and this horn is like butter.

As others have said, a great used CC more in a design you're looking after is also a great option.

[Lee Stofer]

I would ask the professor WHY you NEED to buy a CC tuba. I have played F, Eb, BBb and CC tubas professionally for a long time, and can say that your commitment to playing makes more difference than exactly which tuba you play. For most situations you would do best to own a contrabass tuba, granted, but owning a good CC tuba as opposed to a good BBb tuba is not going to make as much difference as what you do with it.

I would suggest taking a little time to shop and find a really good horn at a good price. You have only mentioned new Chinese instruments. They are not the only manufacturers of tubas in the world. I would also suggest that new is not a necessity, either. There are many options out there, new and used, BBb and CC, from a number of manufacturers.

[Salazarsam33]

I still don't know how to respond to each individual post since I am fairly new to this so:

A friend of mine let me borrow a wessex(or was it mack brass?) 186 CLone and my director liked the intonation and projection but he said he did not like that it didn't sound "full and deep", Im sure it had to do with me also, but I have heard my teacher mention that he wants me to play a bigger CC for the orchestra.
I am a BBb player, I love the BBb.... but I guess CC tuba is something that most professionals, teachers, friends recommend. I don't mind switching to CC, one has to learn all tonalities right?
but since I want to get into professional playing and I don't have a great cash flow, I wanted to buy a tuba that will be with me through school and into the professional playing.

im looking into the big mouth Brass tubas, may not be 5/4 size but I hear they have an enormous sound.

I have not heard anything about Eastmans but they recommend them, can anyone tell me a little bit more about them, do they have a big sound like the BMB's?

Thank you for the advice and patience
-Sam

[Worth]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

[bort]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

I've been surprised for a while that the only Chinese CC Wessex has is the 186 clone. I mean there was that piston valve disaster, and it was a good idea to cut that, but still...

Seems like they are doing well enough without anything else, and focusing on everything else under the sun instead (uh, get your choice of ophecleides or sackbuts, but no CC tuba options). I'm sure something else will come around eventually. Or maybe this is some wacko British brainwash to try and make us all BBb or (gasp) EEb?

[Wyvern]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

I am check out prototype of new Wessex 5/4 CC at factory next week. If it is satisfactory, that prototype will be at US Army conference in February.

It is not clone, but new Wessex design

[bisontuba]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

I am check out prototype of new Wessex 5/4 CC at factory next week. If it is satisfactory, that prototype will be at US Army conference in February.

It is not clone, but new Wessex design

Excellent!!

[balchb]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

I also wondered why Wessex hasn't done the PT-6 or other bigger piston CC clone.

It does seem that scarcity is part of the business model of the Weismann, and I can understand why Tom doesn't want too many in his inventory given that they cost over double of everything else he sells.

[ken k]

if you can find any Gnagey CC conversion tubas, i would say that is where to spend your money. for $6000 you should have no trouble finding a suitable horn.

kk

[ken k]

on our for sale list

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=69179" target="_blank

all you need...
I have no material interest in this horn, I just think, if I would ever be on the market for a CC tuba this would be the horn for me...
also it seems to be a great all around horn for a tuba major.

k

[Wyvern]

If Wisemann is your choice, it will probably be "used" (if available).

As a Wisemann player, I've often wondered why the 900 is out of stock and hard to come by. An attempt to tweak demand with limited supply? Also, with Wessex's track record of personal involvement in directing production, why no PT-6P or rotary PT-6 clone or large Alex CC clone? You'd think that would be a slam dunk. Or maybe the total number of tubas projected to sell wouldn't justify the new tooling and factory expense? Just wondering.....

I also wondered why Wessex hasn't done the PT-6 or other bigger piston CC clone.

You won't have to wait much longer. I am checking out prototype for new 5/4 CC at factory this next week and it is not clone, but new Wessex design. If it is satisfactory, will be exhibited at US Army Conference in February.

[balchb]

You won't have to wait much longer. I am checking out prototype for new 5/4 CC at factory this next week and it is not clone, but new Wessex design. If it is satisfactory, will be exhibited at US Army Conference in February.

Cool! I can't wait to check it out if it makes it into production!

[Antontuba]

To my knowledge many orchestral tubist in Europe play a BBb.

I read a post on tubenet about a tubist who drove many miles to pick out a new PT6 (an excellent CC horn) decades ago. While test playing all of the PT6's in stock, he also played other horns in the store, which included an amazing used Alex BBb, AND was by far the best player in the store. He wrote that while his PT6 of choice was a wonderful horn, he is still kicking himself for not buying the Alex (which, BTW, cost half as much as the new PT6).
Adam

[The Big Ben]

To OP:
Where are you located? If you are anywhere remotely close to Dillon Music, they have a variety of used CC instruments including the Eastman in the price range you can afford.

[Wyvern]

I have just been checking out the new Wessex 5/4 front-piston CC today and it is impressive. Really good intonation (even C# played 2+4 is in tune), great sound and nice well balanced tuba. I am really chuffed - it is better than I could have hoped The prototype has gone off for finishing and silver-plating, and unless unexpected circumstances will be at the US Army Workshop in February.

I think this will be a hot competitor to the Wisemann.

[thevillagetuba]

I have just been checking out the new Wessex 5/4 front-piston CC today and it is impressive. Really good intonation (even C# played 2+4 is in tune), great sound and nice well balanced tuba. I am really chuffed - it is better than I could have hoped The prototype has gone off for finishing and silver-plating, and unless unexpected circumstances will be at the US Army Workshop in February.

I think this will be a hot competitor to the Wisemann.

Do you have any pics or specs for us on this model?