Wessex Bombino review?

[AHynds]

I'm starting to dig into my search for a smaller Eb tuba, and I'm curious to know if anyone has access to/owns the Wessex Bombino Eb tuba that was released this last May? It seems like a neat little horn, and it sits right at the intersection of good price+right key+good fit with my other horns (compensating euph, PT-22P and PT-6). Any thoughts would be appreciated! I'm especially interested about intonation and ergonomics--I have a Wessex euph, so I'm familiar with build quality and such.

Aaron

[Wyvern]

Dr Frederick Young undertook electronic intonation test of the Bombino last August. Such test does not lie, or lip into tune, so gives completely true picture of the horn. The Bombino's intonation proved exceptionally good, in fact one of the best of all the tubas checked - no note was more than 10% out which is easily lipped by any player without thought.

[DouglasJB]

When I finally decide to try and learn Eb I'll look into one of these or the new Rotary Eb.

[roweenie]

I wonder if there are any plans for a piston side action version of this horn?

[AHynds]

Excellent, thanks for the reply! I'm very much interested in this horn, and I very much appreciate your candor in addressing questions about your lineup--I wish all manufacturers would do the same!

Aaron

Dr Frederick Young undertook electronic intonation test of the Bombino last August. Such test does not lie, or lip into tune, so gives completely true picture of the horn. The Bombino's intonation proved exceptionally good, in fact one of the best of all the tubas checked - no note was more than 10% out which is easily lipped by any player without thought.

[AHynds]

Excellent, thanks for the reply! I'm very much interested in this horn, and I very much appreciate your candor in addressing questions about your lineup--I wish all manufacturers would do the same!

Aaron

You do realize Wessex is an importer of Chinese instruments and not a manufacturer, right?

Fully aware--didn't feel like searching for the more semantically correct word.

[Wyvern]

You do realize Wessex is an importer of Chinese instruments and not a manufacturer, right?

Wessex are not manufacturer as such, but I would like to think we are a bit more than 'an importer of Chinese instruments'. They are being built to Wessex design, specifications and under our quality control - so we are not passive dealer as the term 'importer' indicates. I don't think anyone would describe Apple as 'importer of Chinese phones and computers'. Although Wessex Tubas is millions of times smaller, we are working to similar business model of design in the west, build in the east.

[Lectron]

Played the Bombino and was quite surprised.
Took it with ease from sub-contra C (Eb concert) and as high as my embrasure allowed, witch is way higher than any literature I know of

This is a small Eb, and there are not many small Ebs to compare it with.
The Besson 1000 is crap compared. One have the Marzan/Willson Eb, but it's not really very available.

It pretty much leaves us with B&S 291, Miraphone Starlight and StPete 206 (larger)

[Neil Bliss]

I'm really interested in that testing rig, is there any more information available on it?

[J.c. Sherman]

I've played the Bombino twice, and I'm impressed. It's the perfect F tuba for Eb players. Or, conversely, if my non continues beyond 5th grade on Tuba, I'll have to nab one for him. Very playable, very good pitch. It's small, no question. But for many uses, it'd be ideal.

[Three Valves]

Dr Frederick Young undertook electronic intonation test of the Bombino last August. Such test does not lie, or lip into tune, so gives completely true picture of the horn.

What's with the mechanical lip device he is testing the tuba with??

[Wyvern]

I'm really interested in that testing rig, is there any more information available on it?

It is software by an Austrian company (can't remember the name) specifically for testing musical instruments intonation. I believe the German factories also use.

The device attached to mouthpiece emits an electronic buzz and on the screen comes a chart of the intonation with all notes using that fingering combination. Andy Loree on left is operating valves.

[Three Valves]

You mean I could get 24 of those, 24 tubas, hook it up to a keyboard and have a tuba calliope??

[AHynds]

It's the perfect F tuba for Eb players.

Glad to hear it--that's exactly what I'm looking for.

[bort]

I don't think anyone would describe Apple as 'importer of Chinese phones and computers'.

Ugh, Apple is the worst -- it's beyond ridiculous that Apple writes "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." Everyone knows that it wasn't designed in China (the world's factory). This is just a fancy "look how cool we are" Mac BS way of saying "Made in China" so all the Silicon Valley people can still feel cool, and make other people feel cool if they buy it. It's so stupid... and not just Apple... but I don't like Apple so I'll single them out.

I don't know if your tubas say (or have to say) where they are made on them, but I've always heard the rule in America is that it must say the country of origin, unless it's the US. If it's not provided, by default it means made in USA, however, no one anymore goes through the cost and trouble of making it here and not making that a selling point.

Maybe Chinese instruments are having a hard time getting accepted (not just by me) because they are (thinly) veiled as trying to NOT appear Chinese. You put a dragon on yours, good start. I'd write "made in China" all over it, and make people realize that quality things DO come out of China.

The other trend seems to be including the city name of manufacture. I bought some toys for my son a while ago and they all said made in Guangdong or Huangshen or some other city name I just made up.

I think it's unsettling though that the production of high-dollar goods could be moved around from factory to factory for some reason or another, and that you can spend that much money and not know where it was made. I like knowing that my tuba was made in Flums, Switzerland, and that it took me all of 5 seconds to learn that.

What city are Wessex tubas made in?

China is such a massive place, just saying "made in China" isn't enough to satisfy me. Hell, they could be made in England, and if I could only ever learn "they were made in England," that would be insufficient as well.

Tuba tuba tuba... I like the staircase in the photo. Where is that?

[Wyvern]

Not going to get interesting with my participation!

I am currently too busy in China ensuring the quality of next batch of instruments and bringing exciting new models to market...

Just to say I don't think anyone who actually met the fantastic team of people here at factory and saw this incredible operation could hate.

[bisontuba]

Not going to get interesting with my participation!

I am currently too busy in China ensuring the quality of next batch of instruments and bringing exciting new models to market...

Just to say I don't think anyone who actually met the fantastic team of people here at factory and saw this incredible operation could hate.

Good for you Jonathan

[bort]

The problem with communism is never the workers, it's the leaders.

[Michael Bush]

What city are Wessex tubas made in?

Like everything else in the interminable series of weekly Chinese tuba threads, this has been covered already.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=68817#p564225

I still think there should be, if not a special cornfield, then at least a single thread to move all these discussions to, for those who continue to think rehashing this stuff week after week is a good idea and a useful way to spend time and energy.

[KKORO]

I've been to the USA Wessex showroom twice. Their instruments are outstanding. Wessex has always made it very clear that their instruments are manufactured in China. They also make it very clear that all instruments are checked for quality before they leave the factory in China.

While I'm not a real "player," I do have a music degree and have a better than average ear and a lot of music in my background. Wessex instruments are very well made, sound great and, of course, are very competitively priced. I'll be buying a Wessex Dolce euphonium soon.

I can understand, and respect, folks who decide not to buy Chinese. However, the world will be a better place for all the folks that will be able to afford a quality instrument like the ones Wessex are making available at a reasonable price.

John