Berkeley 7B Clone bass bone for doubling

[Worth]

Anyone with experience with this specific model who can comment. I've been researching bass bones for doubling for a while now and have pulled the trigger so to speak on what I think is a fair deal for a used one in great condition. Comes with an Edwards Bullet Brace, Shires 2.5 unthreaded leadpipe and Doug Yeo Replica mouthpiece. Don't want to start another Chinese instrument debate, just looking for anyone with knowledge of Berkeley Winds. Their website is cheesy and on other forums many of their instrument offerings are met with disdain. Any idea which factory manufactures this clone? Same factory as the Wessex 7B clone? Other comments?

[ufonium2]

I had a Berkeley bass tbone (not sure what it was a clone of) and would not recommend. The valves were really stuffy, probably due to misalignment. I don't know if they are JinBao, but I would be surprised if they are, as the quality seemed markedly worse than the JinBaos I've played (a Schiller euph, Wessex and Mack tubas, and an unbranded Jinbao Yamaclone bass trombone). This one was purchased in 2010, so my information is maybe not the most current, but I was not impressed.

[swillafew]

I don't know the model you're asking about, but a friend bought a John Packer bass trombone for a modest price and was thrilled with the way it played and price he paid, too. He plays a nice Kanstul otherwise and the sound was comparable.

[Worth]

I don't know if they are JinBao, but I would be surprised if they are, as the quality seemed markedly worse than the JinBaos I've played (a Schiller euph, Wessex and Mack tubas, and an unbranded Jinbao Yamaclone bass trombone). This one was purchased in 2010, so my information is maybe not the most current, but I was not impressed.

Appreciate the responses. I'll keep the forum posted on the outcome for others in the future. I considered the Mack Yamaclone but was looking for the King clone and this one has the listed mods and is being sold by an avid tenor trombonist who didn't dig playing bass bone. Of course you get what you pay for and this comes in under what Wessex is asking for their 7B clone. We'll see. If I wind up with a turd, I'll use it FWIW and move on. That's why I was interested in what factory these Berkeleys come out of. Thanks for the responses and if anyone has further info please post. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised.....

[LJLovegren]

I have a Berkeley Wind 3 valve euphonium - copy of Yamaha YEP 201. It appeared new when I got it on ebay for 25% of the listed price on BerkeleyWind.com. The instrument has several flaws in the lacquer and valves 1 & 2 stuck. My tech got both valves to work smoothly. Overall, the best thing about it is the case. Reviews of Berkeley Wind brass instruments show high initial satisfaction with price and quality followed by serious problems from poor metallurgy (sticky valves) within a year.
Caveat emptor.

[Worth]

I have a Berkeley Wind 3 valve euphonium - Overall, the best thing about it is the case

Thanks for the input. Metallurgy seems a noted concern twice now. I always believe there are things we can learn from each other as this post has a number of views. Any other views are certainly welcome good, bad or otherwise

[ghmerrill]

About four months ago I bought a Schiller 7B clone, $585 delivered to my door. To be brief, the build quality and materials on it seem quite good. There were two problems. First, the 2nd valve pivot arm broke -- but Schiller got me a new one in a couple of days. Second, the receiver on the leadpipe was out of round. Schiller promised a replacement slide -- but no delivery date was promised and it hadn't appeared by the new year. However, after playing the horn for several months, I knew I wanted a different leadpipe anyway. So I had the lead pipe pulled ($40) and replaced it with a Brass Ark BH62 pipe. Huge improvement.

The only noticeable fit/finish problem on the horn is that the bracket holding the pivot screw for the second valve has one side that isn't quite square/parallel to the other. I did a quick and sloppy fix to that. If it gives me problems at some point in the future, I'll really fix it, but it seems to work fine.

Keep in mind that I'm getting back to bass trombone after 20 years and I was never very good in the first place. But it's great fun. The slide on this horn (aside from the out-of-round receiver problem) seems great to me. I very much like the sound of the horn. It's sufficiently well done that you can actually swap the F and G tuning slides (no point to that -- but just a measure of precision). On the original leadpipe, the Doug Yeo mouthpiece was worthless -- terrible stuffy sound. However the no-name Schiller mouthpiece that came with it was pretty good. In fact, this mouthpiece appears to be a very close clone of a Bach 1.5 GM, I've tested it together with the real Bach, and prefer the Schiller. I'm still looking for the "right" mouthpiece for me. The Doug Yeo seems just a little big and doesn't give me quite what I want in terms of sound. A Wick 2NAL give a great sound, but seems a little small for the double valve register. A Bach 1.25GM is pretty good, but I'm about to try a Wick 0AL. I like the sound the Wicks give the horn.

I'm happy with the horn. For around $700 (including the $130 leadpipe) I have a very serviceable bass trombone.

None of this says much about the particular horn you're looking at. But there is definitely a possibility of getting a decent clone of this instrument for not much money. I'd expect a Shires 2.5 pipe to work well with the horn -- and in fact would like to try one at some point. Of course, no bass trombone is made to be held by a human. With the help of a bullet brace and a bunch of closed cell foam (some from a kayak pad and some that's pipe insulation), I've pretty much got it holdable at this point.

[Worth]

Thanks Gary for the upbeat post and the information on what to look for. Like you I'm looking to build upon past skills, make myself more marketable (in an amateur fashion), and have fun. I thought about the Schiller 7B clone from infamous Laabs but this one came along and had the leadpipe mod, Bullet Brace and Yeo ready to go. Although a fair deal it wasn't a steal by any means. Appreciate you and everyone's input so far. There are always those out there with similar questions who don't or won't ask on the forum, but will lurk and Google so I never mind asking as there is a wealth of experience and "nolij" here.

[Dan Tuba]

I purchased a Schiller 7B clone in 2009. It has been an excellent bass trombone with "zero" trips to the repair shop. It took a little while to break in the valves, but other than that, it has been great. I ve used it in Jazz Band, Trombone choir, and to sub in a regional orchestra.

[Worth]

I purchased a Schiller 7B clone in 2009. It has been an excellent bass trombone with "zero" trips to the repair shop. It took a little while to break in the valves, but other than that, it has been great. I ve used it in Jazz Band, Trombone choir, and to sub in a regional orchestra.

Both Schillers most likely Jinbao horns. Thanks and nice to hear some good vibes on these. Here's hoping the Berkeley 7B is a Jinbao stencil.

[ghmerrill]

I believe that I have read on the trombone forum of people who have bought Berkeley's and were quite happy with them. However, one problem with these instruments (if not from places like Wessex, Mack Brass, Tuba Exchange, etc.) is that uniformity from one horn to another may be lacking.