Wessex Mighty Gnome - CC Tornister - Question and Musings

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joh_tuba
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Wessex Mighty Gnome - CC Tornister - Question and Musings

Post by joh_tuba »

https://www.wessex-tubas.com/shop/tubas ... ster-tuba/

The BBb version of this horn has received a decent amount of discussion but the CC version linked above is mostly radio silence.

Real Question:
How is the intonation? Does it play appreciably different?

Musings:
Due to the compact nature, lower price, and skinny taper, I'm sure a lot of us have contemplated these horns as a cimbasso substitute. The primary differences from a modern cimbasso being: 1) Forward facing bell 2) larger bore. 3) Fifth valve

With that in mind, I can't help but think there is a market for this horn retooled with 5 valves, minimum 16.5mm bore(doesn't have to be huge but people expect these to play like their concert tuba), and two detachable bells to swap between forward and upright.

Pie in the sky idea(probably wouldn't work out great in practice), alternate set of tuning slides to allow the horn to be used in either BBb or CC. Build another version(same 16.5mm or similar bore) in Eb/F.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Seeing as the above isn't likely to happen any time soon.. what random eBay horns could be scavenged together on the cheap to build such a beast?
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The Big Ben
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Re: Wessex Mighty Gnome - CC Tornister - Question and Musing

Post by The Big Ben »

Here's part of a thread where the success of cutting a Gnome to something else is discussed:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=74636&p=599826&hili ... Eb#p599826" target="_blank
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Wyvern
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Re: Wessex Mighty Gnome - CC Tornister - Question and Musing

Post by Wyvern »

Wessex does a forward bell version of the BBb version of this tuba - https://www.wessex-tubas.com/shop/tubas ... b162-jazz/" target="_blank

However the sound definitely leans towards tuba, rather than cimbasso unless the player deliberately over-blows to rasp. The tornister might have a more gradual taper than a full-size tuba, but it does not have the amount of parallel tubing found in a cimbasso. That was very obvious when we tried to cut a CC Gnome to Eb.

For adding 5th valve, there is no room stacked on top of the other 4 valves as usual with rotary valve tubas. The only way I can see would be as dependant valve in 4th valve circuit.

If you want a cimbasso, you would be best to get a real cimbasso
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