Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

The bulk of the musical talk
Frank Ortega
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 686
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:27 pm
Location: New Jersey, USA

Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Frank Ortega »

Hello Tubenetters,

I just noticed the New Wessex 6/4 BBb and BBb Helicon on their website.
Has anyone tried either of these and formed an opinion?

Very curious!

Thanks,
Frank
Frank Ortega
Band Director
Saddle Brook MS/HS
The Bloomfield Civic Band
Music Director/Conductor
Bon Temps Brass
User avatar
Ken Crawford
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:45 am
Location: Rexburg, ID

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Ken Crawford »

This is Tubenet. Do we really need to have tried something before expressing a definitive opinion?
Voisi1ev
bugler
bugler
Posts: 167
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Voisi1ev »

Based on the website pictures, I'd say they look world class.
Frank Ortega
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 686
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:27 pm
Location: New Jersey, USA

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Frank Ortega »

Wow.

Can't a guy ask an honest question without getting a bunch of sarcastic wise *** remarks?

What a shame, it really turns off professionals looking for valid information.
Frank Ortega
Band Director
Saddle Brook MS/HS
The Bloomfield Civic Band
Music Director/Conductor
Bon Temps Brass
Travis99079
bugler
bugler
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:18 am

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Travis99079 »

Frank Ortega wrote:Wow.

Can't a guy ask an honest question without getting a bunch of sarcastic wise *** remarks?

What a shame, it really turns off professionals looking for valid information.

We are tuba players after all.
User avatar
bort
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 11222
Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by bort »

I'm not much help, but perhaps there will be some of these models at USABTEC or TMEA, and people can give them a try and offer some feedback.

If it were me, I would specifically ask people what they disliked about the tuba. I think we're all going to know what the good things are, and it's easy to get caught up in that. What was the worst thing about it? Start there, and you'll get a different perspective.
Three Valves
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4230
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:44 am
Location: With my fellow Thought Criminals

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Three Valves »

bort wrote:I'm not much help, but perhaps there will be some of these models at USABTEC or TMEA, and people can give them a try and offer some feedback.
Until that time, we will have to suffer the TNFJ responses!! :tuba:
I am committed to the advancement of civil rights, minus the Marxist intimidation and thuggery of BLM.
User avatar
Ken Crawford
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:45 am
Location: Rexburg, ID

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Ken Crawford »

No nastiness intended.
Last edited by Ken Crawford on Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Frank Ortega
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 686
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:27 pm
Location: New Jersey, USA

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Frank Ortega »

And so the answers get nastier. I will think twice before posting again, thanks.
Frank Ortega
Band Director
Saddle Brook MS/HS
The Bloomfield Civic Band
Music Director/Conductor
Bon Temps Brass
User avatar
bort
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 11222
Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by bort »

I tried to help. :|
Oldschooltuba
bugler
bugler
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:37 pm

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Oldschooltuba »

I will be at TMEA, with my York. I'll play both bats there and report back.
Eric Hunter
http://www.tubaforum.net/index.php" target="_blank
186CC 5U (gone)
Rudy Meinl 5/4 CC (gone)
Silver CC Piggy (gone)
Meinl Weston F Model 45 (Gone)
B&S 5/4 CC Prototype
Yamaha 822F
York 6/4 CC (yes a real York BAT)
WC8KCY
3 valves
3 valves
Posts: 342
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 12:24 am

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by WC8KCY »

bloke wrote:hmm...
...no fart jokes or beer girls here...
...scrolling...
Eino and Toivo were at a book store.
Eino asked, "Toivo, do you like Kipling?"
Toivo replied, "I don't know. How do you kipple?"
Eino exclaimed "Like THIS!"...and farted loudly.
UDELBR
Deletedaccounts
Deletedaccounts
Posts: 1567
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:07 am

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by UDELBR »

I've tried the 6/4 BBb "Grand". It is nothing short of fantastic. It's got that broad, resonant singing quality throughout all ranges which everyone wishes their 6/4 CC BATs had. I liked it a bit better than either version of the Wessex 6/4 CC "Chicago" tubas (either 18 or 20 inch bells), but they were both really good instruments as well. The voice of the "Grand" really spoke to me though.

I also own one of the Wessex Eb helicons. It's a ton o' fun! I do occasional strolling gigs, and this will be perfect for it. Enough low resonance to be credible as a bass instrument, yet facile enough to afford a lot of fluency in solos.

Fit and finish are pretty darn good on both instruments. Full disclosure though: I'm affiliated with Wessex, but I wouldn't offer these opinions if I didn't truly feel them.
User avatar
The Big Ben
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 3169
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:54 am
Location: Port Townsend, WA

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by The Big Ben »

Frank Ortega wrote:And so the answers get nastier. I will think twice before posting again, thanks.
Huh? That stuff was nasty? You must be living in a pretty safe neighborhood if those comments were considered nasty. Somewhat sarcastic, perhaps, but not nasty.

The questions were asked less than a day ago. Give it time. Both of those instruments haven't even been available from the factory for very long. You've gotten one legitimate response since this morning.

My answers? No and No. I have no need for a 6/4 anything and prefer Czech-style helicons. I am willing to hear others opinions about them, though.
PlayTheTuba
bugler
bugler
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:01 pm

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by PlayTheTuba »

You can find some information in the Sponsors section. As The Big Ben said these instruments are very new. I am also interested in 6/4 BBb and in the compensating one too!
User avatar
PaulMaybery
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 736
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:10 am
Location: Prior Lake, Minnesota

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by PaulMaybery »

Okay. Played the BBb helicon in Michigan this summer. Plays like a really great 4 valve 5/4 BBb concert tuba. I did not dwell on it as I was there for other business, but I should have taken one home. And yes, I prefer the silver. Tried the 6/4 BBb Grand last year in the prototype stage and I was fighting the high leadpipe and with a sore back. The general timber alone was magnificent. But I'm not a BBb guy the way some are and would probably pop first for the smaller piston BBb that I would save for concert band. For me the BBbs simply make the music/fingerings a bit more idiomatic for the traditional flat keys of band music.
Wessex 5/4 CC "Wyvern"
Wessex 4/4 F "Berg"
Wessex Cimbasso F
Mack Euphonium
Mack Bass Trombone
Conn 5V Double Bell Euphonium (casually for sale to an interested party)
User avatar
Wyvern
Wessex Tubas
Wessex Tubas
Posts: 5033
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Hampshire, England when not travelling around the world on Wessex business
Contact:

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Wyvern »

PaulMaybery wrote:Tried the 6/4 BBb Grand last year in the prototype stage and I was fighting the high leadpipe and with a sore back.
Chuck Nickles has made a number of improvements since Grand prototype #1, so do try the updated production version at Army/TMEA, etc. this year.

FYI If you are the kind of person who is more worried about performance, than cosmetics of helicon - Wessex USA does have a couple of BBb helicon with minor shipping damage at reduced price at present. Contact Andy Loree for pictures/prices
User avatar
Art Hovey
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 1506
Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 12:28 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by Art Hovey »

I played on the BBb helicon last week at the Army Tuba Conference and liked it. I also brought in my own Buescher (with the Bohm & Meinl valve section which has been my favorite tuba and main money-making horn for 50 years) for comparison. I am still happy with it, but would be equally happy with the Wessex. The removable bell is an especially nice feature.
User avatar
ken k
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2369
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:02 pm
Location: out standing in my field....

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by ken k »

The BBb helicon played very nice. But it was VERY heavy. Much heavier than my Pan American.

kk
Yamaha YEB-381
Mirafone 187 BBb
1919 Pan American BBb Helicon
1924 Buescher BBb tuba (Dr. Suessaphone)
Black plastic Coolwind BBb tuba
2001 Mazda Miata
2006 Suzuki Burgman 650
tubaport
bugler
bugler
Posts: 175
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 9:50 am

Re: Any opinions on the New Wessex 6/4 BBb or Helicon?

Post by tubaport »

I played the Bb Grand prototype last year. It was by far the first Wessex horn I’ve enjoyed the sound on and will consider owning. Resonates well and has a big dark sound. Intonation was good (all issues fixable). Not really anything I could compare it to which is kind of nice since it is its own model. Would love to hear how it sounds in a large ensemble but all early tests looked good to me.
Kyle Hurst

”Wagner use to read the libretti of his operas to his friends; I’m glad I was not there.”
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Post Reply