Wessex Tubas - what would you like?

[Wyvern]

A smaller York CC or Large 5/4 CC looking like a 5450 Thor or PT6 with York style tubing configuration.
True/Large 5/4 CC. Not Wyvern 5/4 ("4.5/4").
5 Rotary Kaiser CC similar to Melton 197/2
F tuba that is very large for an F tuba to which may feel a bit like a contrabass tuba
Other Keyed Bass Trumpet: C or Eb

You will be pleased that some of those are planned...

[Ace]

Glad to see that some consideration is being given to offering a keyed bass trumpet in C. I hope it includes 4 rotors and smooth-working triggers for tuning the third, first, and fourth valve slides.

Ace

[Tubaing]

3 valve compensating student model tuba.

Compensating Double student model french horn.

[DouglasJB]

A smaller York CC or Large 5/4 CC looking like a 5450 Thor or PT6 with York style tubing configuration.
True/Large 5/4 CC. Not Wyvern 5/4 ("4.5/4").
5 Rotary Kaiser CC similar to Melton 197/2
F tuba that is very large for an F tuba to which may feel a bit like a contrabass tuba
Other Keyed Bass Trumpet: C or Eb

You will be pleased that some of those are planned...

I'm intrigued, when should we expect news about one or some of these?

[Wyvern]

A smaller York CC or Large 5/4 CC looking like a 5450 Thor or PT6 with York style tubing configuration.
True/Large 5/4 CC. Not Wyvern 5/4 ("4.5/4").
5 Rotary Kaiser CC similar to Melton 197/2
F tuba that is very large for an F tuba to which may feel a bit like a contrabass tuba
Other Keyed Bass Trumpet: C or Eb

You will be pleased that some of those are planned...

I'm intrigued, when should we expect news about one or some of these?

The bass trumpet is soon. I hope early next year.

[Matt G]

Any plans on a Wessex version of an improvement on the YFB-621 or YFB-821 style F tubas?

[Wyvern]

Any plans on a Wessex version of an improvement on the YFB-621 or YFB-821 style F tubas?

There will be front action version of the British F tuba which will be much better than the YFB-621. The new TF556 F tuba will be similar size to YFB-821

[Tubameister]

A copy of a rotary Neptune

[tubadoctor]

Any plans in the works for a Norwegian Star Eb clone?

[lowtones425]

I’d like to see a modernized Miraphone 186, with the main change being a vertical tuning slide like you’d find on a Rudy Meinl 3/4 or a PT6. Maybe also some adjustments to make the design more compact.

[UDELBR]

I’d like to see a modernized Miraphone 186

I always wished for a more compact wrap of the 186, so that the bell didn't constitute 1/2 the height of the instrument.

[bort]

I like long stories. Is this written up anywhere?

[bort]

Makes sense, Cerveny is way older than Miraphone. Kind of interesting that both have survived, and both are quite different.

[Wyvern]

I’d like to see a modernized Miraphone 186

I always wished for a more compact wrap of the 186, so that the bell didn't constitute 1/2 the height of the instrument.

Should be possible. What it means is keeping the tapers for the good intonation with a re-wrap. That means prototyping with all new components, rather than tweaking what has gone before, but Wessex will soon be set up to do such

[Wyvern]

I thought we were talking about BBb 186?

BTW The CC TB470 which Wessex sells already has the bell reduced to 16.5” like the classic Miraphone and not 17.5” like the newer tubas. It is a tuba I have tried to discontinue as a clone, but have brought back by popular request. We can’t get them made quick enough.

[lowtones425]

My bad... I should have been a bit more specific.

I'd like to see a modernized 186 in CC (with the usual 5 rotor valves). Emphasis on the vertical tuning slide. It's a pet peeve of mine with Miraphones in general. I'd also like to see (and this is a minuscule detail) a nicely designed 5th valve paddle that's not the Miraphone T bar.

Might be a good offering for the undergraduate market.

[Ltrain]

I just learned today that Boosey & Hawkes produced a compensating Eb sousaphone as part of their “Imperial” line. Could this be done with existing parts: current Eb sousa + Cavalry valve section?

This would be so awesome.

[Wyvern]

I just learned today that Boosey & Hawkes produced a compensating Eb sousaphone as part of their “Imperial” line. Could this be done with existing parts: current Eb sousa + Cavalry valve section?

This would be so awesome.

I have seen them - in fact know where one is. They are actually quite small bore, more like a sousaphone version of a Wessex Bombino Eb than a full size compensated Eb. However as that tuba is a great player (often my preferred horn), there is no reason why a sousaphone version would not be too.

The one I have tried I cannot comment on its playing as the valves were so worn and leaky.

[iiipopes]

Hmmm. Interesting discussion on a compensating sousaphone. Hmmm. Using the Besson New Standard style 3-valve comp as a model, it seems that the leadpipe is about the same length as would be on a souzy neck; the bore, at .730, is right there with Conn at .734 and Yammy and others at .728; use straighter knuckles and re-work the curve of the 3rd valve slide coming back around for the comp loops, and it may be feasible. The downside is as with any souzy: it may be difficult to repair dents in the various circuits from the inherent risks associated with marching. The upside is that C and low F would be much better in tune, albeit at a risk of stuffiness. Since I don't march anymore, but do occasionally play an outdoor concert with a souzy, I wouldn't have to worry about "riding throttle" on the upper loop of my 1st valve slide, which I have converted to a movable slide to pull for valve combinations and push for 2nd space C tending to be flat.

Remember that the default for a 3-valve comp BBb instrument is to tune all three of the circuits "dead," meaning that 1+2 G and D tend to ride sharp, and are usually played 3 alone, since the 3rd valve slide does not have to be pulled to get 2+3 Gb and Db or 1+3 C and low F in tune with the comp loops.

[tclements]

Alexander 163 CC copy. Alexander 157 copy. Goldbrass, both with 6 valves (4+2), please.