My new Eb tuba!

[Wyvern]

I love the sound of the new British F tuba, but do not really have enough spare time to practice to get my F tuba playing up to speed, mainly being an Eb tuba player having grown up playing in a brass band. Wessex has for a while made the Bombino which is a great small Eb tuba - so I had the idea of putting a 13 inch bell on it to be the same as the British F. I took the resulting tuba to orchestra rehearsal earlier this week playing Brahms Academic Festival Overture and Walton Symphony #1 - and wow did it not half work - I adore this tuba! The conductor commented multiple times how he liked the sound and how it is perfect for the music and I felt exactly the same from behind the bell. The notes really popped with excellent low register projecting through the orchestra without being tubby or over-powering. Needless to say the new tuba will be added to the Wessex range as the TE361 Bombino-Imperial. This tuba as near as possible provides the unique sound of the British F from an Eb tuba. I think I will be playing a lot!

[basslizard]

Pretty!
I'm not familiar with the bell sizes between the two - I'm assuming you put a larger bell on it?

I've grown up on a 3/4 Bb, and my 'new' Eb is my current favorite toy. It's actually larger than my 3/4 with an enormous bell. Incredibly different sound, still exploring the ranges (and convincing my brain to process the different fingerings!)

[Wyvern]

Pretty!
I'm not familiar with the bell sizes between the two - I'm assuming you put a larger bell on it?

It is actually a smaller diameter bell. I surprisingly find the lower register is opened up with a smaller bell and it makes the tuba more responsive.

[tbonesullivan]

I keep getting tempted by a used bombino down at Baltimore Brass. I should probably work more on actually learning to play the tuba I have first though... hmm.

[MaryAnn]

I'm also eyeing that one but I'm going to have to have a lot of good days in a row before I would even consider being serious. So I'm not competition for you any time in the near future.

[Yane]

Nice to see some love for small bell Ebs, the trend these days seems to be huge bores and bells. I love my Imperial, but it’s getting tired; Wessex prices should make It a tough choice whether to overhaul or replace.