Willson Q-series F tuba at Dillon, $5,895

[arpthark]

Looks like Willson has started sending some stuff to be made in China (and maybe assembled in Switzerland?) similar to the Shires Q-stuff.

https://www.dillonmusic.com/demo-willso ... =111631865

“Demo Willson Q71 F tuba (SN: WQ1103) in raw brass with hard-shell case. 17.71 upright bell, 37" tall, and 4 front action pistons of .708/.748" bore with right thumb operated 5th rotor valve. Main slide tuning trigger. Takes American shank tuba mouthpiece. This prototype is a great playing copy of the Willson 3200 FA-5 XL but at half the price.”

[Mary Ann]

I played one of those way back when I was thinking about tuba, tried to buy it (local owner had it consigned on ebay) but the consignment person refused to let it go. I remember thinking "I could play this thing." If I were in the market for an F --

[arpthark]

The tuba that this one is copying (Willson 3200) was my only tuba for two years. It really does everything you need it to do, but gosh, they are so heavy.

[the elephant]

I played one of those way back when I was thinking about tuba, tried to buy it (local owner had it consigned on ebay) but the consignment person refused to let it go. I remember thinking "I could play this thing." If I were in the market for an F --

These are nearly as big as a 6/4 CC… are you sure it was one of these? Here is mine next to the YamaYork. They are BIG F tubas…

[arpthark]

If the bore on these is indeed .708", that may be why I liked it more than the other .748" bore broader-sounding piston Fs.

Is that also the case on the Kurath?

[aarongsmith]

If it is anything like the Q90, Willson is probably making the bell in Switzerland. As far as I know, the Eastman factory is not set up to hot spin the one piece bells the way that Willson does.

[Sousaswag]

Sheesh, I don’t know why one would buy genuine Willson brand new over this… It’s literally the exact same thing. Yeah I understand china vs switzerland blah blah, but, come on. That’s kind of a no-brainer purchase right there.

I’ve owned both of their F tuba models, one piston one rotary, and both are excellent but certainly have their quirks.

[arpthark]

I agree to an extent -- brand new, yes, but I've seen the genuine Swiss Fs go on the used market for $5.5k-$7k.

I wonder -- if the bells (and presumably valve machine) are Swiss/European, maybe the rest of the body is Chinese. I wonder if the brass is thinner than the Swiss stuff. Willsons are so heavy!

The biggest downside of this model, IMO, is the downward-facing 4th valve slide. That was pretty much the only slide I really wanted to manipulate when I had one, and I couldn't. Now, being older, wiser, and slightly less broke, I would see about fabricating a pull stick or somesuch.

Something that will surely come to pass is that, as this is a demo/prototype model, the actual production model will be more expensive, probably in line with Eastman F offerings.

[Mary Ann]

I played one of those way back when I was thinking about tuba, tried to buy it (local owner had it consigned on ebay) but the consignment person refused to let it go. I remember thinking "I could play this thing." If I were in the market for an F --

These are nearly as big as a 6/4 CC… are you sure it was one of these? Here is mine next to the YamaYork. They are BIG F tubas…

Ooops -- I guess not. It was (IIRC) a Willson small piston F, so now don't know what the model was.

[the elephant]

The 3200FA-5 became the 3200-XL, and the 3200-XS (I think it is XS) is the smaller F tuba. (It has an extra loop in the bugle wrap and is smaller overall.)

XL/XS = Extra Large and Extra Small, I guess.

I think he would sell more of both if he returned the XL to FA5 and gave the smaller horn its own model name/number. The current convention is overly confusing.

[Sousaswag]

They also made a 3200S/3400C, right? Is that what Wade is referring to? I’m thinking the VERY short/squat Eb and F tubas. The Eb was much better in the intonation department as I recall.

[the elephant]

If the bore on these is indeed .708", that may be why I liked it more than the other .748" bore broader-sounding piston Fs.

Is that also the case on the Kurath?

My Kurath had from the factory 18mm (.708") through 1, 2, and 3, a 19mm bore through 4, and a 20mm bore through the 5th rotor.

[MikeMason]

I played the smaller one at itec in Knoxville . My thoughts were” this thing is fun and easy to get around on, but might need a main slide stick”. I would be interested in a q-series version.