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Looking at a Wessex "jazz tuba" at a retailer in the Baltimore area. I don't know that we are allowed to use names, so I won't.

To be sure, who sells it is NOT the issue. I was able to play this "very small" tuba and found it intriguing. I do not generally play jazz unless a form of it is in my band's repertoire. But I think that is just a marketing ploy anyway.

The horn is amazingly good condition. It is used. Surprisingly, the lower notes came out easier and sounded better than those at the top of the staff. It is extremely easy to hold. It does have a bell front, something I have not done since junior high school - and I am older than most of you I am sure. I guess that is OK and it is likely designed to help project the sound from this smallish horn.

At just under 2K I am tempted. I don't need it, I just want it. But, I also don't want to throw my money away. I have read BOTH good and bad about the brand. It is certainly not on Santa's nice list.

I hope to decide in a day or two. Your comments and opinions are valuable to me. I will pay attention. Thanks!

Just the financial end of it - one of the benefits of being a certain age is you can do things that may not make sense to other people, meaning, it's your money! I have been doing this with tubas for a couple of years, and I'm going to worry about selling them after I can't play with them any more but not before.

I have the other version of the Wessex little tuba. Haven’t used it much; don’t know if I ever will. I tried using it for a pep band thing and it was hard to hold and bounced off my chest with every note. I might use it for a couple parades (seated on a flatbed) this summer, and probably use it for TubaChristmas. I wouldn’t buy it again, but I’ve got it now and am not motivated enough to sell it.

As always, YMMV

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If I was looking for something small & light which actually sounds like a tuba and doesn't "blow back at you", I'd sooner go with one of these: https://www.zomusical.com/entry-level-t ... 40628.html They'll be making these in CC soon, too.

- I'm not sure that it's good to ask the freak jury what we ourselves should buy.
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- Each of us has our own tastes and our own fascinations.
- I've never seen much practical use for any of those.
- I certainly wouldn't be at any four figure price range.
- I might be at a couple hundred dollar price range, but even then I'd have to spend energy to find a buyer, because it wouldn't be something I would be keeping as I would consider it to be clutter or selling fodder.
- I play some jazz combo jobs. I play more standards and old music than so-called modern jazz, but I play a little bit of that, and have been playing a little bit more of it lately because I've been coaxed into getting my bass guitar back out (I no longer own an upright). I don't think I'd use one of those baritone horn or euphonium sized bags/contrabass tubas on those gigs either.
- I've done repair work on two or three different ones of those and was nonplussed by all of them.
- To me, they seem like an "accessory"... The types of things that people buy when they get a new to them car, new to them house, or new to them musical instrument.. stuff that's not needed but they are just so excited about their primary purchase that they want to continue to accessorize that purchase with additional smaller purchases.
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note:
When you read my response above, you see the problem with asking all of us whether you should buy something. Those things don't impress me at all, and neither do they capture my imagination. In contrast, this one impresses you and it has captured your imagination. Therefore, my experiences and opinions are just about 100% useless to you.

Just decide, and either buy it or don't.

For the price mentioned, you could find a decent King recording bell horn that would probably be much more useful/versatile. Opt for a 3 valve model and you may be under $1000.

There are some small tubas that really do punch above their weight. I used to have one of these:

https://reverb.com/item/63272369-besson ... piece-case

and just for the heck of it, I took it to band rehearsal one night to see what it would do. It surprised everyone with how much sound it could produce, though it could not match my Alex. I toyed with the idea of adding a fourth valve to it, but decided to sell it. It sold very quickly. ISTR a gentleman bought it for his young son.

Heavy_Metal wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 7:35 pm There are some small tubas that really do punch above their weight. I used to have one of these:

https://reverb.com/item/63272369-besson ... piece-case

and just for the heck of it, I took it to band rehearsal one night to see what it would do. It surprised everyone with how much sound it could produce, though it could not match my Alex. I toyed with the idea of adding a fourth valve to it, but decided to sell it. It sold very quickly. ISTR a gentleman bought it for his young son.

Yep, the Besson 787 is a small 3 valve non-comp BBb that doubtless packs a punch - iirc you’re a retired Band Director so the recommendation is particularly valuable. I’ve got the sister Eb and a pal of mine also used one in Band for a while, he’s a skilled and strong player and was (both) the loudest Eb and loudest bass on the section (the rest of us were playing Sovereigns and Imperials, but it’s the driver that matters most).

It’s entirely the OP’s choice but imho the Wessex is a solution looking for a problem; amongst the other offerings out there there are some pretty good under (size) 4/4 BBb tubas that are (more) worthy of consideration … worth some further research.

Actually, not a retired band director, nor do I play one on TV...............

Heavy_Metal wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 2:46 pm Actually, not a retired band director

Apologies.

2bahawk wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:04 pm Looking at a Wessex "jazz tuba" at a retailer in the Baltimore area. I don't know that we are allowed to use names, so I won't.
To be sure, who sells it is NOT the issue. I was able to play this "very small" tuba and found it intriguing. I do not generally play jazz unless a form of it is in my band's repertoire. But I think that is just a marketing ploy anyway.
The horn is amazingly good condition. It is used. Surprisingly, the lower notes came out easier and sounded better than those at the top of the staff. It is extremely easy to hold. It does have a bell front, something I have not done since junior high school - and I am older than most of you I am sure. I guess that is OK and it is likely designed to help project the sound from this smallish horn.
At just under 2K I am tempted. I don't need it, I just want it. But, I also don't want to throw my money away. I have read BOTH good and bad about the brand. It is certainly not on Santa's nice list.
I hope to decide in a day or two. Your comments and opinions are valuable to me. I will pay attention. Thanks!

If there's anything your band has played in say...the last three years that that horn would have helped...where your current horn limited you, then that might be a useful consideration. Thats probably the only helpful contribution I can make. I wouldn't buy the horn if the shop dropped one of the zeros off the price. I probably wouldn't buy it if they dropped two zeros off the price. In the first case, its too much money, in the second, I'd rather get a crazy decent brisket sammich for lunch.

Being a hobbiest has the advantage, that unlike you pros, we never need to worry about if something is useful or will earn its keep. All the instruments I own.. I have because they make me happy to have them and occasionally play them. Everything tuba or music related is a guaranteed financial loss... and that's OK. It is less of a loss than sports gambling, strip clubs, or expensive whiskey..

So @2bahawk what will bring more joy... a new tuba or the money in the bank account??

If you want it and have the funds for it, then that's your call.

I wouldn't, I'd probably get a different smaller upright (3/4 or 7/8) BBb or an EEb if I wanted a truly dedicated jazz / lighter parade horn (that wasn't a sousa).

Again, if you have use, funds, and it makes you happy then cool. I doubt you will be able to resell for 2k, and think you could probably talk down that price a little.

[/quote]
I'd rather get a crazy decent brisket sammich for lunch.
[/quote]

If you are ever near Gettysburg, PA the brisket is on me. I know a place!

If I were to get one of these it would be the one with a the forward facing bell.

I have one of the Eb/F Bubbie 5 from Wessex. I’ve had it for any years. I use it regularly for practice. It’s great for Tuba Christmas because it’s great in compact areas. With a 110 or more tubas, who cares how much sound you produce. I find these play nicely in tune, but the sound is brighter than a concert tuba. They have a bit of back pressure because the tubing is much smaller than a standard size tuba. I don’t play much jazz, but the friends I have that do commonly play on small stages. They use a small horn and add a mic if they need to project more. Are these a bit of a novelty, yes, I’d say so. Do they work for a small jazz combo. Yes they do. If you get a chance to play one for a bit before purchasing one, that’s a great idea. They aren’t for everyone. As an aside, I have played it in a concert band as a second french horn. It worked great.