Eb tuba head to head with a Wessex ‘Tubby’ - TE665HP (review/reaction in the Description)

[@steveinman1512]

So, I visited the Wessex Chicago showroom late in 2022, and tried their new "Tubby" Eb tuba, with great expectations that I would find the "Large Eb that could cover the 4/4 CC tuba role", to pair up with my more modest sized Yamaha-381 Eb. I enjoyed the sound of the Tubby Eb, which you can hear in Mark's video. But as I played down into the lower range of the tuba, as soon as I engaged the 4th valve, I had the same impression as Mark does in this video. You can see and hear him encounter something he describes as "stuffy". I wasn't sure it was a "stuffy" response, but I know for certain that the low, 4th valve combination notes did not pop out for me as effortlessly as the notes in the rest of the typical range of this tuba did, and it seems that Mark's experience is similar in this video. Check time stamps 1:50 to 2:00, 2:40 to 2:55, and 5:10 to 5:20. My experience and assessment was very similar to Mark's. As a result, since this is the range in which any tuba really has to be able to "kick butt and take names", I had to pass on a purchase of the Tubby, with great disappointment. I had been hoping this horn would allow me to "cover all the basses" (pun intentional) with a single key of tuba. But it seemed it would take too much work from the low BBb down to the pedal Eb, for me. Now, a disclaimer -- all of my playing for quite some time has been with approximately .690 inch bore tubas -- the Yamaha YEB-381, Eb and a Conn 56J CC. So I suppose some of this could be due to the larger bore of the "Tubby". HOWEVER, when I picked up the Gnagey-designed Wessex Eb, it played like a dream (note, also approx. .690 bore), with absolutely no issue for me with the lower, 4th valve combination notes. But -- the Gnagey designed Eb is truly a (very) capable bass tuba, and wouldn't be easily mistaken for a contrabass CC substitute, in my opinion. Summary: as a result of my experience, which seems to be quite similar to what I see in this video, I would recommend that the low, 4th valve combination notes be checked carefully when evaluating the Tubby Eb tuba. And, I would ask Wessex to also consider this feedback, in case some small design tweak could improve the playability challenge I encountered in this range on the instrument. On a positive note, not only did the Gnagey Eb play very well, but I did NOT find the valve button placement to be particularly troublesome. I've read some comments expressing concern that the alignment/position of the valves might result in some ergonomic concerns, but I found a near-vertical playing position to be quite comfortable with this tuba, and in that position, the valve placement under my right hand didn't seem to be much of a problem. (I would have preferred the 4th valve be slightly further away from "my side" of the tuba, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy this instrument with it's present valve layout.) [Background: Adult amateur tuba, playing with brass quintet, church ensembles, community bands, having owned and played several tubas, in all 4 standard keys, over the decades I've been playing.] Best Regards.

[@CorvetteCoonass]

I did an interesting experiment with my phone and my new Wessex Champion Eb in a large hallway. I recorded some long tones up close and the same long tones with the phone far away. What I noticed is that up close, the tuba doesn’t sound very impressive, but at a distance you wouldn’t be able to tell it from a Bb Contrabass tuba. The sound was absolutely massive at a distance.

[@brasschick4214]

TL:DR Are the Wessex Ebs suitable to play in an orchestral setting? Thanks. Edit: Also your thoughts re: Wessex Tubby vs Gnagey for the ensembles mentioned below. In the brass band the other Eb bass players are playing a Boosey Sovereign and Yamaha Neo. Hi, I play in an English-style brass band atm on an B&H Imperial compensated 4vEb but want to branch out back into Concert Band and Orchestral groups. My Concert band playing has been quite recent but my last orchestral playing was about 30 years ago in high school. I have a Wessex Dolce euphonium and baritone as well that I am really happy with. I bought a Yamaha C tuba recently (but it’s stuck across state lines) to replace the Imperial/play in orchestra but somewhat regretting my decision after seeing the new Wessex Ebs.

[@frednich9603]

I would be worried the gnagey would be a little small and underpowered in an orchestra setting. The tubby wouid fill the place of a medium sized CC tuba, which in these days is smaller than most people used, but traditionally large enough to sound amazing. I've recently stopped using my 6/4 tuba by default in my orchestra, and am going back to my 4/4 CC more often in a case by Case basis

[@thomasdavis8117]

I play a Wessex Chicago Presence and a Wessex Gnagey Eb. I can only speak for the Gnagey but for me it fills the roll of a bass tuba so I use it for solos, tuba quartet, mnozil brass cover bands, standing gigs, and some quintet music however I usually prefer to use my larger tuba for concert band and orchestra. I have used it in band before with a very large mouthpiece (Josef Klier 1AA) and it sounds about like a 3/4 maybe a 4/4 C tuba but no larger. It is possible to use it in those settings because the low range is so open and powerful--Wessex weren't kidding when they said it had the best low range of any Eb tuba--but it's not the sound I want. If you had 3 tubas in your wind ensmble it would sound very nice on the upper octave divisi. However if you use a large (>= 33.5mm) mouthpiece in the Gnagey there will be very few brass quintets that you won't be able to balance. It would fit perfectly on the Eb part in a brass band, especially since it's far more nimble and faster to speak than a british style Eb.

[@cerohero1]

How do you feel about the tubby as a first e flat tuba?

[@frednich9603]

I don't think it's a bad choice especially if it's going to be your only tuba. The only other tuba I would put above this one in the same price range is the Packer jp377

[@cerohero1]

I'm trying to choose between getting a nicer b flat, or my first e flat right now. My b flat choice is the gr51 from b&s, partially for availability but mostly because it was quite nice when I tried it out. Probably won't get a chance to try the tubby, but your video gave a lot of good opinions. Right now I just have a wessex mighty midget.

[@frednich9603]

@@cerohero1 just depends on your budget. There are great horns out there in every key. Most people think a medium to medium large CC tuba is the best choice if you can have only one tuba. Instruments like the tubby have forced their way into that conversation

[@cerohero1]

Thanks a ton, I really appreciate it!