WESSEX Dolce, Festivo, Bubbie 5 and travel Euphonium REVIEW!!!

Wessex Euphonium and Tuba Models EP100 S "Dolce", "Festivo", "Bubbie 5" and travel Euphonium reviewed from my testing at the U.S. Army Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Washington D.C.
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[@vailkafer]

I'm probably one of the few euphonium players that the Festivo or Willson 2975 horns actually help out. I carried newspapers as a teenager, with a single heavy strap on my shoulders. That single strap resulted in scapula arthritis and pinched neck nerves. When I play top action valve horns (Besson for 27 years), I get numbness and shooting pain up and down my right arm. Since picking up a Festivo and Willson 2975, I can now play without the pain due to the ergonomic layout of both horns. I did find that my finger speeds were initially slower. Playing top actions valves versus front action valves has your right hand rotated 180 degrees. When I switched to the Festivo, I found that my response time on fast pieces like Toccata and Fugue or Festive Overture was lagging compared to the Besson, and just the simple wrist rotation and lack of muscle memory conditioning was likely responsible. Having played both horns for a nine months now, my fingering speed is picking back up. For tuba players doubling on the euphonium, go with the Festivo. The valve layout is the same as most tubas and the bell will point in the same direction.

[@Invert_Scrub]

Great content! It's nice finally having some low-brass KZbinrs!

[@Matonizz]

Thank you Travis!

[@nickypeet5554]

Hello Matonizz. I was delighted to find your video and I really value and respect your clear and balanced descriptions of each instrument. Thankyou.

[@RuzlB]

Did the Wessex Dolce feel sturdy in your hands, and when you played it? I've been looking to find a second horn, and it seems tempting, but some reviews say the horns feel very light, and flimsy.

[@Turt3752]

I've decided to start saving up for a Dolce. Currently, I play on a Yamaha YEP-321S for my school's wind band. It's a nice horn and all, but I have a hard time playing anything below F, even with one of the larger small-shank mouthpieces. As well, the 4th valve on top is an awfully uncomfortable placement, and I use it as little as possible. I think a larger mouthpiece and a compensating system, plus the nicer 3+1 configuration, will be very nice. Besides, the Yamaha's a school horn, and I graduate in 2 years. Thanks for the review to cement my choice. I'm going for the flashy silver and gold version, I think. :)

[@damianhgn]

I just recently purchased and received my Dolce. I will have to agree with you on the silver plating being a bit inconsistent in some places but other than that, it's great.

[@iplaybadgames317]

how is that horn after playing it for a while?

[@davidbjornstad7759]

I bought my Jinbao horn (different stamp) in the fall of 2012 for $885, including shipping, and my evaluation was almost word-for-word the same as yours -- 90% of a Yammie 642 for maybe 1/8 of the cost. It has been a workhorse, and the pros who have tried it (including James Gourlay, who used it for a demonstration last summer) have been very impressed. With the experience I've had, if I were buying a "cheap horn" now, I would be knocking on Wessex' door. Prior to buying the Jinbao, I had been playing a Conn 86I (4-valve front, non-comp) since 1960, so I am very used to that valve layout. I would LOVE to try the Festivo :D

[@Matonizz]

I know James have Schiller JinBao. It's unbelievable the level these cheap horns achieved for the price they are selling. Yes, there not as good as top line horns but in order to use that 10% edge you first need a pretty solid skillset. I will do more videos on these horns in near future. Festivo was a good fun btw :)

[@davidbjornstad7759]

Yeah, after he played mine, he said that he was going to look for one. I am an evil influence!

[@Matonizz]

Funny! Where did you meet him? Did he conduct your brass band or something? :)

[@davidbjornstad7759]

He was at IET last summer. He did a special master class for us geezers (and one geezette), and he borrowed my horn to demonstrate a euph lipping trick.

[@Matonizz]

He just texted me :D Said that he remembers you very well and that he liked both you and your mom :) Will record some duets soon with him and upload it for you guys! ;)

[@Billybillybillyrocking]

I played one here in the US at Sam Ash and was impressed. Liked it out of the box with no set up or oil more than the Yamaha and king rental I used. The Yamaha was 3500 bucks. I think I'm going to get a mouthpiece and set it up when I test it again.

[@T-Slider]

Have you had a chance to play this horn again. If yes, what are your updates.

[@davidfarquhar3917]

Enjoying your videos. Interested in your comments about the Travel Euphonium, you also mention it would be as good to spend 20 minutes working with a mouthpiece - what exercises would you recommend? Would it be a good topic for a video?

[@Matonizz]

Glad you liking it mate! Thanks for kind words! Frankly, I barely ever do mouthpiece playing. I find it doesn't represent the airflow that I use when playing euphonium. I see where it would be useful for trombonist but I personally don't play mouthpiece on regular basis by no stretch of imagination. The last time I had more than one day off from playing was over 10 years ago so I really never end up not having my euphonium on hand, at least not at this stage of my playing career. But if I did, I would probably just grab my mouthpiece with me. In terms of exercises, all I would do is build up scales in long tones. For example: C-D-C,C-E-C,C-F-C and etc. then do it downwards, the take it an octave down and do the same thing. In these scenarios you're more than likely are on holiday, so you're planning to rest and not play. Your goal is to not lose the shape completely rather than make progress, so therefore the selection of exercises is not that important. Just get the lips vibrating and air moving, that will help you prevent from losing muscle strength. In terms of exercises to do on regular basis, I don't do it but if I did, it would probably be something similar. Again, all there is to playing mouthpiece is to get the air going and lips vibrating. Well, it also good for your ears. Either way, no need to be to creative with exercise selection here, at least in my opinion. Hope that gives you at least a bit of an insight in logic behind my thinking. Best of luck buddy, Algirdas

[@rlf4389]

Great channel and videos, they are very informative. Great content and detail. You described the Dolce's tone as "euphoniumish". I interpret that as meaning the tone is brighter than other, more expensive instruments. My questions: is the metal thickness and weight similar to JP 274 and 374? If the tone is bright, can it be darkened with a deeper mouthpiece such as the Denis Wick Ultra? I use a DW4SMU on my Yamaha 301 baritone, and also a DW4AL. FYI I am a rank amateur. Thank you!

[@adamsteinbach9013]

I am looking into purchasing this horn, and was wondering if you or anyone else knows what kind of quality case comes with this monster? Thanks!

[@Matonizz]

Hey Adam, which particular horn are you talking about? It often comes with different cases depending on the distributor as well.

[@adamsteinbach9013]

My bad, I was talking about the Dolce!

[@sherif348]

I actually own this horn! It comes with a case that is like a gig bag but is a bit harder than regular gig bags. It is definitely softer than a hard case though!

[@lisam5491]

hello there!I'm a eup player in China and i should inform u that The jinbao logo is wrong！thx....

[@jos6058]

Cool stuff!!! Was looking so hard for a travel tuba opinions!! And you give me a Mr. Gourlay s opinion!! Thank you!!! Thumbs up for all your work!!!

[@Matonizz]

Majestic Alex Thanks brother, appreciate it!

[@kylerfreeland6294]

great video as always. ha I never seen the travel euph before I feel like it is more of a novelty but maybe fun just to play with. how was the weight of the travel version

[@Matonizz]

Pretty light, not as light as you would probably expect but I believe just I touch less than a baritone would be. Can't give you the exact number though. Glad you like the vid buddy!

[@andrescortes3181]

Hey matonizz!! Soy uno más de tus suscritos. congratulations.! I'm like me your page.. but... Me gustaría que...(se que esun esfuerzo enorme el de administrar una página) sería fenomenal que tradujeras algunos de tus tips, consejos y ó metodos de estudio esosria genial. Debido a que hay mínimos tutoriales PRO'S en español acerca de este bello instrumento, claro en el cual tu te desempeñas magnifique! Saludos!

[@wsmart994]

Very helpful

[@NickLukefahr]

As a tuba player, I was thinking of getting a euphonium for doubling/multitracking. If you had to buy one instrument, which would you prefer between the Dolce or the Festivo? Thanks.

[@Matonizz]

Close one. I would say Dolce for a bit more traditional playing and festivo for more marching related stuff but I think they would both do the trick.

[@NickLukefahr]

Thanks! It would probably be mostly traditional (sitting) playing. I just didn't know if the valve orientation was enough of a breakthrough (and I'm used to playing 4+ valves on my right hand due to playing tuba) and the sound from the horns were similar enough to warrant getting a Festivo for traditional situations

[@tonysalvatore2608]

Thanks for all the good info. How would you rate the Mack Brass euphonium compared to the Wessex. Your opinion would be appreciated

[@NickLukefahr]

I've heard that it's worth the price difference usually.

[@tonysalvatore2608]

Thanks for your help

[@seansutherland6270]

I've played a mack brass euph as well as a mack brass bass trombone and hated both

[@royharris7681]

They are both built in the same factory in china as well as Schiller. Wessex,Mack and Schiller are 95% the same stencil horn patterned after Yamaha 642 but I own a Wessex and it's a decent horn but NOT very durable with a 1st valve that sticks no matter how I service it with new valve guide,deep cleaning ect...they still drag in slow passages.

[@nicholastrombone9899]

Is that Five Valve F tuba good?

[@massmanute]

Can you tell us about fourth valve operation on the Festivo? Do you operate it with the pinky of the right hand or index finger on the left hand?

[@seth094978]

Wessex says that it is positioned to be comfortable either way. At 13:20 you can see him using his left hand, and it clearly is positioned to be within reach of the right pinky too.

[@dsgalanjr]

But that travel horn though lol....

[@Matonizz]

Priceless :D

[@gerardomartin4279]

Not taking into consideration the prices, how would you compare the Wessex Dolce to the JP 274?

[@Matonizz]

I will do a video soon playing both and comparing but to answer the question, I feel like jp274 has an edge over Dolce, especially if you are planning to play solo pieces along with band playing. Will definitely do a detailed review pretty soon.

[@gerardomartin4279]

Matonizz Thank you! I will most likely buy the Jp. Keep up the good work! I love your videos and they've inspired me to become better and hopefully achieve my goal of making all-state in Texas!

[@Matonizz]

Glad you liked the videos man. Keep up a good work and you'll for sure make it to the all-state. If you buy JP use the discount code and you'll get yourself a few buck off. Best of luck and let me know if you ever have any questions!

[@louisthomas367]

And do you know Robbert Vod

[@louisthomas367]

Would you ever come to England again

[@Matonizz]

Yeah, Robert is fantastic, I definitely know him. England is definitely on the map in the future. Hopefully in a near one buddy ;)

[@louisthomas367]

Hey do you want me to do a video for your channel

[@Matonizz]

What video do you want to make mate?

[@louisthomas367]

Um my warmup routine or something like that

[@Matonizz]

I think you would be much better of using that to build your channel mate! Maybe if I come to UK at some point we could do some sort of video together, sounds like a plan?

[@seansutherland6270]

was there any miraphone horns there?

[@Matonizz]

Yes, only one though, will do a video on it as well

[@seansutherland6270]

Matonizz was it the large bore miraphone?

[@Matonizz]

It was M5050E-T-WC

[@gesorenplatz]

How come you would be paying $1.225 in the US and we in the Netherlands would be paying €1.426 (that's $1.533, and that's for the lacquered version, not the silver plated one you're playing in the video)?

[@Matonizz]

Mat Münstermann With all honesty I don't have clue mate. Maybe taxes or something

[@LuigiCC1]

What happened to the Parker mouthpiece video?

[@Matonizz]

Luis Cardona will come as soon as I'm done editing. There are 7more instrument reviews left I got prefilmed. Sorry for taking so long man, every video takes at least 10hours to produce and I'm on road till end of April therefore the pace is so slow. The videos on mouthpieces will be 100% out, just a matter of time. Appreciate your patience my friend! Best, Algirdas

[@LuigiCC1]

Matonizz Thank you so much. In the market for a new mouthpiece and really excited to hear what you have to say about them!

[@TubaDooter]

"If you're a tuba player who is worried about the size of your horn, why not just get a euphonium?" well, obviously you know nothing of low brass. Because there is a different timbre, different fundamental pitch, different mouthpiece, and even DIFFERENT KEY.

[@louisthomas367]

Soz Vos

[@user-db7yk4zp4g]

Unfortunately, the dolce is over $1600 now

[@evanmiller4502]

1 1 the most expensive model the silver with gold finish is only $1500

[@LeopoldMidas]

Is Wessex paying you? It's a stencil horn manufactured by Jinbao. Any distributor can buy them and call them whatever. JZ for example. Why not call it what it is ? Jinbao.

[@legomn54321]

Most of the Wessex lineup is improved over the default Jinbao offerings. The threads on the valve caps are much better, the materials are different (gold brass bells on Dolce and Festivo), and the Festivo is a unique design that only Wessex is producing and selling.

[@99corncob]

I'm relieved that your more recent videos have eliminated the terrible corporate muzak that irritates me throughout this video. Good riddance. It's very distracting at best,

[@Matonizz]

Live and learn :D

[@onnyglare]

too much talk

[@heimatcz]

Haha, great for 90% euphonium players? What a great lie. Everybody with ears tell you, that the tone is on 40% of warmness and quality than tone of York Euphonium for example.

[@Matonizz]

heimat I respect your opinion but don't appreciate you calling it a lie. I'm just giving my opinion on it. Did my tone was bad to you?

[@heimatcz]

Matonizz Do you think, that is possible to judge the tone quality in seconds of your playing in a noisy hall? No. You played it maybe for minutes in a noisy room, I played it for 11 days and had another instruments for comparison. Its impossible to understand your review confidence. Sorry for my english. When somebody tells me, that Wessex Euphonium have warm sound, is funny for me and in my eyes you lost any credibility.

[@heimatcz]

And when you said, that this chinese stencil horn is good for 90% of players. It is already an insult for most of players.

[@heimatcz]

Now I have collection of many Euphoniums, baritone horns, I have sax horn, 3 tubas and 2 helikons. I am not able to understand your opinions about these chinese paper euphoniums. please, spend more time with them and compare it in real time in a quite place. cheers.

[@michaelvanwagenen6599]

heimat How is it an insult to those players when he is not mentioning specific players? Don't take his review so personally, after all it is HIS opinion. If you believe your opinion is any more credible than his, please, post a video making your own review. I'm sure many people would love to hear it.