Review: Wessex F Contrabass

The D side is FLATTER not sharper. Derp. Misspoke!
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[@MCordon1]

More on the Opera Wrap contra!

[@AidanRitchie]

Gone now! It's my friend's.

[@uni-byte]

Thanks for doing this!

[@KCJazzKeys]

I will probably get one of these as I could not justify $9,000 for a contra. Glad you made this review video.

[@AidanRitchie]

It's hard to recommend! If you REALLY need a contra, it is certainly one of the choices.

[@blesstoad]

The cat was very upset with your mistake at 4:51.

[@danieldicesare7365]

Thank you for posting this review. I own one of the earlier model Wessex contras with pseudo-Hagmann valves, so I've been curious about the new design. I wonder if it offers the option of a removable leadpipe. I was able to upgrade my instrument from nearly-unplayable to worth-every-penny by swapping out the leadpipe for one made by Brad Close. I've also been able to perform on it more than once in public, which I feel justifies the purchase.

[@AidanRitchie]

I think the leadpipe is removable, yes. And I think that would be a highly worthy upgrade to this horn as well.

[@combat_corp]

Great sound! Had no clue Brienne of Tarth played the Bone

[@AidanRitchie]

Wat

[@TheWeirdWorldofGuy]

Some weird YT recommendation but I don't mind this.

[@mondotrombo7167]

Finally Another contra vid

[@davebennett7550]

… and not without some contra-versy!

[@GamerTime_2002]

It looks like a trombone in a trombone

[@TylerDunphy]

Wow!!!

[@harperbyrne94]

It’s funny, the D slide on the Thein contras I’ve played are also too long. You can use it in first on the A partial but never the D

[@AidanRitchie]

Yeah... Really common problems

[@nickmutter7752]

What are your thoughts for mouthpieces for F Contra? There seems to be no concise opinion between making a bass trombone mouthpiece work vs. using some sort of tuba mouthpiece or even dedicated contra mouthpieces of various shanks/bores etc. Thanks!

[@AidanRitchie]

Use the right tool for the job! A contrabass trombone needs a contrabass mouthpiece. Bass trombone pieces are too small, and are similar to using a large tenor mouthpiece on bass trombone. Tuba mouthpieces are much too large and usually have the wrong shank as well. I use a Greg Black CBM and a Doug Elliot CB (currently I use the DE on my contra). They're both substantially larger than anything you would use on bass trombone, but smaller than any real tuba mouthpiece. If you play F contra much at all, it's worth having a good mouthpiece to match.

[@nickmutter7752]

Hey makes sense to me! Been eyeing Bach's take on a Contra mouthpiece but I also know I can't really go wrong with a DE

[@AidanRitchie]

@@nickmutter7752 the Bach is made for BBb contra and doesn't have a correct shank size, actually!

[@JaviColomerTrombon]

Hi Aidan, I hope you are well, thanks for this nice video, I was looking to try this brand, but here in Spain, still no body plays WESEX (I think so) Just a little question, about the weight? Can you told some about? It's heavy? Thanks and see you some day. 😉 Javi

[@AidanRitchie]

As heavy as a normal contra, I think!

[@KCJazzKeys]

Cat 9:57

[@ppebisnade5592]

i’m thinking about maybe getting an omalley f contra in the future maybe and i know u probably haven’t played it , but i’m still asking anyway, do u think the wessex would be better than the o’malley

[@AidanRitchie]

The Omalley is the bottom tier Chinese horn. They are not worth it.

[@astolfo_is_hot]

What is your opinion on the O Malley contrabass trombones?

[@AidanRitchie]

Pretty awful. Not worth buying unless it's crazy cheap, and even then it'll be awful.

[@mikemusikable]

Es gibt also f Posaunen

[@hudsonpedrotti7278]

Hello, I am trying to sell my Bach 42BO trombone in the Austin area. Is anyone interested? Thanks

[@AidanRitchie]

I'll take it for $500! :P

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@AidanRitchie Try $ 5,000.-

[@Oopyirdy]

@@bobboscarato1313$5000?? For a used one? Absolutely not I got my 42BO for 1k 😂