Wessex vs/and Jin Bao Contra Bass Trombone

ttf_bbone1 · Post by **ttf_bbone1** » Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:13 am

Dear everyone,

Has anyone experience with these two brands and maybe their contra bass trombones even ?

Form what I understand they are both made in China, Wessex however is a British company, they are significantly more expensive, are they in your opinion significantly better ?

I am aware there is only so much you can expect from a Contra Bass in that price range but as I don't have a lot of experience with the brands I wanted to put that out there. Thanks for helping comments.

ttf_SBMaestro · Post by **ttf_SBMaestro** » Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:01 pm

Trent Hamilton tested the Chinese likely a JinBao) BBb contra (Miraphone copy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRryK_g4SGw

There's actually a thread of videos on this, ending with a "eulogy" for it, since it was dropped and the music store said it wasn't worth repairing.

ttf_BGuttman · Post by **ttf_BGuttman** » Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:14 pm

A major difference between Wessex and JinBao (apart from the fact that Wessex will claim their instruments are not made by JinBao) is that Wessex tests every instrument they sell, which compensates for the abysmal state of Quality Control in Chinese manufacturing. There are other dealers who do this (Jim Laabs comes to mind).

That is the main reason you pay more for a Wessex instrument. It covers the cost of dealing with the junk that is invariably included in the shipment.

ttf_blast · Post by **ttf_blast** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:56 am

Quote from: BGuttman on Jul 13, 2017, 12:14PMA major difference between Wessex and JinBao (apart from the fact that Wessex will claim their instruments are not made by JinBao) is that Wessex tests every instrument they sell, which compensates for the abysmal state of Quality Control in Chinese manufacturing. There are other dealers who do this (Jim Laabs comes to mind).

That is the main reason you pay more for a Wessex instrument. It covers the cost of dealing with the junk that is invariably included in the shipment.

Wessex do not hide the fact that their instruments are made by Jin Bao. They have many models that are only made for Wessex. Wessex go to the factory and check every instrument before it is shipped. That adds cost.Jin Bao quality is improving all the time. It is better than many other makers who charge a lot more.

Chris Stearn

ttf_Jonathantuba · Post by **ttf_Jonathantuba** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:49 am

Wessex has never claimed that their instruments are not made at Jinbao - in fact there are even photos from the factory on the website.

What makes Wessex different from any other company selling Chinese made brass is that we are the only company that works closely with the factory on specifications, make numerious enhancements and then play test and check every single instrument at factory before accepting (and if any are sub-standard they have to be disassembled and done again)

Improvements include changes to measurements for tuning improvements, higher quality materials, new working processes to improve consistency, to numerious other nice enhancements. Wessex are increasing moving away from selling any standard Jinbao instruments, to making our own specific exclusive range developed with professional musicians.

As we visit the factory quarterly and are in daily contact, our relationship is much closer than other companies that the factory just supplies. In fact Wessex now has its own dedicated team of the very best craftsmen building our instruments to ensure the highest possible quality, while still keeping the prices reasonable. No, Wessex is not the cheapest, but you get an instrument which has been made and checked by musicians that really care, so no 'junk' should ever go out with Wessex on the bell.

ttf_davdud101 · Post by **ttf_davdud101** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:09 am

Quote from: SBMaestro on Jul 13, 2017, 12:01PMTrent Hamilton tested the Chinese likely a JinBao) BBb contra (Miraphone copy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRryK_g4SGw

There's actually a thread of videos on this, ending with a "eulogy" for it, since it was dropped and the music store said it wasn't worth repairing.

That was hands down one of the saddest moments in a YouTube video featuring a trombone ever recorded.

ttf_58mark · Post by **ttf_58mark** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:48 am

Quote from: SBMaestro on Jul 13, 2017, 12:01PMTrent Hamilton tested the Chinese likely a JinBao) BBb contra (Miraphone copy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRryK_g4SGw

There's actually a thread of videos on this, ending with a "eulogy" for it, since it was dropped and the music store said it wasn't worth repairing.

he needed to find a different music store

ttf_themoorekid · Post by **ttf_themoorekid** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:02 am

Are you interested in the F or BBb version?

ttf_JohnL · Post by **ttf_JohnL** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:26 am

Quote from: blast on Jul 14, 2017, 12:56AMJin Bao quality is improving all the time.I suspect many of the improvements made in conjunction with Wessex find their way into general production. As that process goes on, Wessex will have work to keep ahead of the run-of-the-mill Jin Bao product.

Quote from: SBMaestro on Jul 13, 2017, 12:01PM...Chinese likely a JinBao)...And therein lies the crux of the problem. There are so many factories in China churning out instruments that look so much alike but are produced to varying standards of quality (or, in some cases, unquality) and so many different companies importing/distributing them under so many different names that one simply does not know what to expect. Dealing with a company like Wessex provides the buyer with some assurance of consistent quality.

ttf_Jonathantuba · Post by **ttf_Jonathantuba** » Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:08 am

Quote from: JohnL on Jul 14, 2017, 08:26AMI suspect many of the improvements made in conjunction with Wessex find their way into general production. As that process goes on, Wessex will have work to keep ahead of the run-of-the-mill Jin Bao product.It is likely that Jinbao will incorporate some of Wessex production improves into their own general range (where it does not increase production costs), but that is good for everyone, and I am not worried about it - as Wessex is increasingly selling our own unique range, so wont be competing against the 'cut-price merchants'. Even the F contrabass trombone, we have plans for our own design, as I want to move away from selling clones of current production models.

ttf_themoorekid · Post by **ttf_themoorekid** » Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:16 am

Hi Jonathan,

Does the F Contra bass have a soldered bead bell and is the hand slide end crook yellow brass or nickel?

Is the leadpipe still a two piece?

Best,

C

ttf_Driving Park · Post by **ttf_Driving Park** » Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:38 pm

Quote from: Jonathantuba on Yesterday at 09:08 AMEven the F contrabass trombone, we have plans for our own design, as I want to move away from selling clones of current production models.

Will it be tunable to F/C/Db???

ttf_Driving Park · Post by **ttf_Driving Park** » Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:38 pm

Quote from: Jonathantuba on Yesterday at 09:08 AMEven the F contrabass trombone, we have plans for our own design, as I want to move away from selling clones of current production models.

Will it be tunable to F/C/Db???