New Wessex Bones

[hyperbolica]

The new Wessex F contra and the Chris Stearn bass have been added to the site. No pictures yet, but specs and prices.

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections/tr ... bone-pf588

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections/tr ... one-pbf565

[Neo Bri]

Good info. Thanks. I have been curious about the contra and the Stearnmobile.

[blast]

Ah ! Good to see it happening. That's a great price for an instrument hand made in the custom shop.... yes, there is a custom shop !
Looking forward to seeing how production models turn out.

Chris

[blast]

Just a reminder... I did this as a favour for Johnathan, who is a great guy. I am not on the payroll and I get nothing out of this apart from helping to bring a decent affordable bass to the marketplace.

Chris

[imsevimse]

What is the price of the contra. On that link it first says $2995 and then EUR 16775.

/Tom

[pedrombon]

1675 euros

[imsevimse]

1675 euros

Yes I meant 1675 EURO. That's cheaper than $2995. I don't understand this. How come the difference in price? Is it Trump and the customs on metal?

/Tom

[BGuttman]

1675 euros

Yes I meant 1675 EURO. That's cheaper than $2995. I don't understand this. How come the difference in price? Is it Trump and the customs on metal?

/Tom

Why? How much steel and aluminum is there in it?

[imsevimse]

The new Chinese contra may be all in aluminum or it is added taxes. I just don't understand the prices. 1675 euro is much less than $2995 which is the price in dollars. If the contra cost 1675 euro then that is real cheap and I want one

/Tom

[Pre59]

In the UK we pay a similar price increase for US products. Including import duties for "luxury" goods etc.

[afugate]

I see $1675 on the second link, but that's for the bass trombone?

--Andy in OKC

[imsevimse]

The first link first says $2995 but after a while the page reloads and the price is 1675 euro. The text is the same. Either this is an error on the page or it is different prices depending on who you are. Strange, but I like it because the cheaper price concerns me. I do fear it is an error, unfortunately

[FeelMyRath]

I'm in the UK , and the prices are showing as £2995 ($3956) for the Contra and £1675 ($2212) for the Bass

[NuhJuhKuh]

Google search page for bass displays $1675, but when I click into it I'm automatically redirected to European site (in Ireland) and price is €995! That's the same price as the current bass, so probably a goof?

[imsevimse]

Thank you! I belive that to be the most correct since you are in U.K.

I thought it to be an error. I did send them a mail and asked for the correct price, but they have not answered jet.

If somebody knows the owner and could tell him about the issue it could save some troubles. Apparently it is a problem with currency since it is all mixed up. The only thing that is correct is the figures 2995 and 1675. This is £, then the application apparently has some errors when the money conversations are done, which leads to all strange kind of results when presented in $ and euro.

/Tom

[NuhJuhKuh]

PBF565 still listed at €995 in Ireland. Maybe that's right and it's a total steal in the EU?!

In other news, Wessex are demoing the it bass, contra and "something new" at ITF... wish I could go

[elmsandr]

Something new is a Bb/F soprano.

Neat.
Andy

[Finetales]

Something new is a Bb/F soprano.

Neat.
Andy

If this is true, I've been waiting for this forever. I remember how excited I was when Chip told me on the Forum they were going to work on a true soprano with F.

EDIT: Just found it on their website. This is fantastic! A real, large bore soprano trombone to sit on top of modern trombones. I'm too hype right now.

[Matt K]

Hmmmm.... that's actually awful tempting to potentially acquire at some point myself. I was planning on having a Bb attachment added to my Wessex alto when I have the bread. Still planning on it so that I can have a really compact horn for when I travel. But that would be way more compact. Decisions decisions!

[bimmerman]

Apparently you can use a trumpet or small shank trombone mouthpiece.

Meaning...interchangeable leadpipes?

Color me super intrigued.

I'm also super interested to hear from folks who have played their new bass.

[Finetales]

Meaning...interchangeable leadpipes?

I wonder if the BrassArk would make a custom leadpipe for one.

[Matt K]

Meaning...interchangeable leadpipes?

I wonder if the BrassArk would make a custom leadpipe for one.

At a bore of .512 it wouldn't be hard to modfiy a 508 to fit

[afugate]

The new Wessex F contra and the Chris Stearn bass have been added to the site. No pictures yet, but specs and prices.

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections/tr ... bone-pf588

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections/tr ... one-pbf565

Pictures are now up.

--andy in OKC

[Kbiggs]

They certainly look pretty. I’m considering the bass as a back-up instrument.

Has anyone played the contra? Any reviews on it since it’s been on display at ITF? I’m curious about the optional tuning crooks. From the description, it sounds like the instrument could be tuned so that it would be like the equivalent of a bass trombone’s Bb/F/Gb/D or Bb/F/G/EEb tuning. Is that right?

[Finetales]

From the description, it sounds like the instrument could be tuned so that it would be like the equivalent of a bass trombone’s Bb/F/Gb/D or Bb/F/G/EEb tuning. Is that right?

Yes, F/C/Db is the contra equivalent of Bb/F/Gb. F/D/Bb (or F/Eb/Bb) is the traditional contra tuning. Some people prefer F/C/Db, but until now all inexpensive Chinese F contras have been in F/D/Bb.

[Neo Bri]

I think the valve caps are pretty. I guess I'm sorta shallow.

[afugate]

I think the valve caps are pretty. I guess I'm sorta shallow.

I wonder if they have improved. One of the minor quibbles I have with our daughter's Wessex 525 bore horn is that the valve cap just feels very insubstantial. It feels cheap.

I have no idea if it has any effect on how the horn plays, as she sounds great on the horn...

--Andy in OKC

[NuhJuhKuh]

Anyone at ITF get a chance to play any of the Wessex 'bones?