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Thread: Willson Wishlist

  1. #1

    Willson Wishlist

    It seems to me that a Wilson 2900 BT modified with a slightly larger and perhaps thinner bell, say 300MM, and a bit more bell flare might make for an interesting instrument -- with a less thick sound, more sound spread and flexibility.

  2. #2

    Willson Wishlist

    Indeed -- hence my interest in the Sterling.

    However, even the current 2900 BT is a gorgeous instrument. The sound is lovely (or so my bandmates say); the intonation puts most British horns to shame; the valves are marvels of reliability; the instrument can take endless air without sounding coarse; and the excellent focus ensures that you are heard whenever you speak. Compared to the 2900 BT, my sideman's Besson 967, notwithstanding its ethereal beauty, has all the solidity and definition of a ghost dissolving into mist.

    Eagerly awaiting your report on the Sterling you have ordered, compared and contrasted with the 2900 BT, such as it is. I'm even hoping for sound clips!

    Edit: Come to think of it, perhaps the new 2960 Celebration corresponds to your wish list? (As with many things out of Willson, it's a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. You'd almost think their specs were classified intel).


  3. #3

    Willson Wishlist

    Nicely put, Balder!

    Can't disagree about the 2900BT. But after playing the Miraphone 5050 almost exclusively for the last few months, with its big, spread bell and clear, lyrical sound and unlimited dynamic range, I had this insight about how I would improve? the 2900. Had that thought yesterday after playing the 2900 BT against the Sterling Virtuoso.

    Re the Sterling: it came, I played it over the weekend and am going to send it back. It sounds lovely, like an improved German Besson 967 -- much better sound really. But I would want the heavy bell and the red brass to keep it. And the base model does not come that way. Just not quite enough there there for me to spend the money. But the base model is a really fine horn; unfortunately, I may just have to go the custom route to get the right Sterling for me.

    Looked into the 2960, but the Willson distributor wanted a king's ransom for one -- the price was ridiculously high -- and I couldn't ask the Tuba Exchange to order a horn which might sit unsold if I ended up not buying it. It is tantalizing though. Maybe somewhere I'll have a chance to play one.

    John

  4. #4

    Willson Wishlist

    Originally posted by: JTJ It seems to me that a Wilson 2900 BT modified with a slightly larger and perhaps thinner bell, say 300MM, and a bit more bell flare might make for an interesting instrument -- with a less thick sound, more sound spread and flexibility.
    Now might be a good time to present that idea to DEG if you are feeling evangelical. Willson used to have more-or-less of a lock on the pro euphonium market in the USA, but now players are choosing to look at ALL of the fine brands that are available and Willson is taking a smaller share than before. The other brands have made amazing (to me, anyway) progress recently. Willson has also done some development, but I think they have lost the spotlight. They are still doing pretty well, but they have to be thinking about ways to gain a little bigger share, don't they? Their ears might be more open now than they would have been 10 years ago.

    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  5. #5

    Willson Wishlist

    Dave, interesting suggestion. But all I can hope for is that decision makers are reading forums like this one to gain ideas. I do think the sweet spot in bell size is 300MM -- a bell that size will best serve the most players. I say that from really liking the sound and playing feel of the 300MM Yamaha 642 and 842, and the base Virtuoso, which in my time with it this weekend seemed so much more open and flexible that the 2900, a fact I feel, intuitively, is largely rooted in the bell design and secondarily probably in bracing, from what I have learned on this site. I also like the even larger bells, like the 310MM Miraphone 5050; but those are not instruments I feel are in the sweet spot and require a different mindset and sound in your head to really play well.

    The slightly smaller 2900 bell, which I think is around 295MM, stovepipes the sound too much (I feel the same way about the even smaller belled Besson 968). That said, I really like the 2900 BT, but feel the sound can be too thick (my words) for some musical situations.

    Final thought: A 2900BT with a 300MM bell would nicely fill a niche in the Willson lineup. One could have the Classic 2900 with the euro shank; the 2900/300MM in BT; the 2950 & 2960 in 310MM. And since those horns seem to be made almost to order, no huge inventory commitment, only developmental commitment by Willson is needed.



  6. #6

    Willson Wishlist

    I would go along with that John.

    They are currently tooling up for a new Baritone at the moment, which is long overdue. That's all I know for now.

    CB

  7. #7

    Willson Wishlist

    Originally posted by: highams I would go along with that John. They are currently tooling up for a new Baritone at the moment, which is long overdue. That's all I know for now. CB
    Any idea whether Willson's new baritone design will continue the "bigger is better" trend that seems to be in place generally with baritones?

    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  8. #8

    Willson Wishlist

    Nothing at the moment David. Not sure where that 'bigger is better' has come from?
    all other models are in line with today's other instruments and their bores & bells.

    Chas

  9. #9

    Willson Wishlist

    Originally posted by: highams Not sure where that 'bigger is better' has come from? all other models are in line with today's other instruments and their bores & bells. Chas
    That was my impression based on some chatter I have seen elsewhere by folks who actually are baritone specialists. I found it easy to believe based on my own experience. In some of our band concerts where I used my baritone, the sound was somewhat euphonium-like on the recordings. But of course that could be because of my own "input" to the horn and/or the size 4B Wick mp I used.



    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

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