New 4-Valve Compensated Baritone

[Jonathantuba]

I am pleased to start 2017 announcing yet another new model from Wessex Tubas. This is our BR144 Bb Compensated baritone with 4-valves which we have named the 'Secundus' which means in Latin second - as we believe this is just the instrument to use to play 2nd baritone in a brass band. It will also be a great doubling instrument for euphonium players familiar with the 4-valve compensated system.

The baritone will be available to try at Butlins, Skegness at the brass band contest in couple weeks and then in USA at NAMM and US Army Workshop in the next month.

We expect the BR144 to be available for sale from August with price similar to our Dolce euphonium.

[RickF]

That looks very promising Jonathan. Hope to get to try one some day.

[bbocaner]

looks real nice! I'm looking forward to trying it out.

[euphlight]

Interesting idea. I can see perceive the use of a 4 valve compensating baritone for those rare times which an euphonium player is playing bass clarinet or bassoon cues or parts. The baritone would make it easier to balance with the clarinets versus the euphonium in exposed areas.

[JasonDonnelly]

Cool! It would be nice to get a 4v compensating bari without paying a fortune.

Interesting idea. I can see perceive the use of a 4 valve compensating baritone for those rare times which an euphonium player is playing bass clarinet or bassoon cues or parts. The baritone would make it easier to balance with the clarinets versus the euphonium in exposed areas.

Hmm...that's something I've never thought of before. Certainly a narrow niche-but it would be useful for those in school/community groups. Not worth justifying the purchase of a baritone by itself, but an interesting possible use of it.

[davewerden]

Other brands are making 4-valve baritones now, including Besson. Originally I suppose people thought (understandably) that the smaller bore and tone of the baritone was not suitable in the low range. However, now the bore is larger (in the .540+ range) and tone darker, so the capability is better. But also, I suspect composers like the new options.

I would like having one myself, but I can't justify the cost. In my church group I could see a good fit when I'm covering trombone parts, and often the 2nd bone goes outside the 3-valve range. But no one has offered to gift me one yet, so...

[RickF]

I'm so used to using 4th valve with my euph that when I subbed on baritone (3v comper), that I kept trying to find it with my left index finger. Took me awhile to get used to 1-3 again.

[LittleJimmy]

My Yamaha 621s baritone and low notres

I'm so used to using 4th valve with my euph that when I subbed on baritone (3v comper), that I kept trying to find it with my left index finger. Took me awhile to get used to 1-3 again.

My Yamaha 621s baritone is a 3+1. I play in 3 local concert bands--the 1st trombone part in one, the 2nd trombone part in the second, and the bassoon part in the third. I use a Schilke 51D mouthpiece and sound quite good (I think) when playing a G below the scale. I play quite a few notes A or below in the bassoon part and the 3+1 works well.

[bbocaner]

I like having a 4-valve baritone as I find the technique to be a lot easier and the extended range helps you borrow more solo literature from euphonium (and other instruments).

Here's a video of me playing my Besson 2056 prestige on a solo piece that goes down to low concert B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtU9YzobqTk

That said, I'm playing a 3-valve exclusively these days.

[CFrishman]

Very Nice!

[BDeisinger]

Very nice sound!

[Zeino]

Looks amazing. I would love to get a chance to try one out at some point. I'm very interested in your Baritone BR140 right now for a brass band here in Tucson AZ that I've been wanting to join.

[DaveBj]

We (the two baris in the Huntsville Brass Band) have a part that drops to a low C (just above pedal Bb) on tomorrow night's concert. Too bad we can't do a quick borrow

[bbocaner]

I tried out this instrument at the TUSABTEW. It's obvious the design of the wrap owes a lot to the Besson 2056. I think the bell diameter is enlarged. I really liked the very smart addition of a thumb ring, as the compensating loops on this type of instrument make it really difficult to anchor one's thumb on the side of the first valve as is customary, unless you have tiny hands. Valves felt GREAT. I'm not sure about the wyvern-engraved finger buttons, I think I prefer the feel of buttons with MoP (or plastic) inlay. Quality of the workmanship looked really good. It seemed to have some of the same intonation difficulties that the 2056 has, requiring 1+2 for concert D above the bass clef staff, maybe 1+3 for middle C (it's closer and you could probably get away with the slightly flat first valve), and 1+2 for concert A a sixth higher. Unfortunately, I can't fairly comment further on the playability or tone as it sounded and felt like something was wrong with it. Perhaps something loose, a big leak, or something stuck in the bore. Their 3-valve instrument has a fantastic sound from what I remember about the last time I played one. It was a prototype and Jonathan mentioned they were still tweaking the design. So, I feel like it's very promising and look forward to trying one again once they've figured out what was going on with the prototype.

[tynerm]

Any updates on this? Excited to try it.