Wessex Dolce Review

[DaveBj]

The thread on the gold plating on the finger buttons reminded me -- I wanted to mention the finger buttons in my review. They are rather small, flat, and, as has been mentioned, gold-plated (supposedly). My preference would be for larger concave buttons, to minimized fingers slipping off. However, these buttons also have the Wessex lion engraved on the flat surface, and this provides a nice grippy surface. I have had no problems with finger slippage, and I'm quite happy with them.

[highpitch]

It is a Wyvern, not a lion. A two legged dragon, even.

Dennis

[DaveBj]

It is a Wyvern, not a lion. A two legged dragon, even.

Dennis

I stand corrected. Well, actually I'm sitting, but you know what I mean

[Euphorn]

Christine - If this is your first time buying a 3+1 compensating euphonium and never had experience with any high end brands, Dolce is the best option for the price. I went the same route werein I researched alot about the Dolce. Im using my horn for a good 11 months now and aside from the minor things, overall im satisfied with my horn.

Ps. My only experience with compensating euphonium is with old yamaha 642.

Dave - I really liked the feel of the finger buttons. Just the finish and maybe they can do something to make it more durable.

[DaveBj]

Another thing I forgot to mention -- the valves are VENTED!

[marcoso]

I bought an EP-100GB Dolce from Wessex for $1700 including shipping.

Dave Werden evaluated its intonation on this forum at http://www.dwerden.com/Intonation/index.cfm . I’m guessing he used an Alliance DC3 mouthpiece.

DaveBj provided reviews of the intonation of the Wessex Dolce using a Denis Wick 4ABL mouthpiece and the supplied Wessex mouthpiece.

In December 2022, using other mouthpieces, I ran intonation tests on the Wessex EP-100GB Dolce. I used the method that Dave Werden describes on this forum at http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.p...ing-Intonation . His method removes the player’s ability from the equation and enables the player to determine the inherent intonation of the instrument. This is important to me, because I am an intermediate player, and do not have the ears and lips to play on pitch if the instrument and mouthpiece don’t give me substantial help.

I tested the DENIS WICK 4ABL mouthpiece four times, with results similar to those reported by DaveBj.

I tested the supplied WESSEX 4Y mouthpiece once, with results again similar to those reported by DaveBj.

The fact that I obtained similar results is an affirmation of Dave Werden’s testing method.

When testing the EP-100 with a SCHILKE 51D mouthpiece, I pulled the main tuning slide out 30 mm, valve 1 slide out 8.5 mm, valve 2 slide out 0 mm, valve 3 slide out 10 mm, valve 4 slide out 28.5 mm, compensating slide 1 out 7 mm (i.e., max), and compensating slide 3 out 9.5 mm (i.e., max).

When you see unexpected fingerings below, it’s because they were necessary to avoid much worse results.

Bb4 (1) – 5 cents flat
A4 (12) – 20 cents flat
Ab4 (123) – 3 cents flat
G4 (12) – 15 cents flat
Gb4 (23) – 1 cent flat
F4 (13) – 2 cents flat
E4 (2) – right on
Eb4 (1) – 2 cents sharp
D4 (0) – right on
Db4 (2) – 4 cents flat
C4 (1) – 11 cents flat
B3 (123) – 4 cents flat
Bb3 (0) – right on
A3 (2) – right on
Ab3 (1) – 5 cents flat
G3 (12) – 2 cents flat
Gb3 (23) – right on
F3 (0) – 11 cents sharp
E3 (123) – 2 cents flat
Eb3 (1) – 23 cents flat
D3 (3) – 3 cents flat
Db3 (23) – 13 cents flat
C3 (13) – 3 cents flat
B2 (123) – 8 cents sharp
Bb2 (0) – 5 cents sharp
A2 (2) – 8 cents flat
Ab2 (1) – 30 cents flat
G2 (12) – 2 cents flat
Gb2 (23) – 8 cents flat
F2 (13) – 7 cents sharp
E2 (24) – right on
Eb2 (14) – 5 cents flat
D2 (34) – 2 cents sharp
Db2 (234) – 12 cents sharp
C2 (134) – 4 cents flat
B1 (1234) – 20 cents sharp

In separate posts I’ll show the results for the EP-100GB with a Bach 2G, a Giardinelli Symphony T, a Bach 4G, and a Denis Wick 3AL. That is not the order in which I tested the mouthpieces, but the order in which the results are progressively a bit better.

[marcoso]

In December 2022 I ran an intonation test on the Wessex EP-100GB Dolce with a Bach 2G mouthpiece. I used the intonation testing method that Dave Werden describes on this forum.

For my test with the BACH 2G mouthpiece, I pulled the main tuning slide out 22 mm, valve 1 slide out 0 mm, valve 2 slide out 0 mm, valve 3 slide out 13 mm, valve 4 slide out 16 mm, compensating slide 1 out 7 mm (i.e., max), and compensating slide 3 out 9.5 mm (i.e., max).

When you see unexpected fingerings below, it’s because they were necessary to avoid much worse results.

Bb4 (0) – 5 cents sharp
A4 (2) – right on
Ab4 (1) – 5 cents sharp
G4 (12) – right on
Gb4 (23) – 10 cents flat
F4 (0) – 5 cents sharp
E4 (2) – 5 cents sharp
Eb4 (1) – 5 cents sharp
D4 (0) – right on
Db4 (2) – 5 cents sharp
C4 (1) – 10 cents flat
B3 (12) – 15 cents flat
Bb3 (0) – right on
A3 (2) – right on
Ab3 (1) – 10 cents sharp
G3 (3) – 10 cents sharp
Gb3 (23) – right on
F3 (4) – 10 cents sharp
E3 (2) – 10 cents sharp
Eb3 (1) – 5 cents flat
D3 (12) – 10 cents sharp
Db3 (23) – 10 cents sharp
C3 (4) – 5 cents sharp
B2 (1234) – 5 cents sharp
Bb2 (0) – right on
A2 (2) – right on
Ab2 (1) – right on
G2 (12) – right on
Gb2 (23) – right on
F2 (13, 4) – uncentered
E2 (24) – 20 cents sharp
Eb2 (14) – 20 cents sharp
D2 (124) – 5 cents sharp
Db2 (234) – uncentered
C2 (134) – uncentered
B1 (1234) – 50 cents sharp

In posts below I’ll show the results for the EP-100GB with a Giardinelli Symphony T, a Bach 4G, and a Denis Wick 3AL. That is not the order in which I tested the mouthpieces, but the order in which the results are progressively a bit better.

[marcoso]

In December 2022 I ran an intonation test on the Wessex EP-100GB Dolce with a Giardinelli Symphony T mouthpiece. I used the intonation testing method that Dave Werden describes on this forum.

For my test with the GIARDINELLI SYMPHONY T mouthpiece, I pulled the main tuning slide out 14 mm, valve 1 slide out 26(!) mm, valve 2 slide out 0 mm, valve 3 slide out 13 mm, valve 4 slide out 25 mm, compensating slide 1 out 7 mm (i.e., max), and compensating slide 3 out 9.5 mm (i.e., max).

When you see unexpected fingerings below, it’s because they were necessary to avoid much worse results.

Bb4 (0) – 2 cents sharp
A4 (2) – 13 cents flat
Ab4 (1) – 2 cents sharp
G4 (12) – 6 cents flat
Gb4 (23) – 18 cents flat
F4 (0) – 20 cents sharp
E4 (2) – 12 cents flat
Eb4 (1) – 7 cents sharp
D4 (0) – 9 cents sharp
Db4 (2) – 3 cents sharp
C4 (1) – 3 cents sharp
B3 (1234) – 3 cents sharp
Bb3 (0) – right on
A3 (2) – 5 cents flat
Ab3 (1) – right on
G3 (12) – right on
Gb3 (23) – 12 cents flat
F3 (0) – 2 cents sharp
E3 (2) – 10 cents flat
Eb3 (1) – 3 cents flat
D3 (12) – 3 cents sharp
Db3 (23) – 2 cents flat
C3 (13) – 17 cents sharp
B2 (1234) – 12 cents flat
Bb2 (0) – 2 cents flat
A2 (2) – 7 cents flat
Ab2 (1) – 8 cents flat
G2 (12) – 1 cent flat
Gb2 (23) – 12 cents flat
F2 (13) – 8 cents sharp
E2 (123) – 10 cents sharp
Eb2 (14) – uncentered
D2 (34) – 10 cents flat
Db2 (234) – right on
C2 (134) – 5 cents sharp
B1 (1234) – 2 cents flat

In posts below I’ll show the results for the EP-100GB with a Bach 4G and a Denis Wick 3AL. This is not the order in which I tested the mouthpieces, but the order in which the results are progressively a bit better.

[marcoso]

In December 2022 I ran an intonation test on the Wessex EP-100GB Dolce with a Bach 4G mouthpiece. I used the intonation testing method that Dave Werden describes on this forum. I tested the mouthpiece three times.

To test the BACH 4G mouthpiece, I pulled the main tuning slide out 29 mm, valve 1 slide out 4 mm, valve 2 slide out 0 mm, valve 3 slide out 13 mm, valve 4 slide out 23 mm, compensating slide 1 out 7 mm (i.e., max), and compensating slide 3 out 9.5 mm (i.e., max).

When you see unexpected fingerings below, it’s because they were necessary to avoid much worse results.

Bb4 (0) – 5 cents sharp
A4 (2) – 5 cents flat
Ab4 (123) – 3 cents sharp
G4 (12) – right on
Gb4 (23) – 13 cents flat
F4 (13) – right on
E4 (2) – 2 cents sharp
Eb4 (1) – 11 cents sharp
D4 (3) – 7 cents sharp
Db4 (23) – 7 cents sharp
C4 (1) – 2 cents sharp
B3 (1234) – right on
Bb3 (0) – right on
A3 (2) – right on
Ab3 (1) – 4 cents sharp
G3 (3) – right on
Gb3 (23) – 2 cents flat
F3 (4) – 3 cents sharp
E3 (2) – 2 cents flat
Eb3 (1) – 2 cents flat
D3 (3) – right on
Db3 (23) – 5 cents sharp
C3 (13) – 5 cents sharp
B2 (123) – 2 cents sharp
Bb2 (0) – 12 cents sharp
A2 (2) – 5 cents flat
Ab2 (1) – 8 cents flat
G2 (12) – right on
Gb2 (23) – right on
F2 (13) – 4 cents sharp
E2 (24) – 22 cents sharp
Eb2 (14) – 27 cents sharp
D2 (124) – 12 cents sharp
Db2 (234) – 20 cents flat
C2 (134) – 30 cents sharp
B1 (1234) – 50 cents sharp

In a post below I’ll show the results for the EP-100GB with a Denis Wick 3AL. It gave the best results.

[marcoso]

In December 2022 I ran an intonation test on the Wessex EP-100GB Dolce with a Denis Wick 3AL mouthpiece. I used the intonation testing method that Dave Werden describes on this forum. I tested the mouthpiece twice.

To test the DENIS WICK 3AL mouthpiece, I pulled the main tuning slide out 22 mm, valve 1 slide out 0 mm, valve 2 slide out 0 mm, valve 3 slide out 11 mm, valve 4 slide out 22.5 mm, compensating slide 1 out 7 mm (i.e., max), and compensating slide 3 out 9.5 mm (i.e., max).

When you see unexpected fingerings below, it’s because they were necessary to avoid much worse results.

Bb4 (0) – (uncertain – my lips were so tired!)
A4 (2) – right on
Ab4 (1) – 5 cents flat
G4 (3) – right on
Gb4 (23) – 5 cents flat
F4 (4) – 5 cents sharp
E4 (2) – 2 cents flat
Eb4 (1) – 5 cents sharp
D4 (0) – right on
Db4 (2) – 1 cent sharp
C4 (1) – right on
B3 (1234) – 7 cents flat
Bb3 (0) – right on
A3 (2) – 3 cents sharp
Ab3 (1) – 2 cents sharp
G3 (3) – 5 cents sharp
Gb3 (23) – right on
F3 (4) – 7 cents sharp
E3 (2) – 3 cents flat
Eb3 (1) – 6 cents flat
D3 (12) – 8 cents sharp
Db3 (23) – 7 cents sharp
C3 (4) – 1 cent flat
B2 (1234) – uncentered
Bb2 (0) – 1 cent sharp
A2 (2) – 3 cents flat
Ab2 (1) – 5 cents flat
G2 (12) – right on
Gb2 (23) – 1 cent sharp
F2 (4) – 6 cents flat
E2 (24) – 13 cents sharp
Eb2 (14) – 33 cents sharp
D2 (34) – 6 cents sharp
Db2 (234) – 19 cents sharp
C2 (1234) – 10 cents flat
B1 (1234) – 60 cents sharp

[dsurkin]

Marcoso:

I'm truly pleased to see someone else using scientific notation for the pitches! I've talked with trumpet players, some of whom say "high G" to refer to F3 and others say "high G" to refer to F2.

Your tests demonstrate to me the importance of mouthpiece choice. I'm often tempted to try other mouthpieces and if I do so, I'll make sure to do the intonation test as part of the evaluation.

[DaveBj]

Thank you for your extensive work and meticulous reporting. I've been thinking about rerunning my tests. A lot of things have changed in 5 years, including the acquisition of a couple new (to me) mouthpieces.