First impressions of my new silver Wessex Dolce

[PastorAtrain]

Indeed! It will be awhile before I even think about upgrading...unless I find a good one from one of my Marine Corps buddies. But it’s all good! I’m excited for it to finally get here!

[John Morgan]

Ok, it is official.
I just purchased the gold brass Wessex Dolce. Wick 4AL mpc, two bottles of blue juice, hetmans #7 slide gel, and a HW brass saver brush kit.
I was going to get the silver and gold, but found that you had mentioned that someone had mentioned that the gold wears off...no bueno.
But I’ve mostly ever played on silver euph’s before...so I figured I’d give the lacquered one a try.
Besides, this is just my first one anyway...

Congratulations! Looks to me like a good choice with ample supplies. Enjoy your new horn. Will be interested in hearing your comments.

[PastorAtrain]

Thanks John!
I can’t believe I used to get paid to play, and now I feel like such a newbie! I picked up a student Yamaha today from the community college with a Bach mp and while it seems my lips still have some muscle memory and such, it’s still super rough and they wear out after just a short time! I got my work cut out for me!

[lzajmom]

Thanks John!
I can’t believe I used to get paid to play, and now I feel like such a newbie! I picked up a student Yamaha today from the community college with a Bach mp and while it seems my lips still have some muscle memory and such, it’s still super rough and they wear out after just a short time! I got my work cut out for me!

Yes, preeeach! (I was going to say that even before I remembered your handle.) I never got paid to play, but it used to be so easy and natural to make music on my old horn. After all these years, it was like my mind remembered what to do, and my heart remembered the joy it had been, but my mouth just couldn't do it. It was really frustrating!

Now it's been a little more than a month, and the familiarity and ability finally started to come back this week. I only get to play a few times a week, but I imagine someone who could play every day would get there a lot faster! My stamina was only about 10-15 minutes at first, but now I can play more than an hour before I start to feel fatigued, and at least 75 minutes before I really get "shot." Yesterday I played three full octaves of the Bb scale and it actually wasn't atrocious.

You'll get there! I'm really happy for you and I hope you love your Wessex!

[PastorAtrain]

That's funny...people call me preach anyway!

[kennyg48]

I would like to thank Dave, John, Jonathan and many others on this forum for their invaluable information that they have provided on the Dolce Euphlnium. After extensive research I am almost at the point considering purchasing this instrument. The two questions I have are as follows:

a. Decision regarding whether to purchase the Lacquer, Silver or Silver/Gold (which looks great) finish.
b. Has the cross threading issue of the valve caps been resolved yet.

Thanks once again for the invaluable resource this forum provides

Kenny
Cape Town ,South Africa

[Jonathantuba]

I would like to thank Dave, John, Jonathan and many others on this forum for their invaluable information that they have provided on the Dolce Euphlnium. After extensive research I am almost at the point considering purchasing this instrument. The two questions I have are as follows:

a. Decision regarding whether to purchase the Lacquer, Silver or Silver/Gold (which looks great) finish.
b. Has the cross threading issue of the valve caps been resolved yet.

Thanks once again for the invaluable resource this forum provides

Kenny
Cape Town ,South Africa

For finish my recommendation would be silver-plated as the most durable (gold looks great new, but does wear over time, as gold is a soft metal). As you are in South Africa where it gets hot, sweat is more likely to remove lacquer over time.

For the valve threading issue, it has I would say been fixed in that in recent quality assurance, I could replace caps on one hundred instruments without problems on any. Not to say you could not cross-thread if you put on at an angle, but if you follow the method explained by Dave Werden, you should have no problems.

[kennyg48]

For finish my recommendation would be silver-plated as the most durable (gold looks great new, but does wear over time, as gold is a soft metal). As you are in South Africa where it gets hot, sweat is more likely to remove lacquer over time.

For the valve threading issue, it has I would say been fixed in that in recent quality assurance, I could replace caps on one hundred instruments without problems on any. Not to say you could not cross-thread if you put on at an angle, but if you follow the method explained by Dave Werden, you should have no problems.

Thank you Jonathsn for your prompt response

[davewerden]

...but if you follow the method explained by Dave Werden, you should have no problems.

As a reminder, here is the video Jonathan refers to, where I explain my own favorite way to handle valve caps:

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

[kennyg48]

As a reminder, here is the video Jonathan refers to, where I explain my own favorite way to handle valve caps:

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

Thanks Dave I saw your video over the weekend, much appreciated

[John Morgan]

Dave's video is good and useful. I had problems with my Wessex Dolce, particularly the 2nd valve cap. What I do that works excellently for me is I put the valve in, press down on the top finger cap until it is sitting right on top of the valve cap I need to screw in. Just gently on top, and all while holding the instrument completely upright. I then turn the valve cap gently as if unscrewing it until I feel or hear a slight click. This tells me it is ready and positioned/aimed correctly for screwing in. Then I screw it in. This has been working every time for me. I used to take two minutes to get this cap on, even using methods like Dave describes. It just would not get in the right position to screw in.

[kennyg48]

Thank you John for the tip

[guidocorona]

I found that applying slide grease to caps threads is also helpful, and complementary to the techniques already described by John and David.

G.

[PastorAtrain]

I received my Wessex dolce last Wednesday and haven’t had a single problem with the valve caps. Even threaded them on the first try with my left hand! I’ll post a review in a week or so...but suffice it to say that I am very delighted with the purchase, and have been bathing and caring for her properly.

[ghmerrill]

I had problems with my Wessex Dolce, particularly the 2nd valve cap.

Again -- and I've mentioned this in other threads -- why is the reported incidence of these problems so much higher with the 2nd valve? From my perspective this is eerily disturbing. Like ... is there only ONE guy who works on 2nd valves on the Wessex instruments and "screws things up"? How is he getting these problems past the inspection step? Can't he be replaced?