Willson 2950

[miketeachesclass]

Pretty sure Gail was playing a 2950 when I saw here last May.

I stand corrected RE: Gail’s horn if that’s the case.

The UK leadpipe was prototyped by Charley Brighton on his personal 2900. He purchased a York Eminence leadpipe and receiver from leftover stock when York went belly up. He had it installed on his 2900BTS. It made a very positive difference in the horn and so he worked with Willson to have the "-UK" versions outfitted with this leadpipe. I did the same thing to my Besson 967 Sovereign (2002) in order to make my Sovereign play more like a Prestige (w/o trigger). Again a very good result.

Nice info, Doug, thanks.

On another note, if anyone wants to check out the 2960 at NABBA in April, I’m happy to arrange a time (assuming Getzen doesn’t have one, as they typically don’t); all of my playing obligations are on Friday of the contest.

[Xfoontes]

Gail Robertson does play a willson 2950, although she has gotten new valve caps that are a bit wider so she can reach her fourth valve, but in the little that I have heard her play I can tell you the sound that came out of that horn was absolutely astonishing

[MichaelSchott]

Gail Robertson does play a willson 2950, although she has gotten new valve caps that are a bit wider so she can reach her fourth valve, but in the little that I have heard her play I can tell you the sound that came out of that horn was absolutely astonishing

Excellent point. I think talent and tone concept is far more important than the horn itself. I'm sure the 2950 suits Gail well but she and others at her level can get great sound out of any professional level horn. Decision making may have more to do with response, intonation and other non-tonal qualities. Anecdotally, there was a time when I wanted to become a good trombone player and purchased a Bach Strad 42BO. The comment I received on my playing was I made it sound like a euphonium :-).

[RickF]

Dr. Gail Robertson is one of those artists who can sound good on a mpc, hose and funnel. I haven't communicated with Gail in quite some time but she did play a Willson 2900 for quite a long time. Then a York Eminence until they went belly up. She told me back then that she got used to the trigger on the York so switched to the Willson 2950 with trigger.



Many years ago we played in a quartet together (Fred Dart included) at the memorial for a mutual friend, Bill Wells... who was the uncle of Jim and Bill Gray of the BBBC in MI. We played the arrangement "Trusting as the Moments Fly" arr. by the late and great, Arthur Lehman.

[AlexS]

I tested out the 2950 and 2900 in my band and had an easier time with the 2900. The compactness of the sound made it much easier for me to blend with clarinets and horns and melt into the tuba sound. Given, it was a smallish Marine Band of around 40 and we were playing marches mainly and a standard or two. A larger band playing more heavy hitting rep could make a difference. I’m also biased that my sound concept is skewed toward the Dr. Bowman and Behrend type sound.

I believe the 2950 is geared more towards brass bands and prioritize the robust, dark, soloistic approach over having to worry about blending and reinforcing clarinets and saxes. That’s not so say that they can’t be versatile, they just both feel like they have a home base.

Alex S

[MichaelSchott]

I tested out the 2950 and 2900 in my band and had an easier time with the 2900. The compactness of the sound made it much easier for me to blend with clarinets and horns and melt into the tuba sound. Given, it was a smallish Marine Band of around 40 and we were playing marches mainly and a standard or two. A larger band playing more heavy hitting rep could make a difference. I’m also biased that my sound concept is skewed toward the Dr. Bowman and Behrend type sound.

I believe the 2950 is geared more towards brass bands and prioritize the robust, dark, soloistic approach over having to worry about blending and reinforcing clarinets and saxes. That’s not so say that they can’t be versatile, they just both feel like they have a home base.

Alex S

You are right. The 2900 has long been the horn of choice in the US for concert band work and is the horn of choice in the DC service bands. I've played mine for years in brass bands but it's not as well suited to that ensemble where you often need a huge round sound.