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Thread: Willson 2950

  1. Willson 2950

    Hi new here, and thought I'd make an account.

    I've recently had the opportunity to try a Willson 2950 and found it super responsive with a dark, rich, and wide sound. I also found that I could get it to sing really clearly. From what I can tell from this forum, and other forums is that the 2950 is definitely not a favorite, and I've seen people criticize it for being too "tubby" with a bad sound (?). I personally didn't notice that all when I was playing. I've previously been a British horn guy, but this horn played really well for me, and had a really nice sound to it.

    Is there a reason why I've seen so many comments saying that this it not a good horn? (Does that make me a bad player for liking it? haha) Would this horn work in a wind ensemble / band environment rather than a British brass band and solo use?
    Also can anyone tell me how the 2960 stacks up to it?

  2. #2
    Welcome to the forum!

    I'm also a former British horn guy (Besson Artist for 10 years and Sterling Artist for 20). The original British sound was very much what I thought a euphonium should sound like. Sterling still has it, but I think the German Bessons have strayed a bit. The Adams E3 satisfies my British side very well.

    I found the 2960 not quite where I wanted it, soundwise, but it is a sound I could live with if I had some compelling reason. Here are my impressions from a few years ago when I gave one a good play test:

    http://www.dwerden.com/forum/entry.p...ng-and-Willson

    For the record, there are several good horns that can work in brass bands or concert/wind bands. Players vary and the horns they choose should vary, too, logically.
    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

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853
    We have a section player who joined our comm band a few months ago who plays and loves his 2950. He really loves it! He studied at Indiana when Harvey Phillips was there and worked on his master's at FSU under Paul Ebbers. He's not a member of this forum however.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  4. The solo euphonium of the New England Brass Band, Aaron Rivkin, played a Willson 2900 (medium shank) and sounded great. Even though he got his masters from RNCM under Steven Mead, he played the 2900 throughout. He did not, however, use a 51D or BB1, but a mouthpiece that provided a bit larger and darker sound.

    Doug
    Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
    Concord Band
    Winchendon Winds
    Townsend Military Band

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis area
    Posts
    1,003
    Who is that, Rick? Might have overlapped with me.
    Jim Williams N9EJR (love 10 meter CW)
    Formerly Principal Euphonium in a whole
    bunch of groups, now just a schlub.
    Shires Q41, Yamaha 321, 621 Baritone
    Wick 4AL, Wessex 4Y, or whatever I grab.
    Conn 50H trombone, Blue P-bone
    www.soundcloud.com/jweuph

  6. Doug, would you consider a Wick a good match for Willson? Like an SM4 or 4AL?

  7. Quote Originally Posted by Dannybrooks View Post
    Doug, would you consider a Wick a good match for Willson? Like an SM4 or 4AL?
    I think mouthpiece choice is entirely personal. For me the answer is yes because I play a 4AL. If I had a med-shank Willson, I would use a 4AM. Charlie Brighton plays a 2900BT (large shank) and uses a VERY large Doug Elliot. I think he recently switched to a 2950 as well.
    Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
    Concord Band
    Winchendon Winds
    Townsend Military Band

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    3,853
    Jim I sent you a PM.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  9. #9
    I really like the 2950 and the 2960, but the players who are die-hard Willson people tend to prefer the characteristics that the 2900 has.
    --
    Barry

  10. #10
    IIRC Gail Robertson plays on a 2950. It's a great horn with a big sound. At the top-tier level of euphoniums it's all about personal preference. Willson wouldn't still make the 2950 if there weren't plenty of people who love it!
    Sean Kissane
    Low Brass Specialist, Paige's Music
    Principal Euphonium, Indianapolis Brass Choir
    Principal Euphonium, Crossroads Brass Band

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