Wessex Sinfonico?

[Dom]

Hi, Im fairly new to euphonium and have been playing on a Vintage 1967 B&H Imperial provided by my school. I have had a very good experience with the horn, however I need to start looking into a horn of my own. I originally wanted the Wessex Dolce (Which I have heard amazing things about) But recently my budget increased up to the Sinfonico range. I have heard it is a high step above the Dolce in quality. I also really like it's "chubbier" design and the copper accents. Is this a good euphonium?

[Davidus1]

There is some info in the forum about the horn.
http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthr...o#.XwPlES2ZM_U

Also, look up Algirdas Matoniz on Youtube playing it and discussing the horn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHfrS-Puin4&t=517s

[Dom]

Thank you, I thought there was only the one about the IET prototype.

[tbonesullivan]

Are you buying the Sinfonico new? If you are in that price range, you are in the price range of used pro level euphoniums by Besson, Boosey & Hawkes, and others. I think Dillon Music has a B&H Imperial for sale right now.

[Beef]

At that point look at the used market too, I've seen some sterling virtuosos and an XO Euphonium get sold around that range.

[AlexS]

I actually really liked the sinfónico. I preferred it to several “pro” horns that cost 2 to 3 times as much when I was playing horns at the most recent tuba/euph workshop. It’s a crazy amount of horn for the money. It played a little like the Adams models, if you’ve ever tested those. It played very easily and was a solid improvement from the dolce, which I already liked and won a gig in the USMC fleet bands on. From what I remember, wessex had a great return policy if you didn’t like the horn. Which may or may not be the case for a used horn.
Alex S

[Dom]

At that point look at the used market too, I've seen some sterling virtuosos and an XO Euphonium get sold around that range.

I am buying new, and for now I'd probably stick with new. I just want to be sure that I like the Euphonium, and as AlexS said, a used horn may not have a solid return policy, nor a way to test it out. I do like my current Imperial and at least for now (Corona) I'm not going to buy.

When this whole thing clears up I'm planning on hopefully going to Chicago and stop by the Wessex showroom to try out the Euphonium.

From what I've seen at the various music stores I've been to, the sinfonico has an amazing price for the package it gives. The others lack in quality or very often a compensating system.

Though, I would love to find a nice used horn there may just be some issues. Thank you everyone for replying and I'll definitely try to use some of the suggestions!

[guidocorona]

Hello Dom, an effective alternative to waiting until the end of the COVIT pandemic may be to take advantage of the very generous Wessex product return clause, as outlined in the Wessex Warranty statement, which states in part:

"Unlike most leading brands, Wessex Tubas offers a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects on all our instruments, and in the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with your purchase, we offer a full refund and return within 2 weeks.
You can return any item bought from Wessex Tubas within 14 days of receiving it for a full refund, minus shipping costs. However, please contact us before returning your item so we can provide you with return labels and a collection booking with our dedicated courier to ensure the safe return of your item/s. When returning the item, it must be in its original packaging and in ’as received’ condition. Please note that shipping charges apply to refund upon return of your item and any damage will also result in reduced refund."

This would let you evaluate Simfonico for a full 14 days at home, instead of the couple hours you would spend at the Wessex showroom. And in the unlikely case you decided to return the eupho to Wessex, your out of pocket cash outlay is likely to be much less than the cost of a trip to Chicago.

Regards, Guido

[EuphMan84]

I've been emailing with James Garney at Wessex about a showroom appt and tried to find out more info on the Sinfonica.
Here's some details about the horn that are not so widely available:

"The EP600 is an original design by Wessex while the Dolce is a Jinbao design that we have made several manufacturing improvements to. It shares many features that we use across our entire line of instruments (stainless steel valves, gold brass leadpipe, etc.) The big thing that sets the EP600 apart is the fact that it is a hand hammered sheet brass instrument. Because of this, the instrument is one consistent thickness the whole way through. This makes it considerably lighter than the other Euphonium models in our lineup. There was also careful attention paid to the compensating range, resulting in better response in the low range. Additionally, this is the only Euphonium we currently make in the high grade department, which results in a greater attention to detail. When you come to the showroom to play it, you will be able to feel how much higher quality the EP600 is over the EP100."

[guidocorona]

Dom and all, I have written to James Garney at Wessex about the Try&Buy for Sinfonico. James has responded within the hour with this very encouraging note:

"Hi Guido,

Thank you for pointing this out to me and taking the initiative to offer this to one of our potential customers. The way our return process works is as
follows: The customer reaches out to me to let me know that they wish to return the instrument. They pack it up in the box with all the packaging. We issue
a return label to either our warehouse or to me here in Chicago. They get refunded minus the total cost of shipping once it reaches us and it is determined
that nothing was damaged. On a Euphonium, it's around $100. Sometimes it can be less depending on where they are located and where the instrument is returning
to. We ask that our customers reach out to us prior to just shipping it back to us as they can take advantage of our corporate shipping rates and we can
figure out where the inventory needs to go.

Hopefully that makes sense. I'm sure Jonathan will also weigh in on that thread at some point and say similar things."

James can be reached as follows:
Email: dolce@wessex-tubas.com
Phone: 616-843-6888

Regards, Guido

[Dom]

Wow! Thanks for all the input! I'd love to see if Johnathan chimes in, I've heard great things about the Sinfonico and I am confident it will be an outstanding horn. I'll hopefully be able to buy at the end of this year (Maybe Christmas? )

[Davidus1]

Are the valves quieter on the Sinfonico than that of the Dolce?

[Jonathantuba]

Wow! Thanks for all the input! I'd love to see if Johnathan chimes in, I've heard great things about the Sinfonico and I am confident it will be an outstanding horn. I'll hopefully be able to buy at the end of this year (Maybe Christmas? )

I am sure you will love the EP600HP - it is a euphonium we developed with feedback from some of the best euphonium players in the business.

Are the valves quieter on the Sinfonico than that of the Dolce?

I am not quite sure what you mean? With piston valves the noise is mainly determined by the springs and felts fitted, unless the valve is gritty with dirt or has badly fitting valve guides. So the valves should be quiet on either model. If not, something needs replacing. If you like send us a video and we may be able to determine what is causing noise.

[Davidus1]

I am sure you will love the EP600HP - it is a euphonium we developed with feedback from some of the best euphonium players in the business.


I am not quite sure what you mean? With piston valves the noise is mainly determined by the springs and felts fitted, unless the valve is gritty with dirt or has badly fitting valve guides. So the valves should be quiet on either model. If not, something needs replacing. If you like send us a video and we may be able to determine what is causing noise.

Thanks Jonathan. What I mean is the normal noise that comes with playing the valves. Matoniz did a nice comparison video with JP274 and Schiller Elite. I know it isn't the exact same as a Dolce but prefer the "quieter" valves on the JP in that video. Just curious if the Sinfonico would be quiet valves. I agree that the springs and felts have a big impact. I also know that when looking to cut costs it seems that they are sometimes of lesser quality. (not always and not referring to Wessex specifically, just an observation). Very interested in the Sinfonico. I guess the next shipment won't arrive until later this fall? Thanks.

[davewerden]

Matoniz did a nice comparison video with JP274 and Schiller Elite. I know it isn't the exact same as a Dolce but prefer the "quieter" valves on the JP in that video.

If that is the video I'm thinking of, look at again and watch his fingers. In one such video I saw he was slamming the valves much harder for the horn he said had noisier valves.