Wessex Sinfonico Reviews

[John Morgan]

I am one of four forum members who will be reviewing the Wessex Sinfonico like we did for the Austin Custom Brass Doubler Euphonium.

Just a quick note to say that the Sinfonico arrived at my home today, about a couple hours ago, in good condition. I will be writing an extensive review on this horn after playing and examining it for a few days, but I do need to register a couple things right now.

This horn, the Wessex Sinfonico, is a very nice horn to look at right out of the box. It was exciting to open the case and see such a lovely horn. And after playing it for 30-45 minutes, I am really, really impressed with the sound of this horn. And the resonance that I feel when playing it. This is a very, very good euphonium, no doubt about it. That is all I am prepared to say today, but I will be back in a few days with much more. This is an absolutely wonderful euphonium.

[SamMcHenry00]

I’m excited to see the results! If I’m correct, this and the Adam’s Euphoniums are the only ones on the market made from sheet metal, right?

[John Morgan]

I’m excited to see the results! If I’m correct, this and the Adam’s Euphoniums are the only ones on the market made from sheet metal, right?

Well, I know the Adams are, and I also know that Wessex says the Sinfonico is made from sheet metal. I can't say for certain that there aren't other euphoniums made from sheet metal, but I know of none.

[davewerden]

I’m excited to see the results! If I’m correct, this and the Adam’s Euphoniums are the only ones on the market made from sheet metal, right?

As with John, I can't think of any other than the Sinfonico and Adams. Certainly not the major brands (Besson, Yamaha, Willson). Miraphone does some things in a traditional way, but I don't know the extent. (The hydraulic forming of tubing is very attractive for the manufacturer because it saves a great deal of time.)

[DEF1]

Very interested to see you reviews. I contemplated the Sinfonico when I purchased my Dolce. I really liked the look of the Sinfonico but the review on the Wessex site says the tone is more of a Tenor Tuba so was concerned how it would fit in with a brass band. Looking forward to your views on here.

[John Morgan]

Very interested to see you reviews. I contemplated the Sinfonico when I purchased my Dolce. I really liked the look of the Sinfonico but the review on the Wessex site says the tone is more of a Tenor Tuba so was concerned how it would fit in with a brass band. Looking forward to your views on here.

I can say quite definitively that the Sinfonico sounds like other good Euphoniums, and not really at all like what I think a Tenor Tuba sounds like.

[DEF1]

I can say quite definitively that the Sinfonico sounds like other good Euphoniums, and not really at all like what I think a Tenor Tuba sounds like.

This is the review direct from the Wessex website.

https://youtu.be/6zhnv8I4KV8

[John Morgan]

Yes, I have seen that review before several times. But the Sinfonico IS NOT a Tenor Tuba. He says you can play Tenor Tuba parts, like in Mars from The Planets by Holst. I played that on my Adams. That is a Tenor Tuba part, but is usually played on a Euphonium.

I will be playing something on the Sinfonico and recording it, don't know what yet, but it will sound like a Euphonium.

If I had to choose between the Dolce and the Sinfonico, at least so far at this moment in time, it would be the Sinfonico without a second thought. It is just a better horn, although it also costs double what the Dolce costs, so there is that consideration. And is it twice as good, probably not.

[John Morgan]

Yes, I know, sometimes the euphonium is called a tenor tuba. My version of the tenor tuba is more like this (from tuba - Wikipedia):

"The euphonium is sometimes referred to as a tenor tuba and is pitched in B♭, one octave higher than the BB♭ contrabass tuba. The term "tenor tuba" is often used more specifically to refer to B♭ rotary-valved tubas pitched in the same octave as euphoniums. The "Small Swiss Tuba in C" is a tenor tuba pitched in C, and provided with 6 valves to make the lower notes in the orchestral repertoire possible. The French C tuba was the standard instrument in French orchestras until overtaken by F and C tubas since the Second World War. One popular example of the use of the French C tuba is the Bydło movement in Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, though the rest of the work is scored for this instrument as well."

So, sometimes not a whole lot of difference.

But, as far as the Sinfonico, it plays and sounds like some of the top end euphoniums out there. Would it work in a brass band? Would an Adams E2 work in a brass band. Sort of the same question.

[dsurkin]

[snip] Would it work in a brass band? Would an Adams E2 work in a brass band. Sort of the same question.

Okay, stupid question here. From the posts on this forum, it seems that the Adams E3 is the most popular model. From the specs, I have the idea that the Adams E2 is a little like the Miraphone 5050, is that right? Is there a reason this doesn't work in a brass band?

John, can I infer that the Sinfonica sounds more like an Adams E2?

[guidocorona]

All, it might be worth pointing out that in the Wessex Dolce/Sinfonico review linked above, John Powell might be using the factory-supplied Wessex 4AY mouthpiece. This might be hampering both Dolce's and Sinfonico's expressivity, and account for their somewhat "declarative" tone, and slight brashness in Sinfonico's Holst fragment in particular.

4AY is also the mouthpiece shipped with my Wessex EP104 Festivo…. I have never been terribly fond of it, as it imparts a slight hardness to the tone, and -- for a lack of a better word -- a lack of emotionality or expressiveness. I much prefer playing Festivo with the Wick 4AL.

Thus, I am very much looking forward to John, Dave, and the other fortunate members of the Sinfonico test group letting us hear Sinfonico put through its paces and showing its musical potential using some of their preferred mouthpieces... Be these 4AL, DC3, DC4, etc...

Regards, Guido

[John Morgan]

All, it might be worth pointing out that in the Wessex Dolce/Sinfonico review linked above, John Powell might be using the factory-supplied Wessex 4AY mouthpiece. This might be hampering both Dolce's and Sinfonico's expressivity, and account for their somewhat "declarative" tone, and slight brashness in Sinfonico's Holst fragment in particular.

4AY is also the mouthpiece shipped with my Wessex EP104 Festivo…. I have never been terribly fond of it, as it imparts a slight hardness to the tone, and -- for a lack of a better word -- a lack of emotionality or expressiveness. I much prefer playing Festivo with the Wick 4AL.

Thus, I am very much looking forward to John, Dave, and the other fortunate members of the Sinfonico test group letting us hear Sinfonico put through its paces and showing its musical potential using some of their preferred mouthpieces... Be these 4AL, DC3, DC4, etc...

Regards, Guido

Yes, exactly. I was probably getting ahead of myself. I will provide a thorough review next week sometime. Please don't take anything for granted now or form any opinions quite yet.

[guidocorona]

The long awaited Wessex Sinfonico 4-part review project seems to have gone dorment since Chapter 2.... When might we read/hear/ see chapters 3 and 4?

Anxiously hoping for good news... And vigorously biting nails ... Guido

[daruby]

Guido,

I am next in line. Since most of us are playing in ensembles that are meeting, we are using the horn in rehearsal and performance and holding on to it for longer than we did with the ACB Doubler. I have had the horn for just over a week so far. Some time was spent in giving the horn a bath since it had been used in demo mode in Chicago for a few months prior to being sent to Jim. I expect you will see a writeup from me and (I hope) hear some comparison recordings with my Sterling Virtuoso with a goal of publishing the week of July 26

Doug Ruby.

[guidocorona]

Thank you so much Doug for the excellent news... I am so much looking forward to reading your in-depth analysis next week, and listening to your comparative video clips!

Regards, Guido