Andy Smith open play tests the Wessex Chicago 6/4 CC’s

Andy Smith (Lyric Opera) accompanied by Charlie Vernon (CSO) on new Wessex PBF565 bass trombone play test the two versions of the Wessex 6/4 CC tubas, the TC694 Chicago-Presence with 18” bell and TC695 Chicago-York with 20” bell - with comments out front from Gene Pokorny (Chicago Symphony) in Pick-Staiger Hall, Chicago

[@jeremyquiros5483]

I had trouble hearing what they're saying (naturally, since their playing is much much louder than their speaking voices), so I transcribed it to the best of my ability:
0:15 Gene: "Can you switch? I want to do the same excerpt one more time."
0:42 Andy: "It felt better that time."
Charlie: "It felt better, but you know, there's something about that thing [points at CP] and that horn right there [points at CY]. For me, it's just kind of right there. That's a big sound, and it's-"
Gene: "Which do you prefer?"
Charlie: I don't know. There's something about that one. There's a smaller bell that just kind of locks in with me or just kind of locks in a little bit better as far as- talking about as far as blend.
Andy: "Yeah."
Gene: "It sounds clearer out here with the 18-inch [CP]. The smaller bell."
Andy: "It sounds better?"
Gene: "Yeah. To me it does."
Andy: "I think it feels better. Do you want to do a little Great Gate?"
Charlie: "Sure. E-flat?"
Andy: "Yeah."
1:45 Charlie: "That sounds great. Sounds great."
2:16 Charlie: "[gestures towards CY] Now that's weird to me. Still, it's like I can hear it, and it's really clear, but maybe you just get used to these things. So, um, that sounded great [points at CY]. That sounded bad [points at CP]."
Andy: "It's just different."
Charlie: "Yeah. What did you think about the difference there? Could you tell?"
Gene: "The 18-inch [CP] really sounds good."
It's really awesome for them to playtest your horns and give feedback.

[@semarcus1]

Thanks for transcribing the verbal comments from the artists, Jeremy. Obviously, since this was a somewhat ad hoc event, no formal miking set up was involved. What you hear is sourced from an audience member's iPad and/or H2.

[@stewkingjr]

Thank you for the xcription.

[@DaveBurnett97]

Thank you for transcribing! One minor but important correction worth noting. Charlie states at 2:30, "That sounded great (points to CY) and so did that (points to CP)." Didn't state the CP sounded bad.

[@jeremyquiros5483]

@@DaveBurnett97 thanks for the correction!

[@LudmillaBarilla]

Just for the record, the first excerpt they play is from Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony, last movement. (The second excerpt is of course from Mussorgsky's Great Gate of Kiev, in Ravel's orchestration)

[@harrisonreed8718]

Sounds like Charlie is having to fight that bass a bit

[@jerrybyers2172]

What the h___ is that enormous tuba with no lacquer in the foreground?

[@semarcus1]

That's a prototype for the TB693HP "Prokofiev" handcrafted 5-valve BBb tuba.

[@jerrybyers2172]

@@semarcus1 Thanks.

[@djhaynes136]

What is that absolutely ginormous tuba called with no lacquer?

[@jonathandevers6609]

A prototype 6/4 BBb by the looks of it

[@melissastuba]

@@jonathandevers6609 i believe its the wessex prokofiev 6/4 BBb

[@eliseuneves3042]

Sensacional ❤

[@brunomelo6430]

Nice Song. The first tuba was the Tc694? thkx

[@pedrosantos3806]

Name song?

[@brunomelo6430]

@@pedrosantos3806 I dont know

[@Roy-ug2jz]

Please tell me about Wessex tubas.
Good?bad?
Sounds good to me, but what about the quality of the instrument itself?

[@daltonwilliams2118]

I own 2. i own the wyvern and the handmade berg. my wyvern was good enough that my teacher thought about buying one and he has a wonderful rudy that is his main horn.
He also owns a 822 and thought about buying mine as a counterpart.
i will say that the 18" horn feels amazing. The 20" is large and plays large. not quite as nimble or clear but still amazing. i think having both would be amazing but i would go for the 18" before the 20".
the berg i own is great. intonation is good and the low range is fairly easy for a rotor F. the new California is great. the low end on that is almost as good as meinl weston 2250.
the California is a 4/4 or 5/4 (kinda based on opinion). the high range is easy and the low range can lock in well. only notes where i really had to push slides were the F# and G at the top of the bass staff. other than that it has good intonation.
if you play BBb i would suggest the Prokofiev. that horn is incredible and has such a large tone that sits in a vicinity. the 6/4 CC 18" is like a plush blanket, the 20" is closer to a weighted blanket. and the Prokofiev (and the grand) or warm weighted blankets that wrap the low brass section in a lovely tone. i like the play of the 6/4 CC 18" better because it has that butter feel along with a nice tubular tone but if i needed something to cover a large area and fill a concert hall and the next three blocks outside i would get this as well.

[@Quickness_Fitness]

The tuning on the beginning is booty

[@Pellagrah]

Tends to happen when you're switching between several similar instruments in rapid succession, especially ones you've never played before.

[@planetb1ue168]

What mouthpiece does her use

[@mujirushi94]

楽器がいっぱいだぁ

[@tubamike]

Intonation 😬