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Hello, I have an option to buy one but I have not played this model. It is an older/ used instrument. I hear a lot about these Tubas being Very Heavy. Does that also mean they are Non Responsive or Dead? I also hear that Willson has worked on the Ergonomics of the newer models. Does that mean lighter and easier to hold? I have a Willson 2950 TA Euph. It plays Amazingly well. It is on the Heavy size as well. Are they comparable is playing characteristics?
Your thoughts would be very helpful.
The store is 14 hrs away and the Online price (shipping price w/ no taxes) is considerable less than an in store purchase with taxes, fuel and lodging.
TY,
John McKevitt

I had a rotary 3050 CC... Not the same tuba, but realistically it was close enough to answer your questions.

My tuba was very heavy. Probably 25 lbs for the tuba alone. By the time you add a gig bag and all your stuff, it was a chore to carry it around.

The metal is very thick. I would equate that to less reaonance, not lack of responsiveness. That is, if you want the tuba to "go," it agrees and did so very quickly. Very responsive. But if you're looking for a tuba to vibrate in your hands like an old Cerveny with paper thin metal... This isn't it.

For me, that equated to massive projection. It felt like so much more of the energy that went in, came out as sound that carried very well. No energy wasted in resonance or making a pillowy sound under the bell.

And for me, that rocked. I loved it. I wanted the sound to get out and bury everything in its path, and that's exactly what it did. I remember some band rehearsal where I had a pedal e flat, and the conductor asked for "a lot more", so I figured, I'll just play it as loud and as good as I can. I laid on that pedal e flat like nothing else, and it was just a monstrous and excellent sound. The conductor smiled, laughed, cut off the entire band, and then said, okay maybe not quite that much.

It was a really good instrument, and I do miss it. The only reason I sold it was because they don't seem to do rotary valves very well. I eventually got the rotax Val's cut down, which was great. But the angle of the valve block was really awkward, and would have required pretty extreme surgery to fix it. I didn't want to do all that. I have always considered the 3050 piston version to be an option in the future. Years ago, you used to see them for sale all the time. Recently, maybe the last 5 years or so, barely at all.

Other people will have other experiences, but I really liked it. If you're playing in a large ensemble, the rule the instrument was born to do

Also, being a BBb it will be heavier than the CC, and having five valves, even heavier still. I don't know if that will affect the playing characteristics, but I wouldn't be surprised if you were somewhere around the 30 lb mark for this tuba.

You don't have to share it here publicly, but if you wanted to send a private message to me, I'm curious to know how much it costs. I'm no threat, I'm certainly not sniping it from you, but I'm just curious what they go for now on the used market. It's been a really long time since I've seen one. I would imagine that the new price for one of these has to be over 25,000 by now. When you get it, make sure you get it insured. I used Clarion

There’s one at Baltimore… Maybe he’s referring to that one?

I agree with bort. I spent a serious amount of time with a piston 3050 years ago. Had it on trial to purchase. I was also pursuing a Miraphone 1293 at that time.

The Willson - Heavy, but top-heavy. That bell is so thick, it feels like the tuba wants to pull you out of the chair. Hard to balance without a stand, and navigate slide movement.

Intonation - I didn’t notice anything WAY out one way or another. I found it absolutely acceptable.

Response - Really great. Never thought it was hard to play.

Sound - Made a great big tuba sound. Certainly larger than a 4/4 size instrument makes. Comparable to a PT-6. As with anything large, it sounded not so great at my home, but lit up in a nice hall.

Overall - They’re nice tubas. But the weight is a huge turn-off for me. I’d imagine the 3100 FA-5 will be even heavier, and will probably have the same great response and certainly manageable intonation tendencies.

I would advise you not pay too much money for it, because Willson contrabasses tend to sit on the market for a long time, and don’t go for large amounts of money (usually).

This was posted in Japan for $15k a few months ago, looks like it's back for $9800. I've never bought a tuba from a different part of the world though. Seems a little iffy today unless you know someone local you can trust to make a $10,000+ decision for you.

viewtopic.php?t=14286

https://www.ebay.com/itm/307136534908?_ ... 72G2F8VQ7K

what, same horn and pictures, slightly different price, both with good ratings
https://www.ebay.com/itm/178529370761?_ ... HNP1H8K0YE

There's not a lot of large piston Bb tubas in current production. There's a piston Fafner, I've played that and the Willson but don't really recall either. If you don't mind going down in size a bit the Bb 1291s are fantastic and will be much easier to find.

Thank you for everyone who responded.
John McKevitt