Burgerbob wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 2:52 pm
Well, it has to have a better pedal C than the non-existent one on the Miraphone!
Well, I mean, for special effect it
is there. You can tune the horn to BBb and EE, which enables it to be played. That C1 is a fairly stuffy note but with a little oomf it can sound really great and nasty. Of course, B natural still only exists as a false tone and now your F1 and C2 are in 6th. I've attached an image at the bottom of this post.
Edit: it seems not all Miraphones have a long enough tuning slide on their F-attachment to do this! Only some do, such as mine which is an older model from 1972. Perhaps they don't do it anymore, or it was only done as a special-order, as mine is second hand as well.
Basbasun wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:09 am
I never tried the Wessex contrabass owned by the former basstrombonist in The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and an amature basstrombonist (who own the Williams 10 I used to play). The pro in SRO love it! And he also have the Lätzsch that I played in the orchestra (and jazz recording!) The lätzsch has a powerfull sound, all the notes speak down to the lwest pedals and up the top tone in the Ride. But it is not cheap. Buy the Wessex and tell os about it!
I did try the Miraphone BBb. I asked the guys why do you make this horn? Some people want. Aha.
The Miraphone is occasionally desired for its different sound from F Contras - it has a darker timbre due to its more conical tubing (its bell tapers much slower), and plays an even lower register as partials rather than fundamentals (which also contributes to that timbral difference.) However it's better suited for film scores or new music written specifically
for it (and often film music is minimalistic enough that it serves that role well.) But for classical music, it tends to be inadequate - since it is not agile at all, and in the staff a lot of the partials are really close together too. Trying to play Ride of the Valkyries on it is generally unpleasant, and it's surprising that it is technically the 'original' horn used for the Ring (Wagner had a double-slide BBb Contra without the F-attachment at his disposal.) I bought it to record in my own soundtracks and to play along to my favourites as well, and for that brassy low sound it works great
CalgaryTbone wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 2:42 pm
Our Bass Trombonist here has one and is quite happy with it for his uses. I've played a few notes on it, but am not qualified to offer an opinion. I was quite surprised at how easily it spoke for me as a tenor player who rarely even plays a bass. Send me an email or PM with your email address, and I'll pass it along to him to let him answer your questions.
Jim Scott
Calgary Philharmonic
Appreciate the offer Jim, but I don't think I need to bother him
Just hearing he's generally happy with it gives my some idea as to what to expect.
Anyhow glad to hear atleast two professionals enjoy the Wessex Contra
The above-mentioned Miraphone BBb/"EE":
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