“I love my "Festivo" front-valve compensated euphonium. I had a Wessex "Dolce" euphonium and loved it; but having vision only in my right eye, I slowly realized over time that the right-leaning bell was partially blocking me from seeing sheet music without me twisting to my right . The "Festivo" bell leans to the left, so I get fuill unobstructed view. Plus, the front-action valves are easier to use with my arithritic fingers. I also love my Wessex Baritone Horn BR140 and my Wessex Mini Jazz Tuba TB162. IMHO, Wessex makes great quality brass instruments at great prices.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“I bought this a year ago now, and have used it in all kinds of settings. I would give it 4.5 stars, because though it is a brilliant instrument with good tuning and surprisingly good ergonomics, it still has a few foibles. One is the thin metal used to make it. The other is the valve cap threads. They are a bit balky, but with careful use, they become much better. This instrument delivers just the tone that I hoped it would: dark but not heavy, with an agile presence that can act well as a solo instrument or blend easily with a band. The hardshell case is a little bulky, but offers plenty of storage room for accessories (and the longer tuning slide that I found wasn't necessary for me). I might have to replace some of the waterkey corks, as I keep getting condensate spots on my pants. Still, I love the agile and expressive way I can play on this wonderful instrument. The bell and valve button engraving looks sharp, too.”

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Posted 3 years ago

Bruce Deisingrr

Unverified Reviewer

“I bought the horn second hand from a friend. The main reason was because of the arthritis in my hands making the valve top compensators some days a problem. It was an early run horn this the cross threading issue. I bought the horn knowing this and knowing I would careful. It's frustrating at times and usually 1 valve seems to not go smoothly. That is why I give 4stars. Now the good. Easy to hold and a great position of the valves I like the 4th valve option. The silver plate stays untarnished if you keep it in the case. Never been polished. The intonation is the best of any euphonium I've owned. The sound is very European and projects well. Notes place well and I have an in tune high register it's a great horn and I highly recommend it. A good horn for the price.”

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Posted 3 years ago

Jarrod Handley

Unverified Reviewer

“The Festivo is a lovely combination of ingenuity and craftsmanship, all at a decent price. Out of the box, the valves worked well, and the instrument spoke clearly without too much work. With only a few plays under the bell so far, I haven't found any notes that are stuffy or aren't that far out of tune, which is wonderful. The 'smaller than a normal Euphonium' bell also has a pleasant ring to it, and can deal with all three octaves that I can muster out of it. The only annoyance (fault?) I have found so far is rather oddly placed water release lever on the 4th valve's compensating loop, that comes off the right hand side of the valve block (when you face the valved side of the instrument). If you would like to use you left hand to operate the 4th valve, you have to be careful not to rest it on the water release lever and let air escape. A small bug bear, that I may have rectified with the lever being removed and the hole covered with brass by a repair shop. Overall, however, it is a great instrument for the price, and should perform well in community ensembles.”

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Posted 3 years ago

Frank Van Bommel

Verified Reviewer

“Ik ben zeer tevreden over dit instrument. Het instrument ziet er keurig uit alle pompen en ventielen lopen goed. De klank en stemming zijn ook goed. Even wennen aan de front ventielen, maar ze zijn erg snel en het is veel makkelijker zeker bij een langere speeltijd. Kortom een hele goede prijs kwaliteit verhouding.”

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Posted 4 years ago

Frank Van Bommel

Unverified Reviewer

“Heb het instrument nu ongeveer een maand, en ben er zeer tevreden over. Het instrument zelf ziet er keurig netjes uit en alle pompen en ventielen lopen erg goed. Het instrument spreekt makkelijk aan in alle registers en heeft een mooie klank. De klank is, denk ik, iets meer gecentreerd dan bij een dolce die nog iets ronder van klank is. Qua stemming heb ik nog geen afwijkingen geconstateerd. De front ventielen is even wennen, maar is veel minder vermoeiend bij langere speeltijd. Kortom een mooie goed afgewerkte Euphonium die makkelijk speelt goed stemt en mooi van klank is. Veel waar voor je geld.”

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Posted 4 years ago

“I've had this horn now for around two years and it still looks like it did the day I got it. The reason I made the purchase was because I actually was able to play the horn prior to purchasing at an ACB convention in Buffalo I was playing at and learned that this was their only horn being built right in the UK (at that time). I put it against all of their other horns they had and just fell in love with the intonation and warm sound it was letting me give. I absolutely love the placement of the valves. They are very comfortable and feel more natural to me. The horn takes a bit more air than my other compensating horn. I really like this a lot. It just allows me to create that rich warm robust sound I enjoy. The only down side I can give is the mouth piece of comes with is just too standard and I have to say, cheap feeling. But I think that is pretty much how any mouthpiece that comes with a horn is. You never like it. Your buying a horn. Not a mouth piece. I think some of the other mention this. I read someones review and it was said they have to work on hitting clean notes with this horn. Work on your breathing (more steady air) and switch the mouth piece perhaps. I bet that will help. I like my Schilke 52D and I also use a UMI 5G They pair very well and compliment this horn. I have no issues producing clean notes. From testing, purchasing and after sales questions, Wessex was wonderful. Thanks!”

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Posted 4 years ago

Mark Fischer

Verified Reviewer

“To understand my view of the Festivo you should know I have a couple of Conn 4 front valve horns and a King. They are "American Baritones" .560" bore primary. Just about all of my 6 years playing are on these horns. So tone, the Festivio is much darker than the Conn which is bright. I believe it's tone is close to European 3 top valve horns. It's .600" bore does take more air to sound full. I have to focus a bit more to produce a clean note. Ease of play. For me the Festivo gives me the right hand position I like, in a compensating horn. I was not aware of many/any American style horns with compensation. My Conn has a slide that can fix some notes but cannot compete with a compensated horn. Valves are faster, are damped well at end of stroke. Makes my Conn seem clunky. Valve spring pressure seems a bit heavier. I think I would have liked the offhand loop for 4th valve. When I perch my hand to play the 4th with the left hand I tend to lean on the spit valve. Not sure I like the black plastic covering on the spit valves, not sure what is underneath. The appearance and finish of the horn in general looks good to me. I choose brass not silver.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

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