Denis Chernyavsky

“Very good for its price. Fun to play and very lyrical, especially with new oil. Recommend.”

Posted 11 months ago

Christopher Jeffery

“It's quite a nice instrument at the price point. I'm pleasantly surprised. It has a lovely tone and plays pretty well in tune with itself. It will definitely do the job as I learn more about rotaries and save my pennies for a top-line instrument.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Liam Johnson

Verified Reviewer

“First, I am a Band Director in a small school that is building a new program alongside restructuring the Choirs. I play tuba primarily and trumpet is my secondary for education. I am looking around to find instruments for this program at a cheap cost while maintaining quality. The R45 is slightly bigger than my previous trumpet and significantly different in performance. The typical piston trumpet we have is very bright and moderately intone. Once I started using this, I noticed the bore size difference created freedom of airflow compared to the others. It takes a little while for me to find the correct pitch considering I'm going from a no-resistance instrument to a highly restrictive airflow to this one that brought the balance between the two. My personal experience physically: I had a tough time adjusting to the grip on my left hand for the two week trial. The middle finger is in the brace with the ring and pinkie fingers under the bell segment for support. Without tension, it feels the most comfortable. However the case, moving from a grip in the left hand to letting the instrument settle on your fingers was challenging and posed an issue on how to remedy the hand pain. 2 weeks fly by and I don't notice anything anymore. Personal playability: It has a great sound and rich in colors in all spectrums of the horn. It's very difficult to overblow the low range, but sometimes can bring a nice growl into a song. The freer flow of air allowed me to focus my air how I like into the mouthpiece and shape the sound easier to accompany my students' tones for each instrument. Tuning is a little weird at first for me, but pulling the first valve slide out a little bit solved most of the issues. Intonation for me has always been an issue from tuba to sax to trumpet, but this has been the most consistent in tonality once I've grown accustomed to it. Tuning takes little effort once I've found the center of concert Bb4 and made adjustments to the slides. The water key for pink has come in handy for some stubborn notes. Sometimes it's difficult to play Ab5, so popping the key is convenient for this one (at least for me.) The overall impression is definitely positive. Practicing on this for a few weeks has improved myself and my program in numerous ways. The sound quality, intonation, the style of the horn, and the manufacturing have exceeded everyone's expectations. Now, to save up a little money to play the tubas. Thank you Wessex for such an awesome instrument!”

5 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Rodney Money

Verified Reviewer

“Here’s my full review on the Wessex Bb Rotary Trumpet. So sorry it is so long, and I hope some will find some use out of it especially those who have only played pistons and are curious about rotaries, especially affordable ones. 1. Finish, plating, engraving: Wessex Tuba’s symbol is the Golden Wyvern, a two-legged, winged dragon with a barbed tail, which is an ancient symbol associated with the old kings of Wessex. You can find the symbol engraved on the valves which also helps with grip, the valve plates, the sturdy and impressive case which has a lock and leather accents, and included within a crown to complete the coat of arms on the 5.31” gold brass bell. The entire trumpet is in lacquer, but one could have it be silver plated also, with a nickel leadpipe and tuning slides. All of the sides pull and work great for quick water dumps or cleaning, but the main tuning slide if pulled out completely needs to be placed in gently and at the right angle not forced to avoid damage. I recommend using a thick slide grease for the main tuning slide weekly. The finish on the trumpet is very beautiful and everyone who sees the instrument, even non-musicians, are highly impressed by it. 2. Mouthpiece: the mouthpiece that came with the trumpet looks like a Breslmair but the cup was modeled after a Bach 7C. It made the instrument easy to play but unfortunately made the instrument sound more like a student horn with fewer colors and higher frequencies with more consistency in tone across the range. After I replaced the mouthpiece with a Breslmair G1 I could start to hear the true, mature and even professional sound with different colors that the trumpet had to offer, but the tone truly started to sound rich, mellow, and expressive when I purchased a Denis Wick cornet mouthpiece to trumpet adapter and used a Denis Wick 4 cornet mouthpiece on the trumpet. It started to sound like a cornet, or darker trumpet, but with a larger, more direct presence. Even a flugelhorn mouthpiece sounded great and in tune with the trumpet using the adapter. The gold brass bell with the nickel lead pipe responded well with the pieces. 3. Tuning: this rotary trumpet played better in tune than any Bach Stradivarius I’ve ever played. Low D’s and E’s were in tune without the need of the trigger activated by your left thumb, and 5th line F and high A are in tune also without the normal state of being sharp. The only note that needs the trigger is low C#. 4. Comfort of holding: the right hand is very comfortable with a natural C shape in the hand. For people with large hands you can use either your middle or ring finger of the left hand in the ring. People with small fingers can comfortably use their pinkie finger in the ring. Sometimes a little discomfort starts to happen if the support is totally on the left ring finger so one needs to be conscience if soreness starts to happen and trade out fingers. 5. Sound: the instrument is warmer than the typical Bach Stradivarius but without sounding dull, and the true strength of this particular trumpet is in high, legato soaring melodies. The bell has a presence to it similar to a new Bach Stradivarius as though you can hear it resonate and vibrate spreading the sound throughout the room especially in the upper register above the staff. I was slightly disappointed that the soft piano and mezzo piano mid to low range was not more cornet-like but was remedied with the cornet to trumpet adapter. 6. Ease of playing: this rotary trumpet is easy to play and speaks very easily throughout the entire register. Auditioning “Fanfare for the Common Man” was quite a joy slurring easily across the partials. The upper register simply sings without having to push it and with the use of the vent trigger activated by your right pinky high D’s simply pop out easily if one is already accustomed to playing in that register. 7. Uses: this instrument in its lower dynamics has a tone quality in between a cornet and piston trumpet but can become brilliant when pushed to the higher dynamics. This would be a wonderful instrument for concert band or wind ensembles where trumpets have more of a singing role than simply playing fanfares or chordal accompaniment all the time. This would make a great instrument for a semi-professional orchestra or a cornet player who needs to play brilliant trumpet parts occasionally also. This would also be a great instrument for a non-performance music major in college or chamber brass and organ groups for religious services. I don’t recommend this instrument for jazz though with the sound and playing techniques favoring classical or “legit” repertoire. 8. Valves: I have several German instruments with expensive handmade valves and the Wessex valves are just as good as them as long as you oil them weekly. The legato transitions of the rotary valves adds beauty between the notes where some pistons lack. 9. Chinese instrument prejudice: I think the biggest issue with playing this rotary trumpet is to get over the mindset that it was made in China. Now I know 1st hand that China can produce what we call “instrument shaped objects.” Even just this week a new beginning student proudly showed me his new, shiny colored trumpet that sounded like I was playing a tin can with a dead rat in it. But with this Wessex Rotary Trumpet, if you had the same exact instrument but they told you it was made in England then one would never feel one bit of shame or guilt having pride playing this trumpet. Wessex, as well as Mack Brass and Austin Custom Brass, is a different company though in comparison to other companies that simply place their names on stencil Chinese or Indian made horns. I have had the pleasure of playing 5 of the Wessex instruments now and what I can tell you is that they all have a singing timbre to them. I have a good friend who does business (largest online American Neon signs called Jantec) with China visiting them and teaching them about the quality he demands. He tells me that they can make anything but you have to show them exactly what you want because they are always thinking about profit over quality. The Chinese people are loyal to their own though and it helps that the owner of Wessex Tubas’s wife is Chinese. So between that and they have an overseer working in China, their quality is far surpassed your similar stencil output. Now, does this Bb rotary trumpet live up to the same quality as a Bb Rotary Schagerl? Possibly not although the initial tone and timbre is very similar between the two, the Schagerl is easier to play with more options of performance, more colors, and a wider dynamic range and intensity, but between the Wessex Bb Rotary Trumpet and a brand new piston-valve Bach Stradivarius that I tried out for an entire year last year, the Wessex had a warmer tone quality, more stable tuning, easier high register, and overall simply more fun to play at 1/6 the price.”

6 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“1. Finish, plating, engraving: Wessex Tuba’s symbol is the Golden Wyvern, a two-legged, winged dragon with a barbed tail, which is an ancient symbol associated with the old kings of Wessex. You can find the symbol engraved on the valves which also helps with grip, the valve plates, the sturdy and impressive case which has a lock and leather accents, and included within a crown to complete the coat of arms on the 5.31” gold brass bell. The entire trumpet is in lacquer, but one could have it be silver plated also, with a nickel leadpipe and tuning slides. All of the sides pull and work great for quick water dumps or cleaning, but the main tuning slide if pulled out completely needs to be placed in gently and at the right angle not forced to avoid damage. I recommend using a thick slide grease for the main tuning slide weekly. The finish on the trumpet is very beautiful and everyone who sees the instrument, even non-musicians, are highly impressed by it. 2. Mouthpiece: the mouthpiece that came with the trumpet looks like a Breslmair but the cup was modeled after a Bach 7C. It made the instrument easy to play but unfortunately made the instrument sound more like a student horn with fewer colors and higher frequencies with more consistency in tone across the range. After I replaced the mouthpiece with a Breslmair G1 I could start to hear the true, mature and even professional sound with different colors that the trumpet had to offer, but the tone truly started to sound rich, mellow, and expressive when I purchased a Denis Wick cornet mouthpiece to trumpet adapter and used a Denis Wick 4 cornet on the trumpet. It started to sound like a cornet, or darker trumpet, but with a larger, more direct presence. Even a flugelhorn mouthpiece sounded great and in tune with the trumpet using the adapter. The gold brass bell with the nickel lead pipe responded well with the pieces. 3. Tuning: this rotary trumpet played better in tune than any Bach Stradivarius I’ve ever played. Low D’s and E’s were in tune without the need of the trigger activated by your left thumb, and 5th line F and high A are in tune also without the normal state of being sharp. The only note that needs the trigger is low C#. 4. Comfort of holding: the right hand is very comfortable with a natural C shape in the hand. For people with large hands you can use either your middle or ring finger of the left hand in the ring. People with small fingers can comfortably use their pinkie finger in the ring. Sometimes a little discomfort starts to happen if the support is totally on the left ring finger so one needs to be conscience if soreness starts to happen and trade out fingers. 5. Sound: the instrument is warmer than the typical Bach Stradivarius but without sounding dull, and the true strength of this particular trumpet is in high, legato soaring melodies. The bell has a presence to it similar to a new Bach Stradivarius as though you can hear it resonate and vibrate spreading the sound throughout the room especially in the upper register above the staff. I was slightly disappointed that the soft piano and mezzo piano mid to low range was not more cornet-like but was remedied with the cornet to trumpet adapter. 6. Ease of playing: this rotary trumpet is easy to play and speaks very easily throughout the entire register. Auditioning “Fanfare for the Common Man” was quite a joy slurring easily across the partials. The upper register simply sings without having to push it and with the use of the vent trigger activated by your right pinky high D’s simply pop out easily if one is already accustomed to playing in that register. 7. Uses: this instrument in its lower dynamics has a tone quality in between a cornet and piston trumpet but can become brilliant when pushed to the higher dynamics. This would be a wonderful instrument for concert band or wind ensembles where trumpets have more of a singing role than simply playing fanfares or chordal accompaniment all the time. This would make a great instrument for a semi-professional orchestra or a cornet player who needs to play brilliant trumpet parts occasionally also. This would also be a great instrument for a non-performance music major in college or chamber brass and organ groups for religious services. I don’t recommend this instrument for jazz though with the sound and playing techniques favoring classical or “legit” repertoire. 8. Valves: I have several German instruments with expensive handmade valves and the Wessex valves are just as good as them as long as you oil them weekly. The legato transitions of the rotary valves adds beauty between the notes where some pistons lack. 9. Chinese instrument prejudice: I think the biggest issue with playing this rotary trumpet is to get over the mindset that it was made in China. Now I know 1st hand that China can produce what we call “instrument shaped objects.” Even just this week a new beginning student proudly showed me his new, shiny colored trumpet that sounded like I was playing a tin can with a dead rat in it. But with this Wessex Rotary Trumpet, if you had the same exact instrument but they told you it was made in England then one would never feel one bit of shame or guilt having pride playing this trumpet. Wessex, as well as Mack Brass and Austin Custom Brass, is a different company though in comparison to other companies that simply place their names on stencil Chinese or Indian made horns. I have had the pleasure of playing 5 of the Wessex instruments now and what I can tell you is that they all have a singing timbre to them. I have a good friend who does business (largest online American Neon signs called Jantec) with China visiting them and teaching them about the quality he demands. He tells me that they can make anything but you have to show them exactly what you want because they are always thinking about profit over quality. The Chinese people are loyal to their own though and it helps that the owner of Wessex Tubas’s wife is from there. So between that and they have an overseer working in China, their quality is far surpassed your similar stencil output. Now, does this Bb rotary trumpet live up to the same quality as a Bb Rotary Schagerl? Possibly not although the initial tone and timbre is very similar between the two, the Schagerl is easier to play with more options of performance, more colors, and a wider dynamic range and intensity, but between the Wessex Bb Rotary Trumpet and a brand new piston-valve Bach Stradivarius that I tried out for an entire year last year, the Wessex had a warmer tone quality, more stable tuning, easier high register, and overall simply more fun to play at 1/6 the price.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Really, really pleased with overall quality. Packaging was impeccable, and the instrument is really well-made. I agree somewhat with Catherine Smith's notion that it is a bit duller than what was expected. That aside, I think it's an amazing value. Comparing it to a Yamaha Xeno that I played for several years, I admit it does fall a bit short in terms of timbre, but the price point and feel of the instrument deserves 5 stars.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Catherine Smith

Verified Reviewer

“Nicely made instrument, sturdy with well made brass fittings. Compared to a standard trumpet its much harder to play and requires much more force both in breath and key presses. The sound is a bit duller then I expected, but it does project quite well. It will take a considerable amount of time for the average trumpet player to get used to it and get the sound just right. I would rate it as a stock instrument, good for schools and local bands. I'm a first time player of the rotary trumpet, although very proficient with a Stradivarius trumpet and or a standard stock Bb trumpet. The bore is much larger than expected stock which means you'll need more air to play it...is this a European thing ? Also, I got my fingers caught several times in the rotary valve section, but that's my fault, a lesson on how to properly hold the instrument. It can be tiring and painful at times... Pay attention to oiling the instrument, it requires consistent, constant maintenance, much more than you're standard trumpet. I couldn't get the small middle "C" tube out to grease it and clean the instrument. Therefore, I was stuck with not being able to get oil out of the rotary for weeks....this hinders the sound which otherwise is very colorful when played correctly and disrupts the airflow...oil goes everywhere so you'll need to wipe it down and wash you're hands frequently. All in all, I will definitely consider a rotary piccolo trumpet from Wessex...perhaps their first runs need a bit more build experience to get it just right. Still, it's a very nice peice of work, well made, quite stylish and incredibly beautiful to look at and own... Cat...”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Bb Trumpet (rotary) – R45 Lacquer Reviews