“I've been playing the BBb Mini Jazz tuba for about 6 months now and really love it. I got it as I was getting neck issues playing/carrying my sousaphone too much but wasn't expecting how much it would just replace my sousaphone outright. The valves play really nicely and are still nice nice and quick and quiet. The lacquer finish is holding up nicely (though I have yet to do any wet outdoor gigs with it), and most importantly I love the sound and feel of playing it. Now with the smaller bell, it can't quite get to the same volume as a sousaphone, but it can beat a classical tuba like a Sovereign on volume and attack. The mini jazz tuba has a focused sound with fewer overtones than a sousaphone - which depending on the ensemble you're playing it with could be a plus or a minus. I play with a lot of funk bands and occasionally use pedals so it suits me really well - better than the sousaphone really - but if you were playing with a traditional New Orleans style brass band, it might not quite match the colour you're going for. I also had a v good experience dealing with Wessex. When I received my first mini jazz tuba there was a small issue with the instrument likely picked up in transit - they were very responsive and quick to send me a replacement and cover the postage of sending the original back to them. My only small gripe with the purchase is that the hard-wheely case that the instrument comes in is poor. It's a shame to have such a light mobile instrument transported in a case that's so awkward and bulky (my band mates started calling it "the fridge" when I rolled into rehearsals). However, after a bit of trial and error I've gotten a gig-bag for a euphonium that fits the mini jazz which means I can easily carry it around on my back. If you're looking to buy this instrument I'd highly recommend doing the same. I got my gig bag from Gear4Music but I'm sure there are others that would do. All in all, a very recommendable instrument, not just for its portability but also for its sound.”

3 Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

“I'm very happy with my Mini Jazz tuba. I have a 7/8 tuba and a sousaphone, but this little beauty is much easier to put in my car and take to a rehearsal. It's light enough for me to carry with a strap when I play in the local New Orleans-style street band if I'm not playing my sousaphone. And the sound is amazing for such a compact tuba. It easily makes itself heard in the band, and it's a hit with the band members. It's not a toy; it's a real tuba. I recommend it.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

“Cool idea, but it plays impossibly sharp. Just spent $450 to have 6 inches added to the main tuning slide. Disappointed.”

7 Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

Each tuba is play tested by professional Tubist, so if too sharp for you, that is due to you own playing characteristics or mouthpiece used. No need to pay $450 for longer slide. You just need to contact Wessex Tubas and we will supply you with longer slide as minimal, or no cost.

Posted 2 years ago

“A truly beautiful instrument. It plays well and it has a good sound. My only complaint is that the mouthpiece that was included is big enough to use for a funnel. I would have liked to have been offered a selection more suitable for playing the horn. The Wessex Mighty Midget Jazz has good response, a good sound and the mechanicals work easily and smoothly. For the price, it is a really great buy. My regular player is a Mirafon 186 that I have played for 30 years. The Wessex isn’t a Mirafon but it’s still pretty cool.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“Absolutely oNe of my favorite horns to play. It’s size allows me to,carry 3 different horns to a gig. Even though so people are disappointed that I’m not a carrying a huge horn to their gig, once they hear the sound, they always request it for the next show. Blends really well,with the bones in a section, and great for solos and lead lines. Thinking about getting the silver plated model”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Craig Parmerlee

Verified Reviewer

“Ok, you aren't going to use this to play Wagner in a large symphony orchestra. And in a concert band playing loud matches outside, you will have trouble competing. But this ain't no practice horn. I have used it several times with 2 different brass quintets and the other players were very complimentary. They loved the sound -- actually preferred it to larger tubas. The build quality seems to be very good. Intonation is good -- much better than I expected. I find the C (one octave below middle C) too flat for a long note when using 1st valve. Fingering that as 1-3 works better. Other than that I find everything within a normal lipping range. Naturally the lowest range is not as robust as with a larger instrument. But I don't find that to be a problem, especially if I use 4th valve instead of 1-3 and 3rd valve instead of 1-2. The pedal range isn't going to be strong, but I rarely play in that range. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Craig Parmerlee

Unverified Reviewer

“I received the instrument 2 weeks ago. The build quality was quite good. The valves were a little sticky at first. They have improved with a thorough oiling. It has not been necessary to disassemble the valves to clean them. Tonight I played the instrument for the first time with other musicians, in a brass quintet. They immediately liked the character of the sound. I don't think it would do in a big concert band or orchestra, but it is most certainly far more than a "practice instrument." At this point I'd say it is preferable to my big orchestral Yamaha for use with a brass quintet. There are numerous reviews of the TB162's more popular cousin, the "Mighty Midget". and frankly, most of them are not very complimentary. So I had some trepidation about playing the TB162. But instead I found it to be a really good instrument. Generally speaking the instrument plays fairly consistently from low to high register. Other than a couple of exceptions I'll detail below, the intonation is quite acceptable -- really not any more difficult than on most other tubas. The big exception is the C an octave below middle C. If I try to play this with the normal fingering (1st valve), it is impossibly flat regardless what mouthpiece I tried. However, playing that note with 1-3 makes it very manageable. All the other notes are within lipping range, it seems to me. The other consideration is the low register, say C two octaves below middle C. In this case, there is a huge difference in stuffiness between the 1-3 fingering and 4 fingering. As a person who has played mainly on 3-valve instruments it is still a little awkward using the 4th valve instead of 1-3 and likewise using 3rd valve instead of 1-2. I suppose this is very natural for people who play tuba as their principal instrument. On the TB162, this is really a necessity. The low C in 4 sounds great whereas the low C in 1-3 sounds anemic. Of course the lower notes, while playable, don't really speak like a tuba because of the smaller bore. If you make the adjustments I mentioned above, this really is a very respectable instrument, even if it were not a compact horn. And as a compact horn, it is brilliant. I love how easily it sits on my left knee and the bell faces the audience without blocking my view of my music. I rated this as a 4 mainly because the sound is less than a full-sized tuba. As a lightweight, convenient, comfortable instrument, I'd rate it a full 5 stars. I did not expect it to be nearly this good.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

John Eppley Jr

Verified Reviewer

“Overall, I am very pleased with the horn. I recommend getting a F horn mouthpiece, I ended up with a Denis Wick 3LS. Without the new mouthpiece, I would have only given it three stars. I am 66 years old and wanted a smaller horn to enable me to keep playing. Also, I work with the local middle school band and jazz band. Having a horn that I can walk around with is a big help. It does take time to get used to it, and you need to think the notes. You just cannot press a valve and have the note fall into place centered. It makes you work to sound good. The valves are quick, easy to use, and quiet! The sound is very nice once you get used to it and upgrade the mouthpiece. It is not free blowing like a full-sized tuba, more like a baritone or bone. Keep in mind, it does not have the sound/power of a full-sized horn, so it will never be a complete replacement for my St. Peter. But it is great for 90% of time I need to play. For concerts I will use my "big" horn, but it's so easy to reach in the case and pull out the mini for a quick practice. Being able to stand and play is great and carrying it to and from school will be so much easyer.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

BBb Mini Jazz tuba – TB162 Lacquer Reviews