16 - Jonathan Hodgetts: Wessex Tubas and Historical Instrument Reproduction

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Episode 16 is our discussion with Jonathan Hodgetts, founder and owner of Wessex Tubas. This was our first international interview, and we can’t thank him enough for taking the time to speak with us. We cover how and why he started Wessex, what their instrument designing process is like, and how they got into reproducing historical instruments such as the ophicleide and their brand new Over-the-Shoulder Eb Bass.

Show notes for this episode are available at https://eabbpodcast.com/show-notes-2/. Music in this episode comes from Our Musical Past from the Library of Congress and The 8th GM Regiment Band. You can get in touch with us on social media, and by emailing us at [email protected].

If you like the show, the best way you can support us is by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/eabbpodcast. We appreciate any support you feel compelled to give!

Episode Structure:

• 3:15 - Jonathan's musical background

• 6:00 - British style brass bands

• 8:39 - Orchestral and wind band playing

• 12:42 - Founding of Wessex Tubas and initial instrument production

• 18:09 - Expanding production, distribution, tweaking instrument designs

• 20:35 - How Wessex got into producing historical instruments

• 23:34 - Why Jonathan thinks historical instruments should be accessible to players

• 25:06 - Timeline from design to product

• 29:12 - Considerations before Wessex decides to design and produce an instrument

• 33:46 - Wessex's OTS Eb Bass, how they decided to make it, the horn it was modeled after, and "quality of life" design improvements

• 40:31 - Playing the new Wessex OTS Eb Bass

• 41:53 - More on the OTS Eb Bass

• 45:30 - Thoughts on reproducing historical instruments

• 54:15 - Where you can find more information about Wessex, their OTS Eb Bass, and their other instruments

• 56:19 - Show notes, social media, and our featured album for this episode: The Origin of the Species, The Wallace Collection