Small BBb Tuba designed to play like a true Tuba
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The Wessex Mighty Midget TB160 is a unique BBb travel tuba designed for players who want genuine tuba performance in an exceptionally compact and portable instrument.
Inspired by the historic Tornister tuba – literally a “backpack tuba” – used by Austro-Hungarian military bands around the turn of the 20th century, the Mighty Midget takes this ingenious concept and brings it into the modern age. Unlike the original instruments, the TB160 features four valves, giving the player the flexibility and range expected from a modern BBb tuba.
At just 52 cm (20”) tall and 5.2 kg (11 lb 7 oz), the Mighty Midget is dramatically smaller and lighter than a conventional full-size tuba. Yet its compact dimensions are deceptive. The TB160 produces a warm, surprisingly full tuba tone with excellent projection, allowing it to provide a genuine bass foundation rather than simply behaving like an oversized euphonium.
A real tuba that travels
The TB160 is ideal for musicians who regularly travel with their instrument. Its compact dimensions make it considerably easier to transport through airports, on public transport, in cars or even by bicycle than a conventional BBb tuba.
It is equally useful as a compact practice tuba for musicians with limited space, including players living in apartments, students or professionals who want an instrument that can be kept readily available without the size and storage requirements of a traditional tuba.
Its light weight also makes the Mighty Midget an excellent choice for standing performances, marching, outdoor playing and mobile gigs, where carrying a full-size tuba can quickly become tiring.
Small instrument. Serious musical capability.
The Mighty Midget isn’t merely a novelty or miniature display instrument. It was designed to fulfil the same musical role as a conventional BBb tuba.
Its responsive playing characteristics, four-valve configuration and surprisingly substantial tone make it suitable for brass bands, wind bands, jazz groups and small ensembles. In more intimate ensembles, its compact sound can actually be an advantage where a large orchestral-style tuba might overpower the musical texture.
Whether you need a portable tuba for travelling, a lightweight instrument for standing performances, a space-saving practice instrument or simply one of the most unusual tubas available, the Wessex Mighty Midget TB160 provides genuine BBb tuba performance in an extraordinarily compact package.
Big tuba character. Mighty Midget proportions.
After long and tantalizing search, I have ultimately found the instrument which is 1000% suitable and reliable for me, the TB160 Mighty Midget.
I play around 100 shows a year, and we frequently have studio recording sessions, which require a lot of travelling and transportation. It is extremely convenient to put the instrument into my Pelican travel case and take everything easily.
Absolutely fantastic!
Andrey Antonenko
What is the Wessex Mighty Midget TB160?
The Wessex Mighty Midget TB160 is an exceptionally compact BBb travel tuba inspired by the historic Tornister, or “backpack”, tubas used by European military bands. Despite its remarkably small dimensions, it is designed to play and sound like a true tuba, making it a practical instrument for travelling, rehearsing, performing and small ensemble work.
Is the TB160 a real BBb tuba or just a practice instrument?
The TB160 is a fully playable BBb tuba, not simply a practice instrument. It produces a surprisingly deep, warm tuba tone with good projection and can be used in brass bands, wind bands, jazz ensembles and other situations where a conventional full-size tuba might be impractical.
How small is the Wessex TB160?
The Mighty Midget is just 52 cm (20 inches) high, with a 24 cm (9.5-inch) bell, making it dramatically smaller than a conventional BBb tuba. It weighs approximately 5.2 kg (11 lb 7 oz), so it is also considerably easier to transport and handle than most full-size tubas.
Is the TB160 suitable as a travel tuba?
Yes. Travel is one of the main reasons the TB160 was created. Its compact dimensions make it much easier to take on trains, buses and other public transport, and it can even be carried on your back. It is an excellent choice for tuba players who regularly travel but don’t want to be without a proper BBb instrument.
Can I take the TB160 on an aircraft?
The TB160’s exceptionally compact dimensions make air travel considerably easier than with a conventional tuba. Wessex describes it as small enough in its gig bag for cabin travel, although individual airlines have their own cabin-baggage size and weight restrictions, so these should always be checked before travelling.
Is the Mighty Midget suitable for practising at home?
Yes. The TB160 makes an excellent home practice tuba, particularly for players living in apartments or homes where storing and handling a full-size tuba is inconvenient. You can practise on a genuine BBb tuba while using a fraction of the storage space required by a conventional instrument.
Does such a small tuba still produce a proper tuba sound?
Yes. That is one of the defining characteristics of the Mighty Midget. Although physically very compact, it has been designed to retain a deep, warm BBb tuba character with useful projection. Its compact body gives it its own distinctive response, but it is intended to perform as a genuine musical instrument rather than a novelty miniature tuba.
What is a Tornister tuba?
“Tornister” essentially means a backpack or knapsack. Historic Tornister tubas were compact instruments used by military bands, particularly around the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when musicians needed instruments that could be transported easily on foot. The Wessex Mighty Midget takes inspiration from these historic instruments while incorporating a modern four-valve design.
Is the TB160 suitable for marching and standing performances?
Yes. At approximately 5.2 kg, the TB160 is considerably easier to hold for extended periods than a large BBb tuba. This makes it particularly useful for standing performances, mobile ensembles, street performances and situations where portability matters.
Is the TB160 suitable for small ensembles?
Yes. Its compact design can be particularly useful in smaller ensembles where a large BBb tuba could overpower the musical texture. It provides genuine low-brass support while allowing the player greater control over balance.
Who is the Wessex Mighty Midget best suited to?
The TB160 is particularly well suited to travelling musicians, players needing a compact practice instrument, musicians performing while standing or moving, players with limited storage space, and tuba enthusiasts looking for something genuinely unusual that is still a practical performing instrument.
Does the TB160 come with a warranty?
Yes. The Mighty Midget is covered by the Wessex Tubas 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects, giving players the same reassurance as when purchasing Wessex’s larger instruments.
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For your peace of mind
Unlike most leading brands, Wessex Tubas offers a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects on all our instruments, and in the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with your purchase, we offer a full refund and return within 2 weeks.
You can return any item bought from Wessex Tubas within 14 days of receiving it for a full refund, minus shipping costs. However, please contact us before returning your item so we can provide you with return labels and a collection booking with our dedicated courier to ensure the safe return of your item/s. When returning the item, it must be in its original packaging and in ’as received’ condition. Please note that shipping charges apply to refund upon return of your item and any damage will also result in reduced refund.
The Wessex ‘Mighty Midget’ BBb travel tuba is styled on the Tornister Tuba.
