Planned Delivery: Late January 2027
Low Stock
A full musical voice, with comfort at your fingertips.
Bring depth and authority to your ensemble with the Wessex Viverna TB480P, a handmade, American-style BBb tuba designed in collaboration with former US Army Band tubist Chuck Nickles.
Created for band and orchestral playing, the Viverna combines a substantial 4/4 sound with thoughtfully positioned valves that sit close to the player. Its comfortable reach helps you concentrate on phrasing, articulation and musical expression through demanding rehearsals and performances.
Handmade craftsmanship
Part of Wessex’s Hand-Made High-Grade production, the Viverna brings carefully crafted construction to an instrument for committed amateur and professional musicians.
Five valves for greater flexibility
Four piston valves and a rotary fifth valve provide additional fingering choices in the lowest register, helping you approach demanding bass parts with confidence.
Comfortable valve positioning
The close valve layout makes the instrument more accessible to players with a shorter reach—a valuable consideration when choosing a full-size BBb tuba.
A substantial voice for ensemble playing
Support a quiet passage with depth, build a firm foundation beneath the brass, or bring weight to a full ensemble climax. The Viverna is designed to fulfil the varied demands of band and orchestral repertoire.
Practical details throughout
Vented stainless steel piston valves, nickel slides and a wheeled hard case complete an instrument built around the needs of the working player.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Key and size | BBb, 4/4 |
| Valve configuration | Four pistons plus one rotary valve |
| Bell | 480mm / approximately 19″ |
| Bore, valves 1–3 | 19mm / 0.748″ |
| Bore, fourth valve | 20mm / approximately 0.79″ |
| Bore, fifth valve | 21.5mm / approximately 0.85″ |
| Height | 904mm / 35.6″ |
| Weight | 12.6kg / approximately 27¾lb |
| Finishes | Lacquer with gold brass bell; silver-plated |
| Included case | Hard case with latches and wheels |
Who is the Viverna designed for?
It is designed for committed amateur and professional BBb tuba players performing in bands and orchestras.
What is the benefit of the fifth valve?
It provides additional valve combinations for low-register playing, giving the player more options when selecting fingerings for response and tuning.
Is the Viverna a compensating tuba?
No. It uses four piston valves and a separate rotary fifth valve. Players use appropriate valve combinations and slide adjustments to manage intonation.
Is it suitable for someone with a shorter reach?
Its closely positioned valves are intended to make reaching them easier. Players should also consider the instrument’s weight and their preferred playing position.
Is the Viverna handmade?
Yes. It belongs to Wessex’s Hand-Made High-Grade range.
Does it include a case?
Yes. A wheeled hard case with latches is supplied.
Place item in cart to check final price. The cart will not be processed until you reach the payment page. If you are ordering from the UK or US any relevant Taxes will be included & shown in the cart. For other destinations you will receive notice from the courier on import for any taxes and duties due to your local customs authorities.
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.
