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Author
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Unregistered
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Review Date: 1/23/2008
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Would you recommend the horn? Yes |
Price you paid?: $120.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Tone and Intonation
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Cons:
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If anything, age
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I bought this horn with the prospect of using it as a C trumpet, though it can easily play in both Bb (thanks to a rotor valve on the tuning slide) and added shank additions that both increase the length of the leadpipe, and allow use of a Cornet mouthpiece. I was fortunate, the Vocal Master that I purchased was nearly complete as though from the factory, only missing a packet of matches (which I hear the horn originally came with - don't know why), a mute, and a rod to run a cloth through the horn with, each of which can be easily replaced - haha.
The tone is superb, I love it over my Bach Strad, it fits me better, I think. The intonation, as well, is surprisingly good given it's age and not having any rings or saddles to adjust the slides with. When tuning to Bb, you have to change ALL of the slides, including the main tuning slide if intonation is key - which it should be. NOTE: It does come with a second main tuning slide. This is supposedly to allow a change between high and low pitch, but either way I've found it to affect intonation too much to care about the pitch.
It's a very solid horn as well. When I first held it, as I do all my instruments, I compare the strength of the horn in my hands as though I were playing, and this horn is SOLID. There are times where I feel as though my Bach would crumble if I held it tight enough, but I can rest assured this won't go anywhere.
Speaking of tightness, since this is an old horn and given the way horns were made back in the day, this horn is very hard to blow through, even for being a Medium Bore (stamped on the 2nd valve casing). Personally, I enjoy having some push back, and some days it's freer than others. Playing with a modern mouthpiece helps ease the pressure a bit, but playing with the original H&N White Equatru 4 mouthpiece that it came with adds more resistance, while also improving the sound, and making it more natural.
The notes don't always slot perfectly, which makes the horn great for things like Jazz playing (whereas the tone and being used to it would allow for classical playing), where the player would easily find themselves able to bend notes, while still finding the center easily enough.
Due to it's age, the valves aren't perfect. This is easily fixed with cleaning, so it may simply be my horn itself, they do stick. Unlike most modern horns, where the valves are held in place by two prongs, these valves have three separate prongs and one is wider than the others. Given the size, you'd think the wide one would stop it from slotting in the wrong direction - well, it doesn't. I first found this out when I first recieved the horn and the second valve was jammed. If you place the valve in wrong, and let it go in JUST right, it'll go in crooked and you'll have to yank fairly hard to get it free.
Otherwise, I'd highly recommend this horn, it's a blast to play and it sounds great.
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;)
