Registered: February 2004 Location: Bamberg, GE Posts: 2
Review Date: 2/24/2004
Would you recommend the horn? Yes |
Price you paid?: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Cons:
After having played this horn for 5 months I feel comfortable giving my opinion. To start, the Savannah finish with gold accents is stunning to look at.
The tuning was the first thing that jumped out at me. With the exception of pulling out slightly on the low D and C# I never have to make adjustments with this horn. I think the placement of the tuning slide may have something to do with this.
I played the horn at every dynamic level. The ppp was just as easy to play as the fff. One would be hard pressed to overblow this horn unless they really tried. At no time did the horn feel stuffy or like I was fighting with it to get the air out.
IMHO, the combination of the MHY Bell and Savannah finish really help to get
a REALLY dark and centered tone. It would be ideal for jazz quintet and
blending with a tenor sax. On the other hand, it makes a great horn to play
a concerto on. It's kind of like a sleeping giant.....it looks peaceful but
look out if you should happen to wake it. By this I mean that the horn is
just easily a lead horn with the right mouthpiece.
The valves are the best I've ever played on. They are silent as can be and are light to the touch. They are also a little shorter than normal valves.
The slides are a comfortable fit and move very easily. I would say that the
removable end on the third valve slide is not needed though, unless a person
would opt for no spit valve on that slide.
All this being said, the horn is the "total package" I've been
looking for. With all the Eclipse bell choices and finishes I really thought this was
the best combination for me. It's a great horn that I just can't seem to
put down.
I play the horn with an Eclipse 3c and a Schilke 14A4a.
