Are you saying that the Alex takes twice as much effort as the 8D? Normally I would recommend the Reynolds Chambers clone of the 8D because of its great tone and especially for its high efficiency. If you're leaning towards an Alex, there is a very rare, and mostly unknown, Holton model 77 presently on eBay that might well go for less than $500. This is the original Farkas model from the sixties. This horn would fit into a Geyer section and be very effective for ensemble playing. Hang on to the 8D in case you have to play in a 'big' horn section. The trick to easily switching horns is to spend a lot of time tuning all the valve combinations so the lipping requirements are as close as possible on the two horns. Don't be surprised if you suddenly find your accuracy greatly improved on the horn you've been playing for years. You might be surprised how out of tune you've learned to accommodate through years of practice. Do it with an electronic tuner sensitive enough to tell you exactly how far you're lipping each note to be in tune. Center each note with your eyes closed so you can see exactly where the horn wants to play it. This is especially important for matching a Bb horn or descant horn to your main instrument. For the Bb or descant, an F attachment is more important than a stopping valve. Have a crook made However, a stopping valve is a legitimate 2nd valve when using the F attachment.
Steven Slaff wrote on 9/7/2004, 5:40 PM: > Hello, > > Partially with the advice of my teacher, I am considering purchasing a > new horn -- My current Conn 8D really isn't cutting it. > > What horns do you all recommend that have a big and mellow, yet clear > sound, but play well -- I'm looking for something with a bit more > resistance than my current Conn, I've tried playing my teacher's Alex, > and when I blow into that it takes half the effort to make the same > sound on my Conn!!! > > Any recommendations are appreciated! > Thanks very much!!! > Steven Slaff > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Tuesday, September 7, 2004 6:30 pm > Subject: [Hornlist] Elkhart Conn 8d or Yamaha 667V or Alexander 103 > > > I'm trying to decide on which horn I'll be purchasing in the near > > future and > > was wondering what all of your opinions are on these particular > > horns. I > > know they are about as opposite as you can get, but I've played on > > newer Conn > > 8Ds and a Yamaha 867(similar to 667V), and liked how they both > > played. The > > Yamaha was a free-blowing horn that played very nicely I thought. > > The Conns > > played well, but I'm interested in trying an older Elkhart model > > to see if there > > is a bigger difference in the playing characteristics. If any of > > you have had > > any experience with playing the newer and older 8Ds and what their > > > > differences are, please write in. I've never played an Alexander > > 103, but I do know > > that they are a reputable horn in Europe and the sound that the > > European horn > > sections produce using them, is quite satisfactory.To give you a > > little bit of > > background info on where I currently stand as a horn player, here > > ya go: I'm > > a senior in high school, and will be attending one of the major > > southeastern > > universities next year to most likely major in music. I do play > > principal > > horn in the local youth orchestra and principal horn in the wind > > symphony at > > Sebastian River High School in Sebastian, FL. So this horn will > > need to last me > > through my college years and hopefully into my > > amateur/professional career. > > Any advice on any horn would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. > > Jason > > _______________________________________________ > > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > unsubscribe or set options at > > > http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/steven.slaff%40oberlin.edu > > _______________________________________________ > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/billbamberg%40aol.com > _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
