most beautiful horn ever

[daktx2]

alright, we have debated the playing characteristics of horns since the dawn of the internet. now it is time to post the most beautiful horns u have seen, regardless of playing characteristics. my favorite is the york Eb that was cleaned up at oberloh.
http://www.oberloh.com/gallery/Complete.htm
just scroll down to the bottom.
i dont know what it is but i have a thing for satin silver.

[Chuck(G)]

How about this old Louis Schreiber Eb bass?

[Lew]

The double bell euphonium in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC has to be up there. It is fully custom engraved by one of Conn's master engravers. (Zoom in close to check out the details).

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/v ... 1989%2E322

Close to it is a gold plated double bell euphonium that someone played in the community band in which I played in Florida. It was also fully engraved with multiple scenes, but I don't remember the details.

This sousaphone is another beauty:

http://www.rugs-n-relics.com/brass-phil ... Sousa.html

and I remember an issue of the Tuba Journal in which there were some great photos of old Conn sousaphones that were beautifully engraved and plated.

And, if I ever get my Henry Distin BBb helicon restored the way I want, it'll be up there. It has floral engraving all over the bell along with a set of crossed American flags over the logo, and the tpical Distin decorative ferrules and braces.

[ParLawGod]

I actually have a double-bell euphonium that's the same model as that one (but doesn't look as nice as that one though)...I would love to do something like that with my horn when I'm done paying for college!

[Alex Reeder]

If my eyes are not mistaken, this instrument has 5 valves in a row! How would you play this? It looks like you would need 6 fingers on your right hand!

[ParLawGod]

There are actually two ways to go about it. The most common way (that I've seen) is that you use valves 1-4 with your right hand (just like playing a 4-valve euphonium or tuba) and you use your left hand (because it's wrapped around the instrument) to play the 5th valve - that's how I do it and it works great. A second way is to use your right hand for valves 1-3 and your left hand for valves 4 and 5 (I personally don't like doing it this way, but I've seen it done).

[Allen]

I play tuba, not euphonium, but some years ago I got to spend some time with a 5-valve Conn twin bell euphonium. Just using my right hand worked for me. Using the larger bell, I played it with the usual valves 1 through 4. For using the smaller bell, I used by pinky finger to hold down the switch valve (5), and my first three fingers on valves 1 through 3. The smaller bell is mainly effective above the horn's lower range, and only three valves are needed to get all of the notes in the middle and upper range.

At the time, I had done the majority of my playing on 3-valve Sousaphones, and it did not occur to me to use my left hand on valves!

Allen Walker

[Alex Reeder]

My MW 45S

T-Brick Woody, got any pictures of this? It sounds interesting.

I personally have a frankenstein tuba- half laquer brass body, half silver bell. It is the best tuba I've ever played, but, alas, is very un-beautiful. This string has got me thinking about fixing it up. Maybe when I win the lottery!

[Bill Troiano]

I owned a new Miraphone 188 CC Anniversary model tuba. It was beautiful with the red brass, nickel silver trim and engravings. However, it sounded like @#%$#$^!!!! The red brass eliminated much of the overtones and resonance. I tried to convince myself that I liked it, but after 4 months, I had to sell it because I couldn't stand it. Why I bought it in the first place is a long story, but Roger Bobo was right!!!!!

[Steve Marcus]

I remember an issue of the Tuba Journal in which there were some great photos of old Conn sousaphones that were beautifully engraved and plated.

The Spring 1999 issue of the TUBA Journal had a feature article about "100 Years of Sousaphones." In the article is a photo of Jerry Young "holding a 24 carat gold plated instrument specially built by C. G. Conn for an exhibition in the first half of the 20th century." When I was at Interlochen last summer, this sousaphone was displayed in a glass case along with many other historic instruments in the Greenleaf Collection. The highly ornate bell on this sousaphone is at least 30" in diameter. However, Dr. Young said that the horn did not play very well in tune.

[MichaelDenney]

If we look beyond the stunning enhancements of special plating and engraving and judge beauty based on proportions, I would vote for the big American-made horns like front-action Martins and Yorks. The shape is graceful, especially considering the size of the horns. Their original engraving is great too.