Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:11 pm
Looks like another re-tasking of the 3050 taper, along the same lines as my rotary 3050 CC. The valves and tuning slides, though, are flipped around.
After having to drop some decent coin to get the ergonomics "re-jiggered" on my axe, I'd be very curious to see how the paddles on this thing lie under your hand. On mine, the paddles were so high, I had to cock my wrist at an uncomfortable angle to play them. The leadpipe was either just right and the valve paddles too high, or the valve paddles were just right, and the mouthpiece came in below my Adam's Apple. Since the leadpipe was almost a straight shot around the bell, not really much play there. I think this wrap would better accomodate tweaks like that.
From a manufacturing perspective, this design appears as though it might better lend itself to "factory edits" to correct any ergonomic issues, i.e. moving the leadpipe up and down relative to the valve paddles.
Having played, more or less, the CC counterpart to this horn, I might be able to extrapolate a few opinions on the BBb. Built like a tank, prolly around 30 pounds or so. Projects like crazy, with a very dense, solid core to the sound. Not what I'd call a heavy, squishy sound, like some piston BATs - IMHO - tend to produce (my analogy - a beach ball full of Jell-O). Not foggy either. Lean, muscular, huge, a la many other big rotary horns. Because the metal's so thick, it can tend to feel, perhaps, a litle "dead" in your hands. This can be a little unnerving if you're used to a lot of feedback in your lap. For big, heavy horns, they seem to retain nice clarity and nimbleness to the sound when played soft.
Just my opinion, but I think the rotary 3050s are better horns than their piston counterparts. Your mileage may vary, however...
...Dave
After having to drop some decent coin to get the ergonomics "re-jiggered" on my axe, I'd be very curious to see how the paddles on this thing lie under your hand. On mine, the paddles were so high, I had to cock my wrist at an uncomfortable angle to play them. The leadpipe was either just right and the valve paddles too high, or the valve paddles were just right, and the mouthpiece came in below my Adam's Apple. Since the leadpipe was almost a straight shot around the bell, not really much play there. I think this wrap would better accomodate tweaks like that.
From a manufacturing perspective, this design appears as though it might better lend itself to "factory edits" to correct any ergonomic issues, i.e. moving the leadpipe up and down relative to the valve paddles.
Having played, more or less, the CC counterpart to this horn, I might be able to extrapolate a few opinions on the BBb. Built like a tank, prolly around 30 pounds or so. Projects like crazy, with a very dense, solid core to the sound. Not what I'd call a heavy, squishy sound, like some piston BATs - IMHO - tend to produce (my analogy - a beach ball full of Jell-O). Not foggy either. Lean, muscular, huge, a la many other big rotary horns. Because the metal's so thick, it can tend to feel, perhaps, a litle "dead" in your hands. This can be a little unnerving if you're used to a lot of feedback in your lap. For big, heavy horns, they seem to retain nice clarity and nimbleness to the sound when played soft.
Just my opinion, but I think the rotary 3050s are better horns than their piston counterparts. Your mileage may vary, however...
...Dave