Conn 5J Info Needed

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 2:01 am

Bore's about 0.651" if memory serves with an 18" bell. It might make a decent enough quintet horn, but I seem to recall that the bottom bow just has a guard wire for protection--no cap.

Jeffrey Hicks · Post by **Jeffrey Hicks** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 11:14 am

I play one all the time. It is a nice little horn and does all I need it to do. It is a bit stuffy and very mouthpiece sensitive. I use a nice King 7B that I have never seen another like. It would do you quite well though I doubt it is as nice as the 187 though.

glangfur · Post by **glangfur** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 11:55 am

I recently bought a 3J, the CC version. I'm told the one I have is an excellent example of the model. Dave Fedderly called it "an amazing little horn", and Matt Gaunt thought I will be happier with this horn than any of the small 4-valve CCs that are currently in production. With the exception of a couple of notes in the high register (open G and Ab 2+3), the pitch is excellent throughout and the response is nice and even into the low register. I'm using a Schilke 66 with it. I am, of course, primarily a bass trombone player, so smaller makes a lot of things easier for me, and I don't expect to ever have a gig playing tuba in a large orchestra.

The only way to know about the particular 5J available to you is of course to try it. Small doesn't necessarily have to mean stuffy.

Davidrn1 · Post by **Davidrn1** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:53 pm

Hi, I have been talked out of 5J's by several people.

One person said that "it is like taking a brick and putting a mpc in it".

Personally, the horn is stuffy as many have said already. But, for what it is, it is not a bad junior high school tuba.

Of course I like the bigger horns so I may be skewed a little.

pat · Post by **pat** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 6:18 pm

Can anyone elaborate on the differences between a 5J and a 3J, are they about the same size, bore, quality?

glangfur · Post by **glangfur** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 9:19 am

Can anyone elaborate on the differences between a 5J and a 3J, are they about the same size, bore, quality?

As far as I can tell, the 5J is simply a BBb version of a 3J, and vice versa. The picture of the 5J on the Dillon website looks essentially identical to my 3J.

pat · Post by **pat** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:51 pm

Yes, I agree that based on the photo the 5J looks VERY similar to the 3J, but based on the comments in this thread about the 5J, it sounds as if a TOTALLY different horn is being described.
"Blowing into a brick" etc.
I too own a 3J CC and think it a great horn. In the past I have seen a lot of praise for this horn. Fedderly's high opinion of the 3J CC seems pretty widely, (almost universally) held by others, at least in my experience.
There must be? differences beyond what key the horns are in?
Was a 3J CC that much different from a 3J BB flat?
Was there a 3J BB flat?

glangfur · Post by **glangfur** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:44 pm

I have a related question. Has anyone added a fifth valve or a tuning slide kicker to a 3J?

tubacdk · Post by **tubacdk** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:57 pm

i've played a 4v 5J that was a pretty decent horn, and a 3v of similar size (may be numbered differently, no idea) that was as others have said, "like blowing into a brick." your best bet it just to try it out and have others listen to you, and be sure to try a variety of mpcs. I've been very surprised at how much difference a mpc can make in some horns. My 2155R is one of those, as was my Piggy CC.

-ck

Jeffrey Hicks · Post by **Jeffrey Hicks** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:27 am

I have played my horn with a Conn Helleberg. It is the mouthpiece that was included with the horn for awhile. It sounded the best with a Hellebergish type mouthpiece. My King 7B is basically a Helleberg 7B. It should be fine with that. I have a problem with the rim on a Conn Helleberg. I am not the only one.....

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Conn 5J Info Needed

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