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Could anyone in the know detail the changes to a horn when the bell flair is trimmed (aside from it fitting in a smaller case...)?

The main example I can think of is with the large cut C's. Often the old Holtons/Yorks etc have c.22" bells which are cut down to 20" or thereabouts. What are the differences before/after?

Just wondering.
Cheers.

No one can tell you in detail what will happen but generally you could expect a less diffused sound.

The terminology can be batted around but that basically it.

The main question is: who are ya gonna get to roll it back up after it's cut? yeow!

I think I am correct in saying that the flare is flat that far down the bell on these types of tubas. Thus, it does not do anything to the sound, just gets the extra metal out of the way.

I am a non-native English speaker. I am a dyslectic, I suffer from aphasia, and I have bad eyes.

But how comes, that it is me protesting the ever recurring misspelling of bell “flairâ€

clagar777 wrote:I think I am correct in saying that the flare is flat that far down the bell on these types of tubas. Thus, it does not do anything to the sound, just gets the extra metal out of the way.

My sousaphone thinks you are not correct.

Hey, Klaus -- do you mean that those with an improper flare to their bells can't play with flair?

[quote="imperialbari"]
But how comes, that it is me protesting the ever recurring misspelling of bell “flairâ€

Peach wrote:The main example I can think of is with the large cut C's. Often the old Holtons/Yorks etc have c.22" bells which are cut down to 20" or thereabouts. What are the differences before/after?

Bob Rusk seems to think the slightly smaller bell puts slightly more core in the sound. That's why he trims all the 22" York bells down to 20" in his conversions.

I think he's probably right, but I'm not sure the effect would be noticeable in any objective sense.

Rick "thinking a larger bell flare provides wider dispersion" Denney

I fear that reducing bell flare may diminish false tones that, I understand, are better in tubas with larger bells.
I would buy a horn case to fit the larger bell.

tubatooter1940 wrote:I fear that reducing bell flare may diminish false tones that, I understand, are better in tubas with larger bells.
I would buy a horn case to fit the larger bell.

I have two small Eb tubas, with bells that are 14.25" and 13.5", respectively. Both have good false tones -- at least as good as the notes immediately above the open false tone (which is Ab). I have also tried small tubas that had no false tones whatsoever.

I haven't a clue as to why.

Cheers,
Allen

Here's a thought. . . get yourself to a store that stocks Conns. . . The 52, 54, and 56J are (I think) identical except for their 18, 19, and 20" bells, respectively. I wouldn't have believed it until I tried it, but these horns are all quite different in sound and response. I suppose it may have been some other inconsistancy in construction, but they definitely have different qualities.

--T. J.