Conn 20J -- CC

[The Big Ben]

Rudy:

Sounds like a fun project. I'm sure people would like to see it.

Sam Gnagey cuts down King 2341s for his CC horns. He usually puts another kind of bell on and frequently adds a 5th valve. I have a 2340 and have figured out what would be necessary to cut it to CC and it looks pretty straightforward. But, as you say, the devil is in the details and I'm pretty sure that one I would cut would be as bad as Sam's are good. Don't see myself doing it any time soon.

Put your pictures up on one of those free picture sharing sites (Photobucket for one) and post the link. I'd love to see it.

[J.c. Sherman]

I too would love to see a picture, or several. I have lengthened a King Eb to CC, but never saw a chopped BBb. How does it play?

J.c.S.

[windshieldbug]

One of the regulars here wrote out these instructions for people posting photos, like the the people using the "For Sale" section

[imperialbari]

* *

[J.c. Sherman]

I'm not smart enough to figure this out. What a puzzle! I think I just joined 12 differnt groups under different emails. OY!

I usually bypass these kinds of links, but I'm bummed this time - I'm really interested in this cut job!

J.c.

[NDSPTuba]

I'm not smart enough to figure this out. What a puzzle! I think I just joined 12 differnt groups under different emails. OY!

I usually bypass these kinds of links, but I'm bummed this time - I'm really interested in this cut job!

J.c.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with that same problem. It is a labyrinth to try and get to the photos. I've given up trying to view any photos listed in his group. As I always end up frustrated, being unable to take the link directly to the photos. And there are too many to surf through to try and find them.

[The Big Ben]

Thanks!

Got the photos and uploaded them to my brass photos' project:

Very cool! The workmanship looks balanced and well done!

Have you checked it with a tuner yet?

[UDELBR]

Here are the pix, for those of us who don't feel inclined to join Klaus' club.

[The Big Ben]

I was under the impression that the valve slides needed to be cut some in order for the steps to be correct.

What was your experience?

[iiipopes]

Hey, Big Ben -- they are cut -- look again.

[The Big Ben]

Hey, Big Ben -- they are cut -- look again.

Well. I suppose they are. The look is so balanced that I couldn't tell with my initial look.

Fie on me.

[Frank Ortega]

Very interesting. But how does it play? IOs it in tune?

Frank

[The Big Ben]

Messing with the taper is very difficult to do correctly. That is why so many BAT conversions have problems – the taper is very severe and the differences will show up a lot more inside the tube and will affect the waveform more. Cutting a 4/4 horn with several sections of straight tubing to mess with is the safest bet. Sam's Kings are an excellent example of this truism. The taper is more gradual than on the big boy Conns and the changes in the ID are far less severe after you get the cut ends to fit correctly.

Yes! That was my observation when I examined my King. The taper at the ferrules (at least on the inside branches) looked to be small enough that if equal amounts were taken off each branch on each side of the ferrule, the ferrule might work with a little shimming or extra solder.

Good job on the 20J CC. I have about five other projects that would be ahead of something like this and I don't want to ruin a perfectly good horn especially when it's the only one I have but it looks like an interesting exercise in tuba physics.