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Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:02 am
by Sandlapper
I have been playing with a Blokepiece Symphony for the last couple of years. Love it! For a while now I have also been playing with smaller brass group (either low brass quarter or small mixed brass - trumpet, trombones and tuba) at church and at couple of other locations. While the Symphony gives a gorgeous sound in concert band, would I get a different sound with the Solo that would perhaps be a better fit for the small group? What would I likely notice using the solo in instead of the symphony? Would it be a significant difference sound wise?

Thank you for any thoughts, observations.

Re: Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:27 am
by k001k47
Sandlapper wrote:I have been playing with a Blokepiece Symphony for the last couple of years. Love it! For a while now I have also been playing with smaller brass group (either low brass quarter or small mixed brass - trumpet, trombones and tuba) at church and at couple of other locations. While the Symphony gives a gorgeous sound in concert band, would I get a different sound with the Solo that would perhaps be a better fit for the small group? What would I likely notice using the solo in instead of the symphony? Would it be a significant difference sound wise?

Thank you for any thoughts, observations.
It'd be kind of like turning the bass knob down and the trebble knob up a little on a stereo equalizer.
YMMV

. . . or is that the contrabass vs bass tuba difference?

Re: Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:27 pm
by Sandlapper
Sorry, I should have mentioned that tuba is either a King 2341 new style with Blokepiece with Euro shank or 186BB with American shank. :oops: I guess also not asked is what have you found works best in your experience with similar size horns with small brass groups? I've been back playing for about 3 years after a 40 year hiatus.

Again, thanks for you response

Re: Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:57 am
by tofu
Sandlapper wrote:Sorry, I should have mentioned that tuba is either a King 2341 new style with Blokepiece with Euro shank or 186BB with American shank. :oops: I guess also not asked is what have you found works best in your experience with similar size horns with small brass groups? I've been back playing for about 3 years after a 40 year hiatus.


I've got a 2341 - I've tried both the Symphony and the Solo 2 with it. I've found the Solo a much better over all match with the 2341. In general the 2341 I find likes a smaller mouthpiece. Also, I prefer the fit of the American shank in the 2341 better than the Euro shank. I've also had good results with a Conn 2, Wick 2 and Schilke 67 for a bigger fuller sound, but for a small brass group I'd use the Solo 2.

Re: Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:47 pm
by Sandlapper
I decided to give the Imperial a try. Thanks folks for the feedback and to Bloke for the very fast service. I got a nice compliment on the sound at band practice last night. Now we'll see how it does in Church Sunday playing with three trombones.

The rim is identical to what I have been using on the Symphony, not quite as deep mellow sound, but it sure seem easier to get to upper register. Is this just a placebo effect or does a shallower cup actually help with the upper register?

Re: Blokepiece Solo Question

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 6:37 pm
by iiipopes
Sandlapper wrote:Is this just a placebo effect or does a shallower cup actually help with the upper register?
Ask Forrest Buchtel.