Can rotor paddles be angled?

[poomshanka]

While he was at it, why didn't he flip the two rotors and adjust the linkage accordingly to have them all open the same direction?

That, of course, presumes that a washed-up, also-ran community band honker like me would even notice the difference!



Honestly, I don't really have an informed answer on that one. I guess the only thing I can think of is that if it really was a silver bullet, everyone would be doing it. Maybe it's akin to lacquer vs. unlacquer, heavyweight mouthpiece vs. lightweight mouthpiece, etc.? I dunno. I'm just gasbagging, really. Please feel free to flame me with impunity...

...D

[Dan Schultz]

One guy thought he had it figured out!

Nice, old Marzan, Dan! Good photo. Those horns play pretty darn well, IIRC.

That particular horn belongs to Ryan Roberts. My Marzan is a piston horn. wish I had a slant-rotor!

[windshieldbug]

I used a slant rotor CC as my main symphony horn for the better part of 20 years, and only came to appreciate it more!

[windshieldbug]

Wade,

The (B&M made) Marzan slant rotor CC's I've played have been very consistent- they sound like mine, but they all seem to have a very flat D on the staff. Oddly enough, Eb and E natural seemed to be much better. F a little sharp. Must be the bugel.

I got so used to using that upper main, it became second nature. And with a Mirafone Rose Solo 'piece, it had a glorious (I thought) sound. So much the better, so did guest conductors. A lot of presence.

The frankenflugel was a youthful indescretion... who knew that those flugels would be worth so much now "unmolested" ?

[ASTuba]

From my experience on these Marzan tubas:

Rotary BBb - everyone I've played had good intonation and even response

Rotary CC - most have the even response, few pitch quirks, but all still managable

Piston Tubas - AHHH!!!!!! Need a lot of help with the tuning.

Just my .02 worth.

[Tubaryan12]

That horn has instantly transformed me from a crappy tuba player into a crappy tuba player with a halfway decent sound. All credit goes to the horn. It's even better with the 4th valve extention and all 4 pennies. .

[Dan Schultz]

From my experience on these Marzan tubas:

Piston Tubas - AHHH!!!!!! Need a lot of help with the tuning.

Just my .02 worth.

HUH! There must be a bad one out there somewhere, then.... or it wasn't one of the B & M built horns. The only bum note on my piston Marzan (B & M) is a sharp Db below the staff... fully fixable with alternate fingerings. It's the first BBb tuba I've ever played where the BBb, F, and Bb line up within a few cents.

[Dan Schultz]

Nifty Willson!

Can all the paddles on a rotary horn be exchanged with each other?

That depends on how much trouble you wish to go to. Usually (I DID say 'usually'!)... the #1 and #2 assemblies will interchange and the #3 and #4 assemblies will interchange. Beyond that, all the parts will interchange if you want to break down the paddles and links. It's not difficult to make new custom paddles if you can cut, braze, and machine brass and nickel materials.

[r smith]

Why don't all current manufactured rotary horns come with a slant action?? Fred Marzan had a good idea.

[Rick Denney]

Why don't all current manufactured rotary horns come with a slant action?? Fred Marzan had a good idea.

Because it doesn't fit everybody.

Rick "who prefers a more vertical arrangement" Denney

[tbn.al]

http://www.baltimorebrass.net/pic.php?id=166
It's been there quite a while.