Holton Harvey Phillips BBb MP Question

[Gilligan]

Hey Guys,

Was helping a friend today to better tune her BBb today. She has been having problems with the horn playing too flat on most pitches. I found that her American shank mouthpiece wasn't fitting as deep into her Harvey Phillips Holton BBb as it fit into my horn and a Yamaha 321 Eb we had on hand.

I believe that this horn requires a European size shank on the mouthpiece.

Can anyone confirm what size shank Holton designed this horn to use?

Thanks
Gill

[brianf]

Harvey always played on a Conn 2. That is what he used when they designed the horn. Try it!

[Uncle Markie]

I agree about the Conn 2 - never saw Harvey with anything else.

Elsewhere someone posted a photo of Harvey and Johnny Evans in the Ringling Circus Band - and there's that Conn 2.

It is still offered today under a different model number - I use one on my EEb.

Conn 2 - good enough for John Fletcher and Harvey Phillips - I say check it out. Not every good mouthpiece has to cost a hundred bucks.

Mark Heter

[Gilligan]

Okay this horn then uses a American shank mouthpiece

My friend likes the sound of her Wick 3XL but she is flat on everything.

Any suggestions?

[Schielke60]

I've owned a Harvey Holton for several years,,,,,it came with a Holton 18, which I didn't like. I've used a Bach 18 and a 18 Megatone on it, and found the hor really sang.

I have since switched to CC, and was fortunate enough to find a Harvey CC, which I had originally sold to the player, and now have that. I'm used a Conn Helleberg, the deep one, on it and pitch seems fine. Are the valves aligned properly? Take it to Grainer and see if the thing needs a bit of tweeking. That is a great horn.