zuester

Solar bell ,
What in the world are you talking about when you say "The trumpets that are made by Conn Selmer UMI Stienway or whatever the company is called now are generally inferior horns ." I think your sentemental attachment to the older model Kings has maybe clouded your judgement a little.
I have played some really fine horns that are made by the factories you just slammed . In fact I have played some "newer " model Silver Flairs which are
really good playing horns, as well as the King Legend. I would hardly call these horns "inferior" by any stretch. I don't really think you know what you are talking about .

Lead Trumpet Girl

Harry James never played on the Silver Flair model . King made a Harry James Model starting in 1954. The only similarity between the two models was the fact that they all have three valves a mouthpiece and a bell.
Just kidding, the Harry James model was a dual bore which opened up to a 470 bore, it was somewhat a copy of the old Selmer Balanced Action Model that both Harry and Louis Armstrong used to play. Harry wanted Selmer to call it the Harry James Model and when they refused he went to King and they said they would make the horn for him .

Solar Bell

I have a very close association with a music store in Metro Detroit that furnishes band instruments to many, many school districts. They sell the entire UMI line, including King, Benge, and Conn. I have played all the horns that go through the store. they are...in my opinion mediocre at best. That is my opinion. I am entitled to it.

Somewhere I have a picture of my father performing with Harry James, in the metro Detroit area. Harry, my dad and the other three trumpet players were ALL playing King Silver Flair trumpets. I happened to be there and soon after got a Silver Flair of my own.

I am sorry if my opinions are not in sinc with yours, but there ARE my opinions. (and only opinions) Your opinions are obviously different.

-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

zuester

Sure , we are all entitled to our opinions , as far as that goes .
Concerning Harry playing a Silver Flair , how do you explain the fact that they (King) made a seperate model for Harry , maybe Harry preferred a larger bore.
I know that when my brother played with Harry's band in the 60's in Vegas, Harry wasn't playing a Silver Flair , he was playing the Harry James Balanced Action Model that King had made for him.