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W Scott · 02-12-2004, 08:33 PM

I really don't know what causes a horn to be free blowing. I do know that I don't like horns where I'm having to strain to push air through the darn thing. I played a shephards crook Yamaha one time that felt like trying to blow mud through the thing. I tried three different mouthpieces and taking the valves out and putting the valves back in---same thing. Imagine trying to blow a trumpet by using a straw---that's what it feels like.

I don't think it's the mouthpiece as I've played too many horns with several mouthpieces and I have the same feel. Bore? Nope---again, I've played all sorts of bores and can't say that a big bore is easy and a small bore is hard.

Expensive horn vs. cheap? Nope---one of best blowing horns is my Conn Director. Another free blowing horn for me is the Calicchio 1s/2 with any setup. I can (and have) played one for over an hour and it was the easiest horn to blow I have ever tried.

So, this brings up an interesting question---how does a horn maker manufacture a horn to 'blow' a certain way? Or is that not a realistic goal? Why is it that many of the old horns from the 20's and 30's are so hard to blow as opposed to the easier blowing horns of today? Could it be the valves?

Bill

02-12-2004, 08:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
W Scott Piano User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carson City, NV. Posts: 490	I really don't know what causes a horn to be free blowing. I do know that I don't like horns where I'm having to strain to push air through the darn thing. I played a shephards crook Yamaha one time that felt like trying to blow mud through the thing. I tried three different mouthpieces and taking the valves out and putting the valves back in---same thing. Imagine trying to blow a trumpet by using a straw---that's what it feels like. I don't think it's the mouthpiece as I've played too many horns with several mouthpieces and I have the same feel. Bore? Nope---again, I've played all sorts of bores and can't say that a big bore is easy and a small bore is hard. Expensive horn vs. cheap? Nope---one of best blowing horns is my Conn Director. Another free blowing horn for me is the Calicchio 1s/2 with any setup. I can (and have) played one for over an hour and it was the easiest horn to blow I have ever tried. So, this brings up an interesting question---how does a horn maker manufacture a horn to 'blow' a certain way? Or is that not a realistic goal? Why is it that many of the old horns from the 20's and 30's are so hard to blow as opposed to the easier blowing horns of today? Could it be the valves? Bill __________________ Gabriel is NOT a woodwind player!