| I've owned horns with no waterkey on the third slide and horns with a waterkey. The best playing one out of several fine horns had a waterkey.
Give me a great playing horn with a waterkey any day. (Dropping the 3d slide on a concrete floor during the middle of the 3d set can be a big bummer, particularly when the slide won't go back in the horn).
As I said before, the presence or lack of a third slide key should not influence a horn selection decision. Play the horns and buy the one that responds best to you and delivers the sound that you seek.
Dave |