Mike...i really like the valves and though they werent the fastest things around they worked fine for the playing i do...slides were gritty but may just need to be broken in a little more.
Nick...I already play an 80 C laskey (1C bach) mouthpiece so unless i don't think that my mouthpiece was too small nor do i really feel that i need to change my mouthpiece to suit a horn (rather just get one that works with the piece i know and love) I have thought about opening it up a little though in the backbore and throat but who knows. I didn't do any blindfold tests yet but if i get some in I will post.
Van...I dont know how to answer the if i'm playing it like my old horn comment, i really dont think about playing...i just do it. Other than intonation stuff i dont really do much to accomodate playing MY horn. But i could be doing stuff i dont know about
