crowmadic

As a professional, what do you look for when purchasing a "professional" horn? Is it possible to find those same qualities in an "intermediate" horn?

Vulgano Brother

I like to look for the following priorities:

1. Sound
2. Intonation
3. Response
4. Quality of workmanship

With piccolos, I love the Selmer sound, but can't get them to play in tune, I love the Schilke intonation but am not crazy about the sound. I ended up buying a Scherzer. Hope this helps.

kadleck

I've been playing an intermediate horn for 5 years now. When I find another horn that plays better (pro, intermediate, or student), I'll buy it.

Tony

lmf

Hi, Crowmatic,

A professional horn for one company may be like an intermediate horn for another. One company may advertise that its intermediate horn as being similar to a professional model listed for another company.

I suspect you have to "cut through the hype" and play the ones you like and can afford. Read the reviews and take note.

Most people in TM play horns that are beyond my budget, but most are professional musicians or play in bands year around. Thus, they invest in the best and their music performance shines.

Best wishes!

lloyd lmf

tatakata

How much are the Jupiter XO horns. Anyone tried one? That might be a good option.

crowmadic

My question is a result of a response by my teacher after he played my recently acquired '63 Conn Victor 22B. After playing it he said, "It blows easier than mine." He was comparing it to his new Bobby Shew model Yamaha. Of course he played my horn beautifully. He then played his horn and the tone of his horn appealed to me slightly better than mine. When asked, he put my horn in the intermediate category. Yet my instincts tell me that my horn in the hands of a "bitch'n" player on a gig would stand up to many "Professional" horns. Thus my confusion, and question. I'll just have to wait for the opportunity to experience the difference between my horn and a "professional" horn. Thanks to all that responded. I know this is one of those gray areas. By the way, I don't see this teacher too often so I didn't want to spend a lot of time learning about horn differences. After all, I've got my TM teachers.................tom/crow

Vulgano Brother

Didn't Robert Nagel play a 22B forever?

Brekelefuw

A good player will sound good on all but the most poorly made horns.

Richard Oliver

And there you have it! Thanks for being a "sanity reminder" Tony

rowuk

The question is as individual as the player!
It is always the question of what your priorities are. If you are a primarily soloist, you can do ANYTHING that you want to: pro, Intermediate, vintage, new, radically new....... If you are playing in a section, you have to "fit". That does not necessarily mean identical hardware, but "appropriate" for sure. If you play 1st chair, you probably have more to say than the other players, but section success means cooperation.
My priorities look like this:
1) Intonation - there is NO reason to use an out of tune horn anymore, period. Great intonation is not a nice to have. Today there are enough horns available in every pitch that really work! Bad intonation is bad design or quality control or both. I simply do not accept this anymore.
2) Sound - I buy horns for a reason, they need to be suitable for what I intend
3) Response-
4) Quality of workmanship - the best built horn is useless if the above is not present, but shoddy workmanship means problems when you are on stage!
Many so-called Pro instruments are not even student quality when you check the blow or intonation - so I vote for fine line between the classifications!