k_hower

Does anyone know whether or not the Holton Symphony T101B's were pro horns? I have an Intermediate Holton, and a Pro Holton Cornet, but I'd like to get a pro trumpet as well, and if possible stay loyal to the Holton name

RespiratoryFailure

Those are a very nice pro horn in the strad mold. They were allegedly made on mandrels from the Bach Mt. Vernon plant, bought by Holton when Megamusic Inc. bought Bach and moved it to Elkhart. No idea whether that story is true or not.

They do have some reputation for succumbing to red rot.

KP

k_hower

Thanks so much for your help, and this will probably sound terribly nubile, but what is "Red Hot"

RespiratoryFailure

Red Rot is a process where the brass alloy in the horn becomes "de-annealed". Basically, as I understand it, the zinc in the alloy is leached out in spots, leaving a characteristic pink area of corrosion, which is full thickness and can thus be seen inside and outside the tube, most typically on the lead pipe, though it can occur anywhere on the horn. In the short term, it doesn't matter much. Eventually, it results in a full thickness hole where it occurs, which can be prohibitively expensive to fix, depending on where and on what horn it occurs.

I understand the whole process can be helped along greatly by regularly blowing Coca Cola through your mouthpiece, as well as never, ever cleaning your horn!!!

Smarter minds will doubtless chime in.

KP

k_hower

ah ha, thanks again, I have experienced this before, on an older trumpet of mine, but had it fixed, i was not aware that it had a name