Posted by Jeremy Thornton on August 28, 2003 at 20:37:10:
In Reply to: Re: Kings new BBb Contra posted by mike on August 28, 2003 at 18:55:46:
Do notice also that crossmen is not sponsored by king brass, and that this opinion could be biased on a corporate level. I'm sure that mike would not do that, but everyone is a fan of the instrument manufacture that sponsors them... lol, sponsorships wouldn't exist if people didn't defend them.
I too have test played this horn. I found it to have a good resonant sound. But as mike said, it does have some major difficulties which are being addressed on the new model PR will march this year. The UMI representative I spoke to in June, said the overall design of the horn was going to have a major overhaul.
This instrument is also very hard to judge because it is completely unlike the other contras produced as far as balance, valve location (4th valve on the left) and overall size, which is very compactly wound, giving the horn a very conical "hornish" sound and timbre.