Every once in a while I get a really satisfying project build. This is one of those and I thought some might be interested.

Trombonist Jaehan Kim from Seoul Korea has been asking me for a while for a Minick tenor bell. I finally had one available in 8.5" beryllium bronze and suggested the new Hagmann 2.0 valve for it. I had some old early elkhart era parts around the shop (vintage neckpipe, mounts/bars, diamond bell brace, tuning slide connectors) and agreed to work on this project for him with my colleague Don Sawday (shout out to Don!).

If you haven't yet tried the new Hagmann 2.0 valve... it's WAY better than the original. I always wanted to love the original but there were some finicky design things that made them maintenance heavy and they needed a superb installation to be setup correctly to function as designed (ahem...looking at you Bach 42A) which wasn't always the case. Mr. Hagmann redesigned the valve a few years ago and the 2.0 version is much more stable, more resonant and just better all around. We've already replaced a few of the original versions on client's Rath R4s with great success! Can't say enough good things about these new valves (but they still do need to be installed by a good tech with hagmann experience).

Back to this build. I sourced the new hagmann with open wrap, a seamed copper Hoelle tuning slide with reversed receiver, custom Ark/Sawday ferrules. It really came out spectacular! Here are some photos from the assembly and final bell section after lacquer.

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Spectacular! Bravo to you and Don!

Very nice. I'm curious as to what the differences are between the two trigger styles.

Oh nice!!! That is one incredible looking horn. I hope it is everything the new owner hoped it would be.

I've been out of the loop on valves for a while, and wasn't aware that there was now a V2 Hagmann valve. I wonder what changed internally to make it better.