The NAMM Report™ 2019
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
Nothing new, really.
Bach 50AF3 was very, very good, which was the biggest surprise. It's the first good one I have played, and it outshone I think almost every other bass there (including Greenhoe, Shires, Edwards). Greenhoes were very good. Shires Q was good, but I could tell I would probably need a dual bore slide or something else in the equation after a while. Courtois New Yorker (one of the only new horns!) was good, but not my cup of tea, perhaps surprisingly.
Played some good small horns. The 3B was good, very similar to my '81 except it lacks the gold lacquer :)
The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.
Nothing in the .547 department blew me away. Some good horns, many boring ones, some bad. Shires dual valve tenor (not two valves... well, two valves for 1 F attachment) was ok.
Bach 50AF3 was very, very good, which was the biggest surprise. It's the first good one I have played, and it outshone I think almost every other bass there (including Greenhoe, Shires, Edwards). Greenhoes were very good. Shires Q was good, but I could tell I would probably need a dual bore slide or something else in the equation after a while. Courtois New Yorker (one of the only new horns!) was good, but not my cup of tea, perhaps surprisingly.
Played some good small horns. The 3B was good, very similar to my '81 except it lacks the gold lacquer :)
The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.
Nothing in the .547 department blew me away. Some good horns, many boring ones, some bad. Shires dual valve tenor (not two valves... well, two valves for 1 F attachment) was ok.
- Bassbonechandler
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Jul 07, 2018
What didn't you like about the courtois new yorker? just wondering.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
It played just fine. Ergonomics weren't good for my hands, and the sound didn't do anything for me. I'm also not a huge Hagmann fan.
- castrubone
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Apr 09, 2018
Any Conn tenors around? Did they change the A47 post-MLR?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
Only an 88HO.
And yes, it's now the A47BO, with a different valve cap. I want one of the valve caps!
And yes, it's now the A47BO, with a different valve cap. I want one of the valve caps!
- Finetales
- Posts: 1482
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
50AF3 also ended up being my favorite in the show (I tried the Greenhoes after you left). Played awesome.
The John Packer indy bass was pretty good as well. I don't know how much it goes for but if it's cheap enough I'd recommend it over the standard Yamaha 830 as a first/doubling bass.
Schagerl .525 was amazing.
BAC bass trumpet was fun, but even more uncomfortable to hold than most normal bass trumpets and had a tight high register. Middle register was very nice. BAC soprano trombone was fun too!
The rest of my NAMM impressions match Burgerbob's or are about French horns, trumpets, or synthesizers.
The John Packer indy bass was pretty good as well. I don't know how much it goes for but if it's cheap enough I'd recommend it over the standard Yamaha 830 as a first/doubling bass.
Schagerl .525 was amazing.
BAC bass trumpet was fun, but even more uncomfortable to hold than most normal bass trumpets and had a tight high register. Middle register was very nice. BAC soprano trombone was fun too!
The rest of my NAMM impressions match Burgerbob's or are about French horns, trumpets, or synthesizers.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
I should have played the JP! They were very rude to me two years ago, so I didn't even think about that booth.
- NuhJuhKuh
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Jun 30, 2018
Was the JP you tried the 333? I think that’s the new one.
Were Wessex there?
Were Wessex there?
- Finetales
- Posts: 1482
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="NuhJuhKuh"]Was the JP you tried the 333? I think that’s the new one.
Were Wessex there?[/quote]
I believe it was the 333. Wessex wasn't there unfortunately, I was really hoping they would be.
Were Wessex there?[/quote]
I believe it was the 333. Wessex wasn't there unfortunately, I was really hoping they would be.
- fwbassbone
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Apr 07, 2018
Could it be that Bach has finally figured things out? Or they accidentally built a good one.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
I think they have changed the fitment procedure for the new valves. Whatever it is, they have been making good ones for a year or so already, according to other friends.
- fwbassbone
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Apr 07, 2018
I'd like to play one of the new ones. Pretty satisfied with my Greenhoe though.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
The greenhoes were great. I'm just more of a Thayer guy and I love that bach sound when it works!
- heinzgries
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Apr 24, 2018
are something news in the alto range?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
Don't play alto, sorry! I didn't see anything new, though.
- Bach42t
- Posts: 91
- Joined: Aug 11, 2018
Haven't bought a horn since my stomach was turned sour on the new King 2B+ with gold brass bell I bought last January. I posted pics on the old TTF forums, it was not a good sight. I was really turned off by the construction and totally lost my appetite. I was really not happy that I couldn't make it work, that it was going to have to go somewhere and I hope back to get re-worked because it should last for a few decades.
Now, a year later I am hungry again, and seeing that the Conns, Kings and Bachs are turning out better with a few years of refinements and proper tooling I might pull the trigger once again. Maybe an 88H, 50AF3 or a King 2B. This is consistent in comments provided by this thread as well as Horn Guys who has begun stocking them again. I MIGHT be ready to give C-S another shot.
Now, a year later I am hungry again, and seeing that the Conns, Kings and Bachs are turning out better with a few years of refinements and proper tooling I might pull the trigger once again. Maybe an 88H, 50AF3 or a King 2B. This is consistent in comments provided by this thread as well as Horn Guys who has begun stocking them again. I MIGHT be ready to give C-S another shot.
- lukeaar
- Posts: 3
- Joined: May 12, 2018
[quote="Burgerbob"]The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.[/quote]
This is a horn I've been wanting to try. I'd love to hear more detailed thoughts about it. What did you think it was comparable to?
Have you played the Shires MD+ by any chance?
This is a horn I've been wanting to try. I'd love to hear more detailed thoughts about it. What did you think it was comparable to?
Have you played the Shires MD+ by any chance?
- lukeaar
- Posts: 3
- Joined: May 12, 2018
[quote="Burgerbob"]The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.[/quote]
I've love to hear your thoughts on this horn. What do you think it compares to?
Have you ever had a blow on the Shires MD+ by any chance?
I've love to hear your thoughts on this horn. What do you think it compares to?
Have you ever had a blow on the Shires MD+ by any chance?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
It's built to be a great .508. It's not exactly a 16M or 3B in all ways, but had some of the 3Bs ability to shout and the 16s ability to back off and sing into a mic.
I have played the MD+, which I don't especially like... It's heavy for my tastes and feels very "legit." It didn't do anything better than my 3B to my ears.
I have played the MD+, which I don't especially like... It's heavy for my tastes and feels very "legit." It didn't do anything better than my 3B to my ears.