What do you do with a .485 bore?

chuyler1 · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 53

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300180075201&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

This looks like a very interesting part of Conn history. It's called a Circus Bore. Is this something you could play in a concert band or what?

I imagine that without the right mouthpiece it would feel like playing a tuba (after coming from a ML bore trumpet).
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Bach Model 72 / GR66M

Dale Proctor · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:10 am Post subject:

Many of the more common Conn cornets had a .485 bore, including the 1960's Directors. I own a '63 Conn 5A Victor cornet, which also has a .485 bore, and it plays about the same as most ML bore horns I have. Maybe a slight bit more air is required, and maybe it plays loudly a little easier, but all in all, it's just a good-playing horn. I'd guess no one could tell it was that large just by playing it, though.
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

patdublc · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:12 am Post subject:

They're nice horns. Don't be put off by the bore size, it's just one component of how the horn plays. I wouldn't mind getting one for myself.

pat
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Pat Shaner
Play Wedge Mouthpieces by Dr. Dave exclusively.
Experiment with LOTS of horn makes and models.

chuyler1 · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 53

Thanks guys. That horn is a real looker and it appears the seller does a good job photographing and preparing his horns for sale. I may just have to place a bid on it tomorrow if the price stays reasonable. The Conn Loyalist website doesn't have great things to say about the "New Wonder" series but this one was apparently perfected after the original design was lost in a fire. It might be a fun horn to play.
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Bach Model 72 / GR66M

mcahynuacrkd · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 1149

mcahynuacrkd · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 1149

bilboinsa · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:

jazz_trpt

rolling360 · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject: big

Blow really hard and hope you dont pass a lung!

mcgovnor · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject: wat 2 do

Sell, or play a mp w a #30 throat

mcahynuacrkd · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 1149

tom turner · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject:

Bore size, in and of itself, is no indicator of how a horn plays.

Measuring horns at any given point only means you can measure.

The true test is to actually PLAY the darn thing . . . and any great trumpet or cornet should be judged by how it plays. The great ones play . . . err . . . GREAT, whether the bore size that made it play great is .430 or .485.

Conn horns that have a specific bore size ended up that way simply because that's what WORKED best on that model.

Hope that makes sense! Why would a big company do it any other way!

Food for thought.

Tom

Uberopa · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject:

Gosh,

I thought Tom T. would have given advice on how to hand load a .485 bore

This forum is definitely slipping!

Season's Best to you Sir,

Brian

razeontherock · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject:

I've been eyeballing that perfected wonder and thinking it might be a really good horn.(?) Any owners got a review? Or A/B of
wonder vs. new wonder?
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"And this is life: that you know the Son, and the One who sent Him." The rest is just details

jazz_trpt

connloyalist · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:02 am Post subject:

Just a word of advice: these cornets do not take modern Bach-style cornet mouthpieces, different shank. I would advise you to find a mouthpiece that matches the shank of the original included with the instrument (or have the shank copied to your favorite mouthpiece by Kanstul) or if it doesn't have a mouthpiece to pick up a period Conn mouthpiece and then do the same. These mouthpieces come up on eBay regularly; look for something like "Conn Wonder" or "Conn Levi" or something in that style.

Regards, Christine
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There is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution.

chuyler1 · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 53

Thanks Christine...I won the auction at $560 so the next step is to find a mouthpiece as I'm not sure the instrument comes with one.
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Bach Model 72 / GR66M

chuyler1 · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 53

Well, I finally got the instrument today (it arrived while I was on vacation so I had to have FedEx hold it for me).

It didn't come with a mouthpiece but I took it to Osmun Music in Arlington Mass and a standard Bach 3C cornet mouthpiece fits almost perfectly. There was a little wiggle but the guy said it would go away after I played it a while.

The horn sounds great and the valves move pretty well for an instrument that is almost 100 years old. I left it with Osmun to have it cleaned (although the seller claimed it was chemically cleaned, Osmun said it could use a good cleaning inside and out). He was intrigued by the instrument and we verified that it is in fact a .485 bore.

Large, but not as free-blowing as you might expect. In fact, it felt a little more restrictive than my Bach 72*. I can't wait to get it back so I can have more fun with it.
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Bach Model 72 / GR66M

mcahynuacrkd · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 1149

chuyler1 · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 53

So do you think the Bach 3C is a good match for this horn or should I look into something else?
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Bach Model 72 / GR66M