Posted by Mike Ross on January 27, 2002 at 20:57:35:
In Reply to: what was the first horn you played? posted by Mark F. on January 26, 2002 at 00:32:38:
Something called an "Academy" 3 valve BBb purchased new by my school band sometime around 1973/1974.
Played that horn with the mouthpiece I found in the case when I got it all the way from Grade 7 to Grade 12, minus some interludes when I got to play the local Army reserve band's Boosey&Hawkes Imperial Eb.
Tone was iffy and the brass was so thin that the horn flattened out on the branch opposite the bell just from sitting in the case. Never got any complaints about intonation, though.
I am interested in finding out more about what an "Academy" (not a Besson/ B&H model as far as I know)was and where it was manufactured.
The last word - it made finally getting to play on a pro-quality horn really mean something.