New CB BB tenor owner

[stevesklar]

I just brought home a Big Bell tenor, lacquer finish. I tried many horns and this was the best sounding, best price for the money.

I love the lac & silver plated neck (though you have to keep it polished). The color of the lac is excellent (good darker pigments) and the fit and finish all around the horn is great.

I tried an earlier model and the RH stack was a little weird, it seems as though they moved the thumbrest a bit to ease the stretch of small hands in later models. And maybe changed to laser etching a bit too.

I also noticed that, unlike other Taiwan horns where the internal part of the neck is super smooth that CB really roughens up the internal part of the neck right at the mpc. From previous SOTW discussions the neck inner texture really has a lot to do with the sound. Anyways, they did a good job and the horn sounds really good.

I put this horn right up there with the Coufs I used to play. And in some regards better than the Yamaha 875 I tested. It blew away a Selmer Series 2 (I did not test a Ref, way too much $$)

So now my yearlong search for a new tenor is over. Now I can get back to playing.

I'm also thinking about playtesting a CB alto against my mk VII.

[stevesklar]

Was just playing the tenor this morning and I am quite amazed at how quiet I can play the horn (5:30am - so i had to play quiet). Very little resistance, very free blowing. This tenor is easier to play than my mk VII alto.

[Stacey]

Steve, I've been AFRAID to play a CB Big Bell alto against my MK7. I really like the MK7, have owned it for 21 years, and don't want to find anything I might like better!

I have a CB BBGS tenor, and I think there's some danger that I MIGHT like a CB alto better than my MK7, if I tried one. The MK7 is more solid, and "feels" a little better-built (very subjective, I know), but that Cannonball is a mighty nice tenor.

I notice your signature line says "SAT" - what kind of soprano do you play? (I only ask because we seem to be playing the same models of tenor and alto...)

Stacey

[stevesklar]

Stacey,

I was going to email you about your CB tenor when I was first looking at them, but you don't have it in your profile - Iwas curious becz I know you got your CB over the internet and you played a VII. Mine is stevesklar(at)yahoo(dot)com

my sop is an AntiguaWinds 582LQ - the 1 piece straight. A good horn for little $.

Being super solidly built was the one of the slight differences i noticed between the CB and the Yamaha 875 I tested. But not worth the extra $1,200 IMHO.

My mk VII feel like a tank in my hands, in certain ways. I've also owned it for over 21 years, new. I can't remember what year i bought it in actually but I'm going to guess 1982 since I have it circled in some old catalogs that i have. According to the catalog i paid under $1,400 for it. For 250 more i could have gotten the SA80.

But the CB is great so far. I still have the option to upgrade to the 875 if i see fit. But I really like the CB sound so far. I tried a same yr VII tenor that i found as old lost inventory several months ago. The exact same feel as the alto (touch placement, etc.). Sound was BIG down low and really nice all around. I should have bought it for $1,700 except I was looking for a Couf at that time. The CB is a good alternative to a Couf - IMHO.