[Lambros]

So after nearly 25 years of seriously considering buying/owning a curved soprano, I bought a used IW 551 today. I've played only one piece horns and my first sop was a very early YSS62R (fixed bent neck) I have been playing my SA80II for the past 12 years. Essentially the IW 551 is a Yani copy for considerably less. Anyone here have one and I'd appreciate if you could share some insights.

Thanks

 

[blaine hoopes]

So after nearly 25 years of seriously considering buying/owning a curved soprano, I bought a used IW 551 today. I've played only one piece horns and my first sop was a very early YSS62R (fixed bent neck) I have been playing my SA80II for the past 12 years. Essentially the IW 551 is a Yani copy for considerably less. Anyone here have one and I'd appreciate if you could share some insights.

Thanks

I looked at the pictures you posted in my thread about the curved sop I just got. Thought I'd ask you here about where you bought the horn and does it say 551 on the horn? I ask because I googled the model number and nobody had one in stock but all the pictures were of a different horn than the one in your pictures. Thinking you might actually have a newer model that isn't a 551.

My first sop was a straight Conn and I was playing in very loud bands and it was difficult to hear myself and the mic at the bell caused very uneven volume and mic in the center of the horn couldn't pick up enough of the horn to compete with the electric guitars and drums. So I picked up a curved Conn (this was all 50 years ago) and it was a game changer for me. Suddenly all the sound was coming from the same area and I could hear myself. I'd go sit in with other musicians and the guys playing straight sopranos would all go nuts about how much louder and more present my curved sop sounded on stage.

It's always a bit of a challenge getting used to the keywork on a curved vs a straight - Seems like cramming all that keywork into a curved requires some extra levers and gizmos and the actions always feels clunkier to me. I wish I had your old YSS62R though.

One thing I've found with most of the Yani copy curved sops is that they seem really flat from low D to low B. I always have to make adjustments so the C#, C, B pads open wider and that usually gets those notes closer to pitch. I haven't owned a Yani curved but I would be surprised if the Yani does that (or maybe it's me and not the horn?).

BTW this is a picture of the 551 I was able to find online and you can see the bell keys are on the other side like the much older Yani (800?)