In a message dated 10/2/2003 1:06:55 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> There are some differences between Reynolds horns marked just Contempora > (horns made after 1963-64) and those marked Chambers Model. Mainly in throat > size, and perhaps bell diameter. $3K might be a little pricey, but then > again we don't know what modifications were involved, and the fact remains > that Reynolds horns are finally developing a mystique about them. > > The Chambers horns may or may not be marked Chambers. The horn didn't change much with the move to Abilene, but there are Cleveland horns, perhaps all of them, that were made with a heavy bell, .018", I believe. In his interview on the Osmun web site, Chambers talks a little about the horn. Apparently he played it about three seasons in the New York Phil, then had a falling out with Reynolds new owners. The heavy bell must have been a real bear in production, but in the hands of a strong player, no horn comes close to matching the sound and power. I have never found an FE-01 (Chambers) with a five digit serial number (Cleveland) that didn't have the heavy bell. Trying to find one for sale is near impossible. However, after I got through reaming excess solder out of the Abilene horn I restored for my wife, she much prefers it to her Elkhart 8D. Since we weren't using the 8D, I put a Lawson pipe, I believe the one most often put on the 8D, on the horn. I much prefer the way it plays now, but the Abilene Chambers sounds more like a really good Elkhart 8D than the 8D did with the factory pipe. At some point in time someone got it into my head that many 8Ds tend to sound a bit trombony. In side by side comparisons the 8Ds and the Chambers sound very alike, but the Reynolds sounds like it has a better choice of mouthpiece. I'm a strong advocate of having at least two horns to play on. A Chambers in decent condition can be gotten for $500-600. Reynolds valves were so well manufactured that a 30 year old horn shouldn't need more than the rotors fitted. It will take care of all your big horn needs, and you'll have plenty left over to get a small, agile, medium throat horn for the rest of your playing. I have my Reynolds paired with a Paxman 42, and I'm set for anything. Both horns together cost less than $3000, and the Paxman took most of it. The Reynolds cost $457, new, in 1962 _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
