The NAMM Report™ 2019

[Burgerbob]

Nothing new, really.

Bach 50AF3 was very, very good, which was the biggest surprise. It's the first good one I have played, and it outshone I think almost every other bass there (including Greenhoe, Shires, Edwards). Greenhoes were very good. Shires Q was good, but I could tell I would probably need a dual bore slide or something else in the equation after a while. Courtois New Yorker (one of the only new horns!) was good, but not my cup of tea, perhaps surprisingly.

Played some good small horns. The 3B was good, very similar to my '81 except it lacks the gold lacquer

The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.

Nothing in the .547 department blew me away. Some good horns, many boring ones, some bad. Shires dual valve tenor (not two valves... well, two valves for 1 F attachment) was ok.

[Bassbonechandler]

What didn't you like about the courtois new yorker? just wondering.

[Burgerbob]

It played just fine. Ergonomics weren't good for my hands, and the sound didn't do anything for me. I'm also not a huge Hagmann fan.

[castrubone]

Any Conn tenors around? Did they change the A47 post-MLR?

[Burgerbob]

Only an 88HO.

And yes, it's now the A47BO, with a different valve cap. I want one of the valve caps!

[Finetales]

50AF3 also ended up being my favorite in the show (I tried the Greenhoes after you left). Played awesome.

The John Packer indy bass was pretty good as well. I don't know how much it goes for but if it's cheap enough I'd recommend it over the standard Yamaha 830 as a first/doubling bass.

Schagerl .525 was amazing.

BAC bass trumpet was fun, but even more uncomfortable to hold than most normal bass trumpets and had a tight high register. Middle register was very nice. BAC soprano trombone was fun too!

The rest of my NAMM impressions match Burgerbob's or are about French horns, trumpets, or synthesizers.

[Burgerbob]

I should have played the JP! They were very rude to me two years ago, so I didn't even think about that booth.

[NuhJuhKuh]

Was the JP you tried the 333? I think that’s the new one.

Were Wessex there?

[Finetales]

Was the JP you tried the 333? I think that’s the new one.

Were Wessex there?

I believe it was the 333. Wessex wasn't there unfortunately, I was really hoping they would be.

[fwbassbone]

Could it be that Bach has finally figured things out? Or they accidentally built a good one.

[Burgerbob]

I think they have changed the fitment procedure for the new valves. Whatever it is, they have been making good ones for a year or so already, according to other friends.

[fwbassbone]

I'd like to play one of the new ones. Pretty satisfied with my Greenhoe though.

[Burgerbob]

The greenhoes were great. I'm just more of a Thayer guy and I love that bach sound when it works!

[heinzgries]

are something news in the alto range?

[Burgerbob]

Don't play alto, sorry! I didn't see anything new, though.

[Finetales]

The only alto I saw there was the Courtois.

[Bach42t]

Haven't bought a horn since my stomach was turned sour on the new King 2B+ with gold brass bell I bought last January. I posted pics on the old TTF forums, it was not a good sight. I was really turned off by the construction and totally lost my appetite. I was really not happy that I couldn't make it work, that it was going to have to go somewhere and I hope back to get re-worked because it should last for a few decades.

Now, a year later I am hungry again, and seeing that the Conns, Kings and Bachs are turning out better with a few years of refinements and proper tooling I might pull the trigger once again. Maybe an 88H, 50AF3 or a King 2B. This is consistent in comments provided by this thread as well as Horn Guys who has begun stocking them again. I MIGHT be ready to give C-S another shot.

[lukeaar]

The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.

This is a horn I've been wanting to try. I'd love to hear more detailed thoughts about it. What did you think it was comparable to?

Have you played the Shires MD+ by any chance?

[lukeaar]

The Courtois Xtreme .508s were pretty great.

I've love to hear your thoughts on this horn. What do you think it compares to?
Have you ever had a blow on the Shires MD+ by any chance?

[Burgerbob]

It's built to be a great .508. It's not exactly a 16M or 3B in all ways, but had some of the 3Bs ability to shout and the 16s ability to back off and sing into a mic.

I have played the MD+, which I don't especially like... It's heavy for my tastes and feels very "legit." It didn't do anything better than my 3B to my ears.