Contra bell rim position

[hornbuilder]

For the contra players.

Where would you prefer to have the bell rim, in relation to 3rd position?

Regular Bb bass, the bell rim is (roughly) 3rd position, with low Eb sitting a good inch or so lower.

Should the bell align with the low Eb? (This would put it @1" further from your face than a Bb bass bell)

[blast]

With the Rath, we put the rim between 3rd and 4th position, like most basses. I don't even recall having a conversation about it.

[elmsandr]

Before building out any bell section, especially on my hacked together garbage, I figure out with mouthpiece position and slight offset for where the slide braces are to put the bell rim generally right where I like it right past three.

Provides for easier learning with less active mental action to remember where it is. Your brain doesn’t need the visual or tactile feedback to tell you where it is, but unless you close your eyes you will be getting it, so might as well put it there.

Cheers,
Andy

[hornbuilder]

Andy.
Without naming names, it is surprising the number of players who have difficulty with the bell being even slightly closer to or further from their face than they're accustomed to.

[MStarke]

Yes, best and requiring the least "getting-used-to" would be at/around 3rd position in my view.

I guess pretty obvious, but especially if different tuning options are offered, weight distribution is essential also in consideration of bell position. luckily my contra is pretty well balanced with the tuning that I use.

[blast]

Andy.
Without naming names, it is surprising the number of players who have difficulty with the bell being even slightly closer to or further from their face than they're accustomed to.

I'll own up. I don't use my Fuchs because the bell sits between 2nd and 3rd positions.

[LeTromboniste]

I'm never super comfortable when the bell is closer than 3rd (on the main tuning). Bell just takes too much space in my field of vision. And my subconscious plays tricks on me, like it won't trust that 3rd can possibly be past the bell, leading to occasional glitches in placing the slide accurately.

I prefer most when the rim is between 3 and 4 or between 4 and 5, but for me bell rim can comforably be anywhere in the area between right at the slide stay in 3 to right at the slide stay in 5th. Anything closer or further feels wrong.