Cut bell case flare height

[bassbone1993]

Hey all,

I got my bass bone back from a tech that recently finished my instrument innovations valve section with an Edwards tuning slide, and Sandner Williams 10 copy. Unfortunately, my MB cut bell case seems to struggle closing due to what looks like the height of the flare in my case. Is 4.25" from end of the bell to the ring normal for cut bell bases? Any idea of what case might fit a bit better?

[Burgerbob]

Do you have a photo? The flare may be cut in a different spot than normal.

[bassbone1993]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... mlTr0Cd5mC

I have some photos in this folder. It might be hard to tell, but it looks like the ring is about an inch or two past the seam (two piece bell). I'd just prefer to not have to put weight on the case to close it.

[Burgerbob]

Yes, that's very far back for a bass. It's a bass ring? I've never seen one cut there.

I'm not sure if any existing case will fit that.

[bassbone1993]

I got the bell from Sandner with the ring, so I'd assume it was a bass ring unless there was an error that nobody caught.

[Burgerbob]

Very interesting. Could also be because of the Williams flare profiles.

[Gfunk]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought on two piece bells normally you would be cut at the seam? At least that’s what I thought my old shires was like.

[bassbone1993]

Some do, some don't. I think M&W doesn't, but I'm probably wrong on that. However, I got everything positioned much better in the case now, so nothing is touching.

[pfrancis]

The cut is not always where the seam is. Sometimes it works out that way, other times it is intentionally moved. Yamaha French horns use a smaller ring than many others that is higher on the bell flare and necessitating a taller case.

A more clear/radical example of the seam and the cut not being in the same place linked below. Elkhart 8D horns have the seam above the bell brace by quite a bit - seam was relocated on more modern horns.
https://brassark.com/sale_horns/elkhart ... son-flare/