TromboneChat

https://houghtonhorns.com/shop/thein-eb-alto/
This horn seems to have a very unique valve setup. I wonder If anybody here knows anything about this

Best guess it's so you can have a half or whole step trill valve? Also looks like you can have a tuning slide to make it a Bb attachment.

TomRiker wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:13 pm Best guess it's so you can have a half or whole step trill valve? Also looks like you can have a tuning slide to make it a Bb attachment.

I was actually more interested in the valve and that wacky overly complex trigger system.

TomRiker wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:13 pm Best guess it's so you can have a half or whole step trill valve? Also looks like you can have a tuning slide to make it a Bb attachment.

It's both. There are two valves.

Burgerbob wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 4:43 pm

TomRiker wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:13 pm Best guess it's so you can have a half or whole step trill valve? Also looks like you can have a tuning slide to make it a Bb attachment.

It's both. There are two valves.

It looks far too short though. I think the picture shows a combo whole step/half step valve. The whole step tubing can probably be switched for Bb.

I play tested one of those at an ITF some years ago. It was set up with the valve in B flat, and had a short set of tubing to make it a trill valve. I don't remember them offering the 2nd valve within the tubing to allow for 1/2 and whole step trills. That is a newer innovation I'm guessing. You can also remove the valve to play it as a straight horn as well. Theins are beautiful instruments - listen to Toby Oft's - Leopold Mozart Concerto on his solo recording.

I'm guessing by looking at the pictures that in this set-up, you trill a 1/2 step with one valve, and the 2nd (dependent) valve can be kept engaged and you trill the same finger except now the trill will be a whole step. In the one I tried, the tubing could be replaced just beyond the valve with longer tubing to tune the valve to B flat. Interesting idea.

Jim Scott

Why is the valve sideways though? this is also the first time I have seen a valve that is part of the slide section

Can you say, "Over engineering"?

JCBone wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 1:43 am Why is the valve sideways though? this is also the first time I have seen a valve that is part of the slide section

It's pretty overkill