607 vs 3b+F
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 6:50 pm
I'm a curious kind of guy. So sue me. Curiosity led me to the perfect small bore (Getzen 3508), the perfect large bore (Conn 88h). It has also led me down a bumpy back road looking for a bass bone that doesn't make me want to jump off a bridge. Medium bore has been a different experience - full of sunshine and butterflies. Anything medium bore has just been a joy to get to know. A favorite would be hard to pick (but the average best would probably be the Benge 175).
I just bought a King 607 (thanks @officermayo). And I've bought a couple of 3b+Fs in the last year. There has been a lot of talk on here recently about the 607 in particular. Direct comparisons have been vague. I really don't do vague. So here's the deal.
607 and 3b+F are both nice bones, certainly both worth owning and playing. They look similar with the same bore and bell size. They have interchangeable main slide, and tuning slides. Valve wrap looks identical. But they don't play anywhere near the same.
The 607 took a DE G4 sized mouthpiece without a worry. It could also play through the F and E on down to the D+4, but it started to get a little bright at that point. The G is what I put in the 88h w/525 when I want to play orchestra. The DE G didn't mind the high F and positively rocked on the low C.
The 3b+F isn't as crazy about the G, but loves the D+. It doesn't really like the E either. It can scream the high F, but goes pretty buzz saw on the low C.
The 607 is a student instrument, and as such is built a little heavier (ok, a lot heavier). It sounds nice, plays nice. On top of this, it comes with a counterweight. Its not a starter instrument due to the valve and the weight. It's probably best for a high schooler who has some muscle mass and hand strength.
3b+F is a pro instrument, and a little lighter. It feels more responsive and like it might be capable of more subtlety. In comparison it does feel a little unstable, although I wouldn't have said that before playing the 607. No counterweight. Mine had orange lacquer until yesterday. By the way, the sound difference between ugly orange lacquer and unlacquered is minimal.
The visible differences: gold brass bell and curved main bell brace on 3b+F, counterweight on 607. The cork barrels are slightly different in shape. 3b+F = 3lb 6 oz, 607 = 4lb 2oz. Big enough difference to feel. For reference the 88h is 3lb 12oz (all weights without mouthpiece). Also, the 607 was about 2/3 the price of the 3b+F (all of them used when I got them) and it was in really nice silver plated condition. The 3b+F had orange lacquer, and spotty condition.
607 sounds not quite as dark as a 36b, and has a very consistent sound/feel all the way up and down. 3b+F sounds not quite as bright as a 3b, and is maybe not quite as even as the 607. It might feel a little unstable in comparison, like you might have to learn how to play this specific instrument to get a really even scale out of it (I can say after a recent quintet gig that the 3b+F plays in tune very nicely). The 607 has a definite advantage in the low range, however. I would not be afraid to take the 607 on any classical gig, 1st, 2nd or 3rd parts, orchestra or concert band. 3b+F would be limited to 1st + 2nd in big band, maybe church gigs where you need to blend with trumpets, and maybe in a situation where you need a bright bone in quintet.
The weak spots for these horns are that the 607 is heavy. The weakness of the 3b+F I would have to say is the partial where I play my high G and Ab. And you have to be careful that you don't get too laser bright in the upper range and volume. It's just a little squirrelly. And it can be hard to find.
Tldr: 607 almost a 36b. 3b+F much cozier than a 3b for large bore guys.
l to r: 3b+F, 607, 88h w/525
I just bought a King 607 (thanks @officermayo). And I've bought a couple of 3b+Fs in the last year. There has been a lot of talk on here recently about the 607 in particular. Direct comparisons have been vague. I really don't do vague. So here's the deal.
607 and 3b+F are both nice bones, certainly both worth owning and playing. They look similar with the same bore and bell size. They have interchangeable main slide, and tuning slides. Valve wrap looks identical. But they don't play anywhere near the same.
The 607 took a DE G4 sized mouthpiece without a worry. It could also play through the F and E on down to the D+4, but it started to get a little bright at that point. The G is what I put in the 88h w/525 when I want to play orchestra. The DE G didn't mind the high F and positively rocked on the low C.
The 3b+F isn't as crazy about the G, but loves the D+. It doesn't really like the E either. It can scream the high F, but goes pretty buzz saw on the low C.
The 607 is a student instrument, and as such is built a little heavier (ok, a lot heavier). It sounds nice, plays nice. On top of this, it comes with a counterweight. Its not a starter instrument due to the valve and the weight. It's probably best for a high schooler who has some muscle mass and hand strength.
3b+F is a pro instrument, and a little lighter. It feels more responsive and like it might be capable of more subtlety. In comparison it does feel a little unstable, although I wouldn't have said that before playing the 607. No counterweight. Mine had orange lacquer until yesterday. By the way, the sound difference between ugly orange lacquer and unlacquered is minimal.
The visible differences: gold brass bell and curved main bell brace on 3b+F, counterweight on 607. The cork barrels are slightly different in shape. 3b+F = 3lb 6 oz, 607 = 4lb 2oz. Big enough difference to feel. For reference the 88h is 3lb 12oz (all weights without mouthpiece). Also, the 607 was about 2/3 the price of the 3b+F (all of them used when I got them) and it was in really nice silver plated condition. The 3b+F had orange lacquer, and spotty condition.
607 sounds not quite as dark as a 36b, and has a very consistent sound/feel all the way up and down. 3b+F sounds not quite as bright as a 3b, and is maybe not quite as even as the 607. It might feel a little unstable in comparison, like you might have to learn how to play this specific instrument to get a really even scale out of it (I can say after a recent quintet gig that the 3b+F plays in tune very nicely). The 607 has a definite advantage in the low range, however. I would not be afraid to take the 607 on any classical gig, 1st, 2nd or 3rd parts, orchestra or concert band. 3b+F would be limited to 1st + 2nd in big band, maybe church gigs where you need to blend with trumpets, and maybe in a situation where you need a bright bone in quintet.
The weak spots for these horns are that the 607 is heavy. The weakness of the 3b+F I would have to say is the partial where I play my high G and Ab. And you have to be careful that you don't get too laser bright in the upper range and volume. It's just a little squirrelly. And it can be hard to find.
Tldr: 607 almost a 36b. 3b+F much cozier than a 3b for large bore guys.
l to r: 3b+F, 607, 88h w/525
