Posted by Chuck(G) on July 01, 2001 at 10:14:38:
In Reply to: Tinkering with a York "Monster" Eb posted by Robby Nowell on July 01, 2001 at 03:10:00:
I think the York Monster Eb was a victim of a faulty design; the taper of the largest branches seems smooth enough, but then the inner loop tapers really fast. I think the result is a way-out-of-tune third-space Eb and the 12 E is just about unusable. I've always wondered if York used some mandrels from the 4/4 BBb to build the monster.
I've had a good deal of luck grafting a Conn 3J CC valve section onto a York Monster Eb bell and bottom+top bows. The result plays better in tune than several York 4/4 BBb-to-CC conversions (first line G is flat, but manageable) and is a great horn for quintet use with a nice fat tone.
It certainly plays and sounds better than the original 3J or the York Monster Eb.