Posted by Steve Inman on March 09, 2003 at 20:56:55:
In Reply to: Different Question About CC vs. BBb posted by Jeff Hildebrand on March 09, 2003 at 17:45:15:
I personally found that CC made upper register quintet literature noticeably easier to play "nimbly", comparing apples to apples (Miraphone 186's). Not "lots and lots" easier, but IMO I am able to tell a difference (that's the precise meaning of "noticeably", right?). Of course, my previous Besson 983 Eb was even better in this area, but that's a different topic.
If you think you'll end up playing a lot with small groups (quartet/quintet, not 2nd graders ;-) ), then you might find a CC horn to have some benefits. Good choices for compromise horns, often recommended, include the Miraphone 186 CC, and the Rudy Meinl 3/4 size CC -- both rotary horns. Otherwise, if you think medium to large sized ensembles will be the norm, buy a BBb and stay with the fingerings you already know. (You'll be surprised how fast the old fingerings come back.)
Steve Inman
Kokomo, IN