Posted by John Swensen on September 12, 2001 at 13:42:55:
In Reply to: Absence makes the heart grow fonder posted by Jim C. on September 12, 2001 at 13:16:24:
This sounds very strange to me; the B&S PT-4 is a rotary valve horn, made in Germany, and the B&S PT-4P is a 4P/1R horn, also made in Germany.
I believe that Sanders is a house-brand, made for Custom Music in China.
Does the horn actually have PT-4 engraved on it, or did someone just tell you that you were getting a PT-4?
For what it's worth, my PT-6P (not from Custom) does not have "PT-6(anything)" engraved on the bell, but has "Parantucci" and the B&S model number 3198 engraved, instead. The piston valves are not forgiving of side forces or dirt, and the fifth-valve linkage is not a perfect match for my hand, but the valves are completely usable. I play the horn with the tuning slide about 1/2" out for A440, and I'll probably cut another 1/2" off one of these days to make cold venues or A442 more practical.
It is my understanding that the (real) PT-4P and the PT-6P are pretty much the same from the leadpipe through the tuning slide.