Originally Posted by
djwpe
I have two 5050's and I haven't noticed the issues you describe. The Warburton Demondrae MP is a great match, the SM3 has a slightly larger rim, but is much deeper, so if you want to eliminate a too large MP as the cause, I suggest you try something a bit smaller.
The high register works really well with lots of fast air.
If you have the first valve pulled to correct sharpness on the 4th partial Ab and 5th partial C, that could be the cause of your flatness on the 3rd partial Eb. Demondrae once suggested to me to push the slide all the way in, and I've been playing that way ever since. I use full trigger for the 4th space G, and I tickle the trigger for some other slightly sharp notes.
I do do find the horn to be slightly flat natured, and most ensembles I play in tend to move sharp during performances, so I tune so that low Bb is dead-nuts in tune. This makes middle Bb slightly sharp (the octaves are a little stretched in my experience), so I either use a tiny tickle of trigger, or just lip as the horn is so flexible.
Demondrae plays with all slides fully in. My 3rd is pulled about 3/4", as is my 4th. My main depends on the temperature of the room, but very rarely is it ever out past the point where the adjustment rod turns from silver to gold. 2nd and 1st are always pushed all the way.
Don Winston