We seemed to have drifted off course for this thread but so far I REALLY like how it sounds. I don't have too much experience playing Besson Prestige or Sovereigns but I can tell you this Cardinal I have plays VERY sweetly. The bell (and all tuning slides) are made of Rose Brass and the Bell Flare is made from Nickel Silver - which is different than the Adams Sterling Silver and much more akin to brass than silver - if my knowledge serves.
Here are two videos, one from me five years ago playing Rochut #8 on Adams E1 .55 Gold Brass Bell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtlZtI12XXw
And here is me today on the Geneva Cardinal with SM4UX, also Rochut #8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN_X3Q-Lnok
For the difference in price, I actually like the way the Geneva feels, plays and sounds. I went and played a bunch of Adams horns a few weeks ago and NONE of them moved me - I played two E1 .6 with SS bell, an E1 .7 yellow brass and and E3 with Yellow Brass and was underwhelmed by all of them. I then picked up my Wessex and it sounded better than those Adams horns - it was really unfortunate.
I have a friend who has a VERY nice Adams E2 - I played this horn a couple of years ago and I remember thinking that I would have traded him my E1 for that E2 - it was that sweet. Anyway, he went to IET last year (or maybe 2016?) and Glenn Van Looy was there with a bunch of Geneva horns. Other people in this forum have posted about it. Anyway, he had a lesson with Glenn, played his horn and immediately bought the Geneva Symphony model (their lowest model). He's now selling his Adams.
Because of this development, my lack of enthusiasm at the Adams horns (and being a former Adams owner), I reached out to Joe at the Salvation Army and he didn't have any Symphonys left. He did have a previously play-tested Cardinal and that is this horn in the video. It is basically the GVL model with engraving and black accents but a slightly different leadpipe.
Unfortunately this horn was damaged during shipping - I took it to my local repair guy and he did a good job but we think the bell ring is loose from the damage and ringing. And you can hear how loud the valves are. Anyway, I'll post a full review when the new horn arrives in 2 months or so. Either way I'll bring this horn (or the new horn) to NABBA for people to play on!
Here are two videos, one from me five years ago playing Rochut #8 on Adams E1 .55 Gold Brass Bell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtlZtI12XXw
And here is me today on the Geneva Cardinal with SM4UX, also Rochut #8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN_X3Q-Lnok
For the difference in price, I actually like the way the Geneva feels, plays and sounds. I went and played a bunch of Adams horns a few weeks ago and NONE of them moved me - I played two E1 .6 with SS bell, an E1 .7 yellow brass and and E3 with Yellow Brass and was underwhelmed by all of them. I then picked up my Wessex and it sounded better than those Adams horns - it was really unfortunate.
I have a friend who has a VERY nice Adams E2 - I played this horn a couple of years ago and I remember thinking that I would have traded him my E1 for that E2 - it was that sweet. Anyway, he went to IET last year (or maybe 2016?) and Glenn Van Looy was there with a bunch of Geneva horns. Other people in this forum have posted about it. Anyway, he had a lesson with Glenn, played his horn and immediately bought the Geneva Symphony model (their lowest model). He's now selling his Adams.
Because of this development, my lack of enthusiasm at the Adams horns (and being a former Adams owner), I reached out to Joe at the Salvation Army and he didn't have any Symphonys left. He did have a previously play-tested Cardinal and that is this horn in the video. It is basically the GVL model with engraving and black accents but a slightly different leadpipe.
Unfortunately this horn was damaged during shipping - I took it to my local repair guy and he did a good job but we think the bell ring is loose from the damage and ringing. And you can hear how loud the valves are. Anyway, I'll post a full review when the new horn arrives in 2 months or so. Either way I'll bring this horn (or the new horn) to NABBA for people to play on!
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