HBC Impressions

[Chris Waters]

Sorry to ask this, but how long did it take for you folk in the States to get your caps? I placed an order back in July and am still waiting. I have made inquiries on the contact page of their web site and left a couple PM’s here for Chris but received no response. Dave, if this post is out of bounds I apologize and will understand if you delete it. I am just trying to figure out if a close to two month wait is normal.

Sorry to hear this Mike. We'll send another one on Monday and forward you the Tracking Number as we now send everything "Tracked. All the best, Chris

[Snorlax]

Both my original HBC and the inset piece arrived in very good time.
Faster, in fact, than I had expected!

[Shawn]

Following on to my own question, I received an e-mail from Chris this morning with tracking number, along with a good-natured reminder that the cap is on approval for a month..
I placed the order Friday the 4th and it was posted Thursday the 10th. It left the UK on Saturday the 12th, not wanting to wait around and watch the rest of the league butcher my Baggies.

[John Morgan]

Thank you; we do try our best! Hope your HBC is performing well. All the best, Chris

PM sent.

John

[Magikarp]

I’ve taken the HBC off my round stamp and it transformed the playing characteristics back to what I loved about it. The higher register isn’t quite as easy, but the sound has reverted to a fuller one. The intonation isn’t quite as good up high, but in the middle lower register (middle F to pedal Bb) has returned to its former warmth.

A better sound in the register I spend most of the time is preferable to easier high Eb.

Octave slurs are easier without the cap, and middle - lower register notes are easy to produce.

A worthwhile experiment but not one I have benefitted from.

[Chris Waters]

I’ve taken the HBC off my round stamp and it transformed the playing characteristics back to what I loved about it. The higher register isn’t quite as easy, but the sound has reverted to a fuller one. The intonation isn’t quite as good up high, but in the middle lower register (middle F to pedal Bb) has returned to its former warmth.

A better sound in the register I spend most of the time is preferable to easier high Eb.

Octave slurs are easier without the cap, and middle - lower register notes are easy to produce.

A worthwhile experiment but not one I have benefitted from.

Hello! Thanks for your comments. Sorry the HBC is not for you and do please return the HBC for a full refund if desired.

[Magikarp]

Hi Chris, I will be keeping hold of the HBC because I’d assume that playing at full force in a band might yield different results to more diffident tooting at home. The service from your company has been exceptional , and the quality of the product similarly excellent.

I’ll pass it on to a friend who also has a round stamp to see what he thinks. He’s a much more accomplished player than I am so it might suit him.

[Chris Waters]

Thanks very much; we do our best and the two keynotes are high quality HBCs and good customer service. Glad it shines through. Well done for passing-on your HBC to a friend and a very kind thought. All the best, Chris HBC

[MikeS]

I wanted to mention that once Chris became aware of my problem he made sure things were put right in a hurry. Thanks, Chris. I will report on my impressions of the cap once I have some time with it.

[Shawn]

My HBC arrived yesterday. Instrument is Eb Besson Sov. Tenorhorn, 2008 so German if I understand it right. I've had it a few months and it is in excellent working order.

File me with Magikarp on everything but the conclusion. Yes, the high register is easier. Yes the lower register feels less warm. But I'm leaving the HBC attached until I get killed or find something better.

Speaking only for myself, I think the immediate improvement up top more than compensates for what I think is a perceptible change lower--and I'm hoping the low notes just need more practice. Well, everything needs more practice but you know what I mean. I have convinced myself that the improved slotting midrange/up high is well worth what is for now a small trade off.

As a final thought, I'm convinced the change is real. I'm a believer. But if an acoustic physicist logged on and was able to prove by the numbers that this is snake oil, I'd certainly read his argument. I'm just a mathematician, and this kind of applied physics is beyond my expertise. If this is just a security blanket, I'd like that proven to me. For now, I'm sold that it has incrementally improved my music. Given their returns policy, I'd recommend you try an HBC for yourself if you haven't already.

[davewerden]

Speaking only for myself, I think the immediate improvement up top more than compensates for what I think is a perceptible change lower--and I'm hoping the low notes just need more practice. Well, everything needs more practice but you know what I mean. I have convinced myself that the improved slotting midrange/up high is well worth what is for now a small trade off.

Along those lines, keep in mind that switching caps is pretty easy and doesn't affect your chops like switching a mouthpiece. So if a particular piece might seem to benefit from the standard cap, you can switch! It's a whole lot easier than switching horns like trumpet and tuba players sometimes do.

[John Morgan]

My HBC arriveth tomorrow, me thinks. It is half way through South Dakota today, and I am in the other half. Anxious to try it. I already liked the heavy cap I borrowed from Doug Ruby.

[dsurkin]

My HBC arriveth tomorrow, me thinks. It is half way through South Dakota today, and I am in the other half. Anxious to try it. I already liked the heavy cap I borrowed from Doug Ruby.

Will you use it on both your Adams and your Dolce?

[John Morgan]

Will you use it on both your Adams and your Dolce?

Good question. I know the HBC I am getting will fit the Adams. Not so sure about the Dolce. [Timeout] Just back from checking to see if the standard Adams bottom cap for the 4th valve is interchangeable with the Wessex. Surprise, to me, they are interchangeable. So, I suppose I can use the HBC on both the Adams and Wessex. I sure liked the result I got on my Adams after borrowing a heavy bottom cap from Doug Ruby. I don't use the Wessex too much, so not sure if I will bother changing the 4th valve bottom cap, but if I need to send the Adams in for something and need the Wessex for a while, I probably would use it on the Wessex.

[Chris Waters]

Great comments Shawn and glad the 3rd HBC is working for you. As retired geezers here in Blighty who are both engineers and brass players, we're happily providing a high quality product and as fast service as we can. The One Month approval is a useful safety net for all players. I guess the old Blighty saying "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" also works for the pudding and blowing.

My HBC arrived yesterday. Instrument is Eb Besson Sov. Tenorhorn, 2008 so German if I understand it right. I've had it a few months and it is in excellent working order.

File me with Magikarp on everything but the conclusion. Yes, the high register is easier. Yes the lower register feels less warm. But I'm leaving the HBC attached until I get killed or find something better.

Speaking only for myself, I think the immediate improvement up top more than compensates for what I think is a perceptible change lower--and I'm hoping the low notes just need more practice. Well, everything needs more practice but you know what I mean. I have convinced myself that the improved slotting midrange/up high is well worth what is for now a small trade off.

As a final thought, I'm convinced the change is real. I'm a believer. But if an acoustic physicist logged on and was able to prove by the numbers that this is snake oil, I'd certainly read his argument. I'm just a mathematician, and this kind of applied physics is beyond my expertise. If this is just a security blanket, I'd like that proven to me. For now, I'm sold that it has incrementally improved my music. Given their returns policy, I'd recommend you try an HBC for yourself if you haven't already.