Thanks to John for getting the ball rolling nicely with some insightful feedback! Looks like I'm up next, since the horn arrived today.
I ran a preliminary intonation check, and may update it if need be later. You can see/compare here:
http://www.dwerden.com/Intonation/index.cfm
I have a few initial comments, but hope to do a church recording session later this week.
I've asked ACB to check the bore. My caliper says it is .590-ish and it measures the same as my Adams. But it's just a number.
Random initial thoughts...
So far the horn plays very easily, after only a little time with it this afternoon. John Morgan observed something that I did as well. The 3rd partial has 3 or 4 stuffy notes just below the F concert (they are flat as well, even though the F is not - check the intonation chart linked above). And the B natural on the 2nd bass clef line is really flat. That is fairly common on compensating horns, though, because it is darned hard to make the 2nd compensating loop short enough.
My spousal unit was on the main floor as I was testing it in the basement, and she thought it sounded quite nice. Not quite as good as my Adams, but it sounded like a similar type of tone.
I was VERY impressed going from the floppy-chop pedal range up chromatically through the stuffier compensating range just above it. I could do it smoothly from the get-go, which is a little rare in general and more rare in brand-new horns.
As John observed, the fit & finish seem nice and slide action is really good (except for a seemingly-frozen 1st valve comp slide on the rear side. Even the short-legged 2nd valve slide works well.
I'm excited to do more testing! Stay tuned.