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BACKGROUND:
1.The Doubler arrived at Chez Snorlax yesterday in fine shape--thanks, Dave...and thanks, Trent!
2. I just had two major surgeries on my sinuses, and I now have use of the right sinus cavity at ca. 80%--yes, it helps on ALL my horns!!
3. Of the three testers so far, I'm the one who performs most on a Yamaha 321--I use it to play horn parts in my quintet, and have done so for about 30 years. Since ACB wants to position the Doubler against the 321, I'll make sure to highlight that comparison.
4. At some point in the last 30 years, I have owned a variety of horns--Yamaha 621, 641, 642 Neo; Willson 2900, 2905, Miraphone 5050, Sovereign 968, Mack 1150, etc., so my bases for comparison are ample.
5. John's and Dave's reviews are extremely thorough--tough acts to follow, guys...
6. I intend to make videos if and only if I can do justice to the instrument--Dave's sound quality is the best I've heard of these videos, and I'm not sure the video with Dr. White did the Doubler full justice.
7. I'm rotating mouthpieces among a 4AL, SM 3.5, an Alliance E3A, and a Wedge 103
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
1. This instrument is VERY IMPRESSIVE! I love the way it blows--a good amount of back pressure for me--easy blowing but not an "air sucker."
2. The upper register speaks nicely with normal effort--important to me for the type of stuff I like to do. Goes up to the screamer B flat nicely...I'll try to put that on a video without clipping the audio.
3. The high B natural slots well with either 3 or 1-2, depending upon the mouthpiece.
4. The high C (octave above Middle C) slots well with 1, 4, or open, depending upon mouthpiece.
5. The high D can be fingered 34 different ways, and they're all ok...takes a bit more effort/concentration FOR ME to get it clean,, but whaddya want for two days?
6. While the promotional material positions the Doubler against the Yamaha 321, I question ANY sonic comparison. The Doubler sounds infinitely richer and fuller than my 321. If I can get the sound good enough, I'll do a video, but I don't want to post anything that would shortchange the Doubler. I noted that one poster here preferred the sound of the 321 in the ACB video, but if that poster were in my basement with me, he'd notice that the Doubler is much fuller
6.5 Position the Doubler as an alternative to the 321 and (MUCH) more horn for the money at the 321's price point, sure, but the Doubler's sound is much fuller.
7. Following up on the sound--of all the horns I've owned, the Doubler reminds me most of the Sovereign 968 I had around 1990--and that's a compliment. The feel and response remind me very much of the 968.
8. I do note some additional resistance on certain notes, as did Dave and John, but I'd bet we'd all acclimate if we could have the horn for more than a couple of days.
9. I do wonder, though, if one or more valves might be slightly out of alignment. I tried to remove the back compensating slide on the first valve to check, but I was unable to remove it, and didn't dare force it.
10, Having used a Mack 1150 for a while, I can say with certainty that the Doubler is a much nicer instrument--feels heftier, sounds fuller--any price over the Mack is well justified in terms of sound and build, especially the former.
11. I love the floating leadpipe--my Sovereign 968 had one, and I believe it improves response/tone.
12. I like the silencers in the top of the valve caps rather than in the bottom of the finger buttons--gives a firmer feel.
13. Valves seem well machined--no rough edges. Can't say that about every horn I've owned.
14. Is the lyre holder really necessary these days?
SUMMARY: My first impression of the Doubler is extremely positive--I am really enjoying my test so far!!
TOMORROW:
*I'll weigh it--for some reason, I seem to have lost any scales in my house since my gym has been closed and Thanksgiving just ended...
*I'll see if my heavy cap fits on the fourth valve...if it does, I'll see what difference it might make.
*If there is some little detail that Dave and John overlooked, please let me know & I will try to test it.
*If any forum members have questions, please ask & I'll try my best to respond.
*I will try to make some videos if I can get a bit more face time on the instrument and get my Blue Snowball mic to respond well enough to do justice to the Doubler.
1.The Doubler arrived at Chez Snorlax yesterday in fine shape--thanks, Dave...and thanks, Trent!
2. I just had two major surgeries on my sinuses, and I now have use of the right sinus cavity at ca. 80%--yes, it helps on ALL my horns!!
3. Of the three testers so far, I'm the one who performs most on a Yamaha 321--I use it to play horn parts in my quintet, and have done so for about 30 years. Since ACB wants to position the Doubler against the 321, I'll make sure to highlight that comparison.
4. At some point in the last 30 years, I have owned a variety of horns--Yamaha 621, 641, 642 Neo; Willson 2900, 2905, Miraphone 5050, Sovereign 968, Mack 1150, etc., so my bases for comparison are ample.
5. John's and Dave's reviews are extremely thorough--tough acts to follow, guys...
6. I intend to make videos if and only if I can do justice to the instrument--Dave's sound quality is the best I've heard of these videos, and I'm not sure the video with Dr. White did the Doubler full justice.
7. I'm rotating mouthpieces among a 4AL, SM 3.5, an Alliance E3A, and a Wedge 103
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
1. This instrument is VERY IMPRESSIVE! I love the way it blows--a good amount of back pressure for me--easy blowing but not an "air sucker."
2. The upper register speaks nicely with normal effort--important to me for the type of stuff I like to do. Goes up to the screamer B flat nicely...I'll try to put that on a video without clipping the audio.
3. The high B natural slots well with either 3 or 1-2, depending upon the mouthpiece.
4. The high C (octave above Middle C) slots well with 1, 4, or open, depending upon mouthpiece.
5. The high D can be fingered 34 different ways, and they're all ok...takes a bit more effort/concentration FOR ME to get it clean,, but whaddya want for two days?
6. While the promotional material positions the Doubler against the Yamaha 321, I question ANY sonic comparison. The Doubler sounds infinitely richer and fuller than my 321. If I can get the sound good enough, I'll do a video, but I don't want to post anything that would shortchange the Doubler. I noted that one poster here preferred the sound of the 321 in the ACB video, but if that poster were in my basement with me, he'd notice that the Doubler is much fuller
6.5 Position the Doubler as an alternative to the 321 and (MUCH) more horn for the money at the 321's price point, sure, but the Doubler's sound is much fuller.
7. Following up on the sound--of all the horns I've owned, the Doubler reminds me most of the Sovereign 968 I had around 1990--and that's a compliment. The feel and response remind me very much of the 968.
8. I do note some additional resistance on certain notes, as did Dave and John, but I'd bet we'd all acclimate if we could have the horn for more than a couple of days.
9. I do wonder, though, if one or more valves might be slightly out of alignment. I tried to remove the back compensating slide on the first valve to check, but I was unable to remove it, and didn't dare force it.
10, Having used a Mack 1150 for a while, I can say with certainty that the Doubler is a much nicer instrument--feels heftier, sounds fuller--any price over the Mack is well justified in terms of sound and build, especially the former.
11. I love the floating leadpipe--my Sovereign 968 had one, and I believe it improves response/tone.
12. I like the silencers in the top of the valve caps rather than in the bottom of the finger buttons--gives a firmer feel.
13. Valves seem well machined--no rough edges. Can't say that about every horn I've owned.
14. Is the lyre holder really necessary these days?
SUMMARY: My first impression of the Doubler is extremely positive--I am really enjoying my test so far!!
TOMORROW:
*I'll weigh it--for some reason, I seem to have lost any scales in my house since my gym has been closed and Thanksgiving just ended...
*I'll see if my heavy cap fits on the fourth valve...if it does, I'll see what difference it might make.
*If there is some little detail that Dave and John overlooked, please let me know & I will try to test it.
*If any forum members have questions, please ask & I'll try my best to respond.
*I will try to make some videos if I can get a bit more face time on the instrument and get my Blue Snowball mic to respond well enough to do justice to the Doubler.
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