The new "it" horn

[SamBTbrn]

Like with the Conn Basstrombone and a 2G mouthpiece being the dominating set-up in the UK orchestras scene from the 1970's until recently and the Bach 42 with 50 slide Friedman setup with a 4G which could be found across nearly all American Orchestras at one time. (Not to mention the craze in the horn world where you have to play on a Alexander 103)

What is the new "have to play on" set up for today for the "it sound", or have we moved beyond this singularity?

5 - 7 years ago I would have said it was going to be a Shires with a Greg black mouthpiece, but now?

Thoughts?

[Bach5G]

For me it’d be a Stephen’s.

[Digidog]

By all which is good, I hope trends like that have waned into oblivion and disregard.

[bassbone1993]

Yeah, I'd have to say either Stephen's or Eastman Shires.

[Matt K]

I think there is too much fragmentation for that to ever happen again. THere is a LOT of overlap between what is popular. Something with a yellow, soldered, two-piece bell, a wide (but not bass crook), a "medium" taper leadpipe, and a rotor seems to be in vogue at the moment, but not a specific manufacturer.

[WilliamLang]

I'd say it's still a Shires with a Greg Black mouthpiece. There's like 10 Stephens horns out there in the world or something, and no one has a full snapshot of what their sound is yet. They might have mystique but M&W and Greenhoes still have a much larger market share and current usage. I'd say the current Shires artist endorsements and rising stars program go much much further in the industry and keep that the predominant instrument that most players, especially college age, think of.

[Burgerbob]

It's still Shires and a GB for a lot of things.

Edwards 502 is big right now too.

[hyperbolica]

It's not even a sound, it's just a name.

[bassbone1993]

It's still Shires and a GB for a lot of things.

Edwards 502 is big right now too.

I was going to mention that I've been seeing the 502 a lot currently. Also a bit more Rath, probably due to all JP Rath dealers now being able to stock the custom Rath stuff.

[WGWTR180]

It's not even a sound, it's just a name.

100%

[chromebone]

Whatever works for you.

[SwissTbone]

Switzerland and Italy seems still mainly on Bach 42. Lots of conversions by the Hagmann shop.