TromboneChat

Does anybody have any experience comparing the two? I know that the artisan has a different throat and is styled after older Bachs.

Thanks!

Artisans are just a bit lighter in sound (and weight), more "tenor." The good ones are very good, a nice way to get a very refined Bach sound.

A good 42 bell does all that and has more weight to the sound, but those are hard to find as well.

Gotcha! I've noticed too that there are artisan 42 bells as well

Yes, I believe those are just normal 42 bells with artisan fittings. I've had a few of those made myself from older bells- the corp I use at the moment is one such!