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by Richard Merewether
Copyright© 1978 Richard Merewether
Many players find It convenient to carry their instrument about 'incognito' in an anonymous-looking rectangular case, and this is also sometimes of advantage in traveling, but it does add considerably to the weight of the horn, since the screw-rings are necessarily sturdy to withstand distortion through damage-in which event the horn cannot be assembled.The increased weight could be about four ounces or more than 100 gr., and in a heavy instrument such as a triple horn this can just make it uncomfortable to hold-though many people elect to have them so.
Apart from that consideration, the acoustic effect upon the instrument Is extremely slight-although strong personal preferences sometimes exist about this. The presence of the screw-rings does of course rather inhibit vibration of the bell-flare at that point, but since opinion seems to be divided as to whether this is of advantage or disadvantage, the matter is best left as one of individual choice.
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