Thanks for your insights on the lacquer-no lacquer thing, T. I guess I'll keep it on. I really don't like to spend time polishing things. Heck, I haven't waxed my truck in like... Gee, seven years?!!!

Time flies when you're busy doing fun things.
On another note (pun, hee hee...) I took my new 9 to community band rehearsal tonight and let all the trombonists check it out, and I used it in rehearsal. But before I give you their and my verdict, let me explain how this horn came into being. Almost three years ago, i got a Calicchio Williams 8 from John Duda but he cut the bell flare to 8" instead of the usual 8 1/2". I ordered an 8 1/2" bell from him, which arrived a few days ago, the day before I got the 9, and it plays great; probably better than my Burbank 8.
What to do with the 8" 8 bell? It was also a great playing bell so I asked trombone tech and forum member John Sandhagen if he could put together a 9 for me built around this bell. He got Kanstul to build the wrap, including the pigtail, and put a CR valve on it. (John tells me that Kanstul had never made a .547" bore CR valve before so I guess my 9 is the very first, which is kind of fun.

) So I now have a 9 which isn't as warm as your typical Williams 9 and I think it's has a very versatile sound. Thank you so much for the great work, John.
So going back to the reaction of the trombone players in the community band. They all loved it. A couple of them have played all of my Williams horns and they thought that the 9 was perhaps the best blowing of the lot. I'm not sure that I completely agree with that but, for sure, I rank it way up at the top. I love the way it blows and I love the way it sounds. I definitely have a winner on my hands.
BTW, what I said earlier about this bell being a little flaky, that's still true. Compared to my other Williamses, I have to make some interesting adjustments to the positions to get the notes in tune. I'm quickly getting used to it, though, so it's not really a problem.
Aloha,
Richard