Edwards T-350E vs T-350HB

[StevenHolloway]

Any thoughts on how the Edwards regular axial flow valve plays compared to the HB valve? With the different design in the bracing and the materials, what is the end result in the difference of sound/response? Thanks

[derekcgullett]

The T350-E and T350-HB are both killer valve sections. In fact, when I visited Edwards a while back, those were the two I was deciding between in the end.

They both have the same open axial-flow valve which works great on both horns. I found that the T350-E felt a little lighter in my hands than the T350-HB did, but it was a very minimal difference. With less material being present on the T350-E, I also found the response to be very quick and light. The T350-HB has more mass in the bracing area with denser materials. I found the T350-HB to still have a quick response, but it also felt “rounder” and a little more secure to me. I felt like it kept me “grounded” a little more and that I didn’t have to worry as much about accuracy.

Ultimately, I settled on the T350-HB for that reason. However, the T350-E is no worse than the T350-HB. I know many players with that horn who totally kill it. In fact, if the T350-HB never existed, I would be perfectly happy on a T350-E.

Sound-wise, I sounded like “me” on both horns. I used the same bell, tuning slide, handslide, leadpipe, and mouthpiece combination with both valve sections and the people in the room listening thought they sounded pretty much the same during a blind test. Essentially, I think the two valve sections would more so affect the response and feel of the horn than getting a totally different sound. Though a horn with a quick response that’s easy to play would certainly encourage you to play with a better sound than one that doesn’t. It’s all subjective, though, and that’s just my 2¢ and experience with these valves. I hope you get a chance to try both of these (and everything else they have to offer) because they’re really a fun treat to play!

[Crazy4Tbone86]

I have an Edwards T-350 with the old-fashioned bell tabs that are held together with a knurled bolt. I bought the horn in 2002. It has served me well and I consider it one of my middle-of-the-road instruments. I can use it for most symphonic performance situations. I will use other equipment (one of my Bach 42s) if I need a huge sound and smaller equipment if I need a more compact sound.

About five years after I bought it, a friend of mine who also owned the same model T-350 asked me to switch his horn to the edge bracing. When I ordered the kit for his, I ordered an extra edge bracing kit for myself. I did the conversion (a rather simple process) on his horn. He played it for a few weeks and did not like the way it played. While it did have a faster response, he thought that the sound broke up easier on the loud end. Thus, we converted his horn back to the tabs. I think he still plays on it with the tabs.

Since I have been rather happy with my T-350, I have never converted mine over to the edge bracing. I figured that I already avoid using it for very loud playing, converting to edge bracing might compound that problem. I have tried some of the T-350HB models in recent years and I really like them. For me, they do seem to hold together on the loud end a little better than the lighter "E" models.

As derekgullett said, it is all subjective and every player perceives thing differently. Try a lot of instruments and make sure you have others listen to you from across the room as well. With Edwards, the big choices are with the slide construction and the bell material/weight.