BAC Elliot Mason Artist trombone? Anyone played it, any thoughts?

[davdud101]

Someone offered me a trade for a BAC Elliot Mason "Artist" horn, which is the lesser of the Elliot Mason horns. I know it's been suggested that this particular horn is a Chinese import that they do some work on before shipping out.
It's a dual-bore (.500-.525) but there's something about it that makes me not sure I should go for it.
Anyone know how they play and might be able to give an idea of what they're comparable to? Any videos of folks playing it (only one I've seen is Paul the Trombonist's)

Would I be a fool to trade a King 2BL Jiggs for one of these horns? I didn't find myself vibing with the Jiggs too much, I think I want something a bit richer with more core. I'm more or less on the hunt for "the perfect" straight horn for me, and I'm just trying out what I can get my hands on.

[Aznguyy]

Just get a King 3B.

[TromboneSam]

Dave Sear plays one and sounds phenomenal on it. Everyone else I know who’s had one has gotten rid of it within a year. There’s a good chance that the Jiggs is a better fit.

[RJMason]

A straight trade of a classic King for a BAC is a bad deal in my book. If they give you money and the horn then maybe. Better to just sell the horn you don’t like and buy something else.

[harrisonreed]

I haven't heard too much about the "lesser" version of the Mason horn, which bears virtually no resemblance to the real thing. I did see when it first came out that it was rent-to-own, which didn't seem to bode too well for it...

I played on the original prototype (of the real Elliott Mason horn) owned now by one of Mason's former students. It is an absolute beast of a horn. I didn't like the wire thin brace that you hold the or side with (you know, the thing you hold to move the slide from one position to another). The prototype used a brace that felt like 4mm steel wire. Not too fun to use.

I also thought the backing and especially the left hand grip was way too heavy and obnoxious -- it's one of those horns that is so flashy that of you even make one mistake on it you're definitely going to be labeled as a poser.

But yeah, go figure, the exact horn they built for Mason and delivered to him played like a dream, sounded incredible, and was very well built. The "artist" version? Probably skip it.

[hyperbolica]

Looks like a pretty stock 500/525 Chinese horn. Might play ok, might not. Probably not a really great player. I'd get a Wessex Urbie reproduction before I'd get the BAC. BAC is very likely overpriced. Definitely wouldn't trade it for anything you know plays well or that other people might value.

Yamaha makes a lot of horns in this size. They have a fat tone with a crisp articulation. Like a 32h. It's still a risk as to how that particular model will perform. If you're curious, just buy it straight up, but don't pay what they're asking. Then if you don't like it, you can resell it.

[slidefunk]

I tried one of these at Sam Ash in Manhattan some years back. The sound was interesting enough but the slide was unplayable garbage. Maybe it had just been tested too many times in store? In any case, play it before you trade for it.

[davdud101]

Thanks for the thoughts so far, gents. Good insight.
I knew trading for my 2BL would be a losing proposition. I'll see what he'd ask if I just bought it outright.