Wide Wrap Trumpet Showdown! Adams A6 vs Conn Connstellation 36B Comparison at Austin Custom Brass
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- Can't believe we hadn't done this comparison video yet, but here it is! As you may know, the Adams A6 was inspired by the Conn Connstellation 36B and 38B trumpets and shares many similar characteristics with a few important differences. Make sure to comment with which you like best!
-Both have a wide wrap, nearly identical
-36B doesn't have the thumb trigger (38B does) and the Adams A6 does
-Bell size is similar but Adams is slightly larger
-Both have a .438 small bore!
-Connstellation has the classic Conn point-to-point braces, A6 has tradition z braces
-Conn bell taper is a little smaller through the throat and flare than on the Adams
These changes make the Adams a little more versatile, a modern take on a classic design. Similar vibe but two very different instruments!
We usually have the A6 and some Connstellations in stock, visit www.austincustombrass.biz to see our current stock.
Please email us with any questions about specific trumpets, info@austincustombrass.com, or call 816-410-0826.
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The Conn has a velvety, stuffy warmth that is very appealing to me.
The to me the Conn sounds better, seems to have more core and warmth but of course it can scream if needed. I’m sure the Adams probably feels better to play but the extra effort put into playing the Conn is well worth it. Anyway Trent always sounds great on anything he plays. So in the end it’s a matter of personal taste and ability.
Like so many I have had a love/hate relationship with the Connstellation over the years. The Conn has a core and warmth to the sound that is unmatched, but then is pretty exhausting to play on a long gig !! (maybe easier with a small mouthpiece), and the intonation can be very funky. I can see why Adams made some changes, and I think the Adams would be a great modern choice for that style of horn (that is so unique). I heard Dontae on his live in Australia in an intimate duo gig and he sounded beautiful on it. Full spectrum of colors. There is something about the ease of blow and centre you get from smaller bore horns with a bigish bell that is very appealing!!!
Yes, Dontae sounds incredible on his A6!
I play a 1961 38B with a Bach 1C mouthpiece and for me, this set up works wonders.
I enjoy your convivial, generous, competent video's. You really bring the horns into life, describing and sharing the beautiful instruments they are. Thank you.
Always fascinated how listeners like and hear different things. Which is great! For me, the Conn sounds much better, but they have a similar sound profile.
Thank you for this Trent. Theysound great but I like the Conn sound which just has a slightly hard edge for me.
Conn 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽. My father had 4 at Home in the 80s . MAN THOSE Big Big Connstellstions. My cousin stole one and sold for pennies , my fatter hated him for the rest of life .
Trent, they sounded so similar to me, at least while using my iMac speakers. Thanks for doing this comparison. One thing that I learned from it? I'm glad I kept my 1964 Connstellation 38B after all these years, especially after I had Bob Reeves perform a precision valve alignment on it - made a huge difference in slotting and clarity and fullness of sound. Thanks again, Trent! You rock, man!
Oh, I just now saw that you loaded this video up. Thank you so much, Sir! Supercool! 👍🙂
Happy to - Enjoy!
I thought the Conn was instantly discernable with having a classic "vintage" sound. The more you played, the more both sounded alike. How they felt to you I don't know, although, in this clip, you were a bit more accurate on the Conn. For what it's worth, I feel one should play the horn that feels the best behind the horn, because you're going to sound like YOU regardless. Thanks Trent, your videos are great and so is your playing!
Thanks for listening! Conn of course made great horns in that era also!
Hey Trent ! How have you been ! Fine I hope ! Great comparison as usual . Both horns are great ! Like comparing Freddie Hubbard to Lee Morgan with some Woody Shaw on the side ! All n All. Great Horns !
A fun comparison! To my ears the Adams has a more focused sound.
I LOVE Connstellations. I have a 1961 38B. I quite enjoyed trying the Adams A6 as well when you brought it to J Landress Brass.
They both sound great!!
I think I agree with most of the comments here that the conn has that really great, sweet, old timey kind of sound. The A6 is close, but not exactly the same. However, the A6 has more brilliance and in my opinion sounds night and day better in articulated passages. I honestly think it really depends on the player, what kind of music they regularly play, and what they’re ultimately going to use the horn for. I could see the argument for having both in a collection.
This is great, Trent! thanks for doing this- I loved my 36b and probably would still play it if the intonation wasn't such a bear. How did adams approach the valves? are they at all modeled after the funky conn ones to accommodate the wide wrap?
in the video the conn sounds better to my ears on most of the clips, but the adams is obviously MUCH better for commercial stuff
I'm partial to the Connstellation as I have one with the 1st valve trigger. I like my Manchester too. I've played the Monette too.
Perfect. Wow. I really liked the sound of the Constellation. Thanks, teacher 🎼🎶✔✔👏😃
Cat Anderson gave a concert/master class at my college back in '79. He was a Conn Performing Artist at the time. In plugging the Connstellation, he remarked that for such a wide wrap (though he just said "big horn") with such a small bore (again, he said "thin pipe"), it was remarkably easy to blow. But I guess he could have blown a golf ball through that proverbial garden hose, he had so much power.
The Adamas of course sounds very smoothe flexible and perfect. As is the Video, thank you very much for it, Trent, thsose videos make very much sens to me.
Glad you like them!
The Conn...no question. Better clarity, presence, focus and carrying power than the Adams. Curious about some of the earlier comments in the string about the Conns being tough to play on a gig. Small bore? I've been a large and extra large bore player since college. .462 and then up to .468 and .470 horns. Now coming up to age 61 I've rolled back to a Kanstul California 101 model with a .464 bore, but can't imagine trying to play a lead chair in a big band using a .438 bore. I've never been able to use the Yamaha Bobby Shew models as they back up tremendously on me and the Conn is even tighter. Maybe the open wrap compensates to some degree for the small bore size, but I can see trying to step on the gas and just going nowhere.
I’ve read that Conns, while being small bore, were said to have felt like a large bore, in terms of openness. I’ve never played one though
@@braineaterss When I was a kid I tried out a Mt. Vernon Bach and the Constellation. The Bach felt 'tight' and backed-up (best I can explain it). I kept the Constellation and it was a fine horn, the valves were 'fast' and it played 'easy' - I later moved on to an Eclipse. Unfortunately, someone stole the Conn or I would still be playing it.
To me it was close in sound. The Adams seemed to slot better in faster runs.
Of course, it is all individual . How the horn feels and plays and sounds like internally. As far as the demonstration I choose Adams.
Interesting. I'm trying to overcome my bias confirmation, because of all the horns I play, I adore the 38b and probably would choose it for the desert island showdown. There is just something about the attack on that horn, and the way everyone from Chet to Freddie to Maynard to Blue Mitchell...you name just about any player who played one in that period, and that "something something" is there. It's an iconic sound.
The Adams does get very close to it in some ways, but it varies according to dynamic. It's a nice expressive horn in its own right. I'm curious how it feels.
I hadn't played a Connstellation in years (since junior high, I think), and I got a crack at a NOS that had been moldering on a music store shelf since '62, and was discovered in a liquidation sale. I would have gotten hurt if the auction had gotten stupid (I used an ebay sniper to make sure I ended up with it), but luckily it was within reason. The valves were horrifically misaligned, but I expected that. Once I got it tweaked in, it felt to me like it played itself, and it had that particular vibe that immediately made me happy with the purchase.
I wonder what the 38b/Adams comparison would be. The bell taper isn't appreciably different on the 38b just eyeballing it in comparison to the 36 you used.
I noticed some guys ragging on Connstellations in the TTT forum. Man, I just don't see how someone could be hard on that design, even if it's not their bag. I do see how someone who wasn't disciplined with their air and tone production could get in trouble on it. I'd been playing a '46 Super in a second line band, and the first night I brought the Connstellation in, it almost killed me. I imagine someone could get seduced by the way it just gets louder and louder no matter how much air you pack into it, and be in trouble before they realized they were over their skis. The Super gives you feedback when you're getting to the edge, but whether it's the stiffness of the Connstellation bell, or just the size of it, you don't get that same physical sense of where you are. Once I figured that out, it became my primary player on jazz gigs, just for that vibe it has. Those were the records I was digging in music school, so I just have a particular affinity for that vibe.
Hi Trent. It's hard to tell which horn I prefer as they are both different and I can see that they have a market in different circumstances (Orchestra v Jazz band).
Great example of both trumpets, but the Conn horn wins. Keep up the good work you do.
Thanks, will do!
They sound so similar. The tamber on the Adams, there a slight difference, the pitch seems more centered and less diffuse. How do they blow, and slot. Is one "tighter" than the other. Is one easier to keep pitch centered? Very cool!
The Adams A6 seems to be brighter, fuller, and more enjoyable in sound and registers. The silver Conn seems darker. I like the sound profile of the Adams A6 MUCH MUCH BETTER!! I could listen to it all day.
I have a Committee, an LA Benge 3x+ and a first year production 8B Artist. I love all 3 but I play the Conn the most!
That Conn has such a rich sound. I want one.
Man I could go back and forth with these two horns all day. Both sound great! I used to own a 36b back in college. It was one of the best horns I've played on. I have some recordings of jazz band when I played lead on that Conn. I love the sound of that horn. I guess I'm biased. I'd love to get my hands on one again. Got any in stock? On the other hand I'd also really over to get my hands on that A6 too. There was more clarity in the stuff you demoed. I always wait for Tmea to play on those Adams horns. Such a bummer it'll be virtual next year.
We're going to miss everyone at TMEA this year too! No 36B at the moment but we do have a killer 6B you might like! It's lighterweight like the 36B but has the big bell like the 38B.
@@austincustom are there pics up at the moment?
Excited for this! Been wanting to learn more about the A6!
Side note. You’ve talked a lot about the A6 as a pop/lead horn. I’m more interested in it’s small group jazz abilities and how well it would work in a more classical (concert band or orchestra) setting. If you can hit those topics I’d be very grateful!
This was pre-recorded but yes I think the Adams is much more Versatile overall.
Thanks for the comparison, I have a 1970 Constellation 38b that my Father bought me brand new when I was in jr. high and at one point in the 80’s I was rather good at it, I actually had no idea it was a classic horn, now that I’m retired, I have taken it up again after 35 years off, thanks for the demo.
BTW, they both sound pretty similar through these speakers and your Conn looks like it needs oil or a new spring on valve no. 2
That is awesome!
More Fidelity with the Adams both wonderful tho .....is the Adam 6 an open feeling horn ?
It's not super open, but if you let the horn do the work it is super easy!
The A2 is a monster. The richness, the centering, shall I go on? I shall, it's the apex of modernity. New in every way, an alpha horn. Ok, ok I'll stop! The Conn holds its own, still a superb fighter against a new era of contenders. I would be blessed to be gifted either one😉.
The Conn sounds warmer and more in tune with itself
Constellation sounds brighter than the adams , but all that really matters is what you think. When I get a trumpet in my hand that I can't put down that's usually the one for me.
The Conn is far more impressive - more directly , more immediately - stronger sounding - the Adams seems to be (compared to the Conn) on the more softer side, the Conn has more core.
Conn is the winner here. Warm, complex sound.
I liked the sound of the Conn better, it sounds warmer and sweeter. It has a lyrical sound
I say why just not own both horns. The Constellation has more warmth but the Adams has more bite to it. Sonetimes you might want more edge or more warmth or roundness. I would go with the Adams if I couldn't afford both due to its versatility. You could definitely datken up the sound if you wanted. I have a 38B Constellation and my only gripe is it doesn't quite have enough bite when I want fo take it there. But
I prefer the sound of the 36B, it's a bit richer and more dense ( to me)
The Conn is mor centered. I had a 36b. Wish I still did.
I wish I had an embouchure as perfect as Trent's
Conn sounded more brilliant and dynamic.
Yes... I was going to make that comment... You took my words! Love the Conn!
Very good!
I wonder if you ever got to know a Spada trumpet or Bach Spada customized trumpet with exchangeable bell and leadpipe? It's a very good modification. spadamusic.ch/de/trompeten-nach-mass/b-trompete-bach-spada/
We've had Spada trumpets come through the shop on consignment before. Happy to let you know when we get another if you'd like to email Josh - mpcsales@austincustombrass.com
SONO DUE TROMBE DIVERSE, NELLA STRUTTURA DEI COMPONENTI, ADAMS SCIMMIOTTA CONN, MA LA QUALITA' DI CONN E' FUORI DISCUSSIONE. FORSE UN PO' DA RIVEDERE LA MACCHINA, MA IL RESTO DIREI MEGLIO LA CONN. COMPLIMENTI ALL'ESECUTORE, MOLTO BRAVO!!
COMUNQUE DUE GRANDI TROMBE IN MANO A CHI SA UTILIZZARLE AL MEGLIO.....
That trumpet says: I've got the power.
I would say the Conn was discernibly better.
More trombone vids please.
Conn is more lively sound.
Vintage Conns are definitely awesome instruments!
The Conn sounds better in every manner!
The Conn sounds more "brassy" for want of a better word.
Adams sounds the far more versatile. More color to the sound. The Conn has a lot less brilliance; great for that Chet sound.
That said, jazz player I'm not 🤣