cephas

Here's some of the things I have gathered through personal experience with these horns. Ergonomics: Yamaha - Lighter and well balanced. King - Lighter and forward balanced. Jupiter - Heavier and forward balanced. Intonation: Jupiter - Great open tuning King - Plays open F quite sharp. (You need to lip F down a lot or use a trigger) Yamaha - Good open tuning from my limited experience. I like everything about yamaha exept the left hand position. I don't like how it makes your frame look from in front. With kings your arms are in a more triangular position that matches the other brass better and IMO looks more schnazzy.

EDIT -NVM

Not gonna lie, I'm very excited.

The quantum brass are dark sounding. Very hard to over blow possibly due to how heavy they are. The Quantum contra is darker than the king one I played on last summer. Last year JD shaw at phantom made some changes to the Mello design to address the back pressure issue. Intonation and slotting on the quantum low brass is spot on. King euphs and contras have big problems playing concert f. (Go figure). Also the tuning trigger on the quantum tubas is not in the way and doesn't seem to get damaged like the king ones do. Big plus since I had to play all summer without a tuning kick out slide on my king. The contra is so well braced that you dont realize how loud you really are playing when you are holding it. You could be givin er stagger breathing tons and still the sound that you hear is very muffled compared with other contras i have played.

Yeah, but there's not really anything we can do about that. Just enjoy the shows for what they are, and perform for the fans.

As a performer, I love it when the audience goes crazy before the moment is over. Some of the best moments i can remember from this summer are when people are clapping, cheering and on their feet well before the end of the peice/hit! Its a huge rush!

Blue Knights is doing Brahms 1st symphony mvmt 4 for their closer.

Hi, i am marching my first year of corps with the blue knights this summer. I am playing contra and looking forward to it with great enthusiasm. I am from Canada where drum corps is much more scarce than down in the states. The first time i heard a hornline in person was at the phantom regiment camp i got cut at in January. :D :D I'm hooked.

phantom is fielding 12 contras. Similar things were said that it was to keep the line free of dirty playing and marching. They had 27 people audition for contra in november. They had last years horns and this years both at the camp, so we had all of them on the new jupiter instruments.

Into the Light will sound great in the echo dome. There are so many smooth flowing segments that would sound great when served with ample reverb.

I have had the opportunity to hear phantom at their winter camps. Based off of hearing their show concept this year, and their new drill designer, I predict a placement of 5th place. I think the scouts will have a great year, and will place tenth or higher.

I particularly am excited to hear Madison this year, out of curiosity, they are trying to amass a giant contra line this year. I counted 18 in the latest video of their last drill camp, and i hear they were looking for 20!

I am super pumped, I went to some of their music camps and man, the themes and melodies in this show are very impacting! It sounds fresh and new, but not in a detrimental fashion.