Holton MF Horn ST-307 Opinions?

[chicag...@my-deja.com]

Anyone have an opinion on the Holton ST-307? I found a brand new one
for $800.00 in lacquer. It seemed to play pretty good, but took a lot
of air with its .468 bore.Thanks!

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Charles Heiden]

I've got an original Holton MF ST-302 with the same 0.468 bore that I've
had since high school. I gave up trying to play it after 10 years. I'm
much happier on my ML Bach Strad. If it feels like a lot of work to
play it now, it will probably stay that way somewhat. Why hassle it
when there's lots of easier playing horns that sound as good or better
in that price range?

. . ..in my humble opinion.

Charles

[Jeff Wildman]

My complaint with the Holton MF horns was the construction. I owned two of
them, and both suffered from premature plating wear and bubbling of the
plating. Also, the factory soldering of the braces was substandard. Both
horns needed repair work within the first 18 months of use. The MF Horn is
an acquired taste and takes more effort. I eventually went back to a Schilke
B6 and wrote the Holton years off as a bad debt.

[chicag...@my-deja.com]

In article <3A119DDB...@hotmail.com>,

> Thanks for the opinions guys! I thought there might be a reason that
it was priced so cheap.

[Rafeeq Abdul-Wahaab]

I did the same exact thing. I used to blame myself for not being able to
play my st302. I played mine for 20 years & just recently bought a used
Strad...... the difference in ease of play & the speed of the Valves is just
absolutely incredible. I feel silly for playing that Holton for so long!

[Wayne Brenner]

> Anyone have an opinion on the Holton ST-307? I found a brand new one
> for $800.00 in lacquer. It seemed to play pretty good, but took a lot
> of air with its .468 bore.Thanks!
>

Hello:

I own this model, the ST307. I understand that this model plays more free
than other Holton large bore horns, and I believe that this costs me in
endurance. It has been to the Brass Bow for a valve alignment and cryogenic
treatment.
Observations:
I get unsolicited compliments on my tone, even using a pretty shallow
mouthpiece. What I hear from other is 'Big, but with zing'.
The projection from this horn is very good. I am not allowed around
microphones.
It is kind of heavy for a lead horn, but still pretty bright.
It seems to be pretty flexible.
The valve action is very good (surprise, coming from Leblanc).
I have offered a blow on my horn to others whose opinions I value much more
than my own, such as Wayne Bergeron, Sal Cracchiola (Poncho Sanchez), Ron
Stout, and a few others. They thought that the horn was pretty nice, but
that it was just too open to be practicle for them.
For short blasts and features, it sure is fun to play.

I would like to make this horn work for me as a decent lead horn (the wife,
looking at our finances, doesn't see another horn on the horizon, and she
has always liked the sound of this trumpet), but not sure if my chops are up
to it. In the past year, I have been experimenting with different
mouthpieces, especially Warburtons. With the Warburtons, I have ordered
more backbores than tops, looking for the right resistance to work with the
ST307.
Maybe the smaller bore version of this model, which is the ST308, would be a
good choice. However, even if I could find one, it would be hard to test
because Leblanc horns tend to come out of the factory with some of the worst
valve alignments in the industry.

Wayne Brenner
Anaheim CA

[Dale]

I bought a 302 back in 1981, and loved the horn. I played the MF
Jettone at the time, and the combination worked great. In 1983 I
started playing in the Army Band system, and found the MFHorn to be,
as others have stated, too much work (I also dropped the MF Jettone
for a Dave Stahl Jettone... I still play that one today with a Yamaha
6310Z ...)

Regards

[bgc...@mis.net]

On Tuesday, November 14, 2000 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, chicag...@my-deja.com wrote:
> Anyone have an opinion on the Holton ST-307? I found a brand new one
> for $800.00 in lacquer. It seemed to play pretty good, but took a lot
> of air with its .468 bore.Thanks!
>
>

[dansf...@gmail.com]

I started playing a Conn Constellation B in 7th grade and when the ST307 came out I loved it.
I'd love to find a good used one or decently priced new one.
Dan Arnold

[Henry Gleditsch Kleive]

I bought my ST 301 in 1974 and have never regretted; a fantastic horn to play.