PAXMAN 45 MLYDC descant horn Bb/f-high

PAXMAN descant horn Bb/f-high model 45 MLYDC

The Paxman Model 45 began with Richard Merewether’s association with Paxman in the 1940s, when he approached the company with his ideas for a descant horn in f-alto. This eventually culminated in the Paxman Bb/f-alto double descant, which quickly became and remains the benchmark for this kind of horn.

The current model features the original Paxman-designed valve, which diverts the airflow from a point close to the mouthpiece where the tube diameter is small. This allows both the Bb and f-alto sides to have the correct and individual tapers for both mouthpipe and branch. The two sides then converge in the same valve when the bore of both horns has expanded to match the final approach to the bell throat.

The most recent horns feature a longer taper on the f-alto mouthpipe, enhancing the tone and improving intonation, especially at the lower end of the descant horn range. This increases the overlap between the Bb and f-alto horns, allowing a smoother transition between the two sides.

The model 45 also uses the Paxman dual bore system, ensuring the cylindrical tubing of the f-alto horn is fractionally narrower, evening the resistance between the two sides and further enhancing sound quality. The stopping valve on the Bb side also enables the use of an F extension, adding the open harmonics of the low F horn, making the model 45 a highly versatile instrument.

Characteristics:

• model 45
• a professional master class instrument
• Bb/f-alto full double descant horn
• original construction Merewether System
• bore ML (medium large)
• Dual bore
• yellow brass body and bell flaire
• detachable bell-flare
• cord lever action
• Stopping valve as standard
• 5 brass rotors
• Nickel silver valve casings
• 2 water keys
• unlacquered
• A=442 pitch as standard