Sackbut used as a clash until the Renaissance, when it became consonant in compositions, which went hand-in-hand with the widespread use of meantone temperament. During the 17th century, Well temperament began to become more and more popular as the range of keys increased. Temperament affects the colour of a composition, and therefore modern performances, typically employing equal temperament, may not be true representations of the composers' intentions. These old tunings are the result of the natural harmonic series of a brass instrument such as the sackbut. As the bell is smaller than a modern trombone, the harmonic series is closer to
Keith Hill (musical instrument maker) of workshops on the craft of musical communication at conservatories and schools of music in Europe and the United States. In 2008 Hill established the Acoustical Technology Trainee program that is specific to the technical craft of enhancing sound, not instrument making, and has now taught keyboard instrument acoustics to a number of professional musicians and luthiers. Hill maintains a violin making workshop in Nashville, Tennessee. Keyboard instruments continue to be made in the larger Michigan workshop. Hill's instruments, which are known for their full tone, have been used in performances and recordings by keyboard artists such as Elizabeth Farr