Martin Committee Club

I play two 4-Valve Flugelhorns, a Getzen and a Kanstul. For the flugelhorn, the 4th valve provides better intonation for 1,3 and 1,2,3 valve configurations all such combinations starting from the first D below staff. It also eases the bridge between lower register and pedal tone and does get me to harmonics that I could not reach easily on a 3 valve flugelhorn. My experience is unique however to a flugelhorn, not a trumpet.

I have never played a 4 valve trumpet and not sure the upper range argument would be reasoning for me to have such a horn after watching the Stomvi's 4 valve video. The double high C played by the 4 valve trumpet on the last note is performed with no valves used (standard key use). So I am not sure why they would make such a claim. I have not trouble incorporating the double high C on my Harrelson, Martin Committee and Olds Ambassador trumpets, all with 3 valves.

Again, I love the 4 valve feature on the flugelhorn for intonation and lower note bridging features. Also hate the idea of playing the fourth valve with the index finger of the left hand. Many people use 4 valve horns this way. I like keeping the right hand in charge of all the valve work so have no pinky finger ring on the 4 valve Getzen (which is the standard issue for that horn) and had Kanstul not install the pinky ring ring on their flugelhorn (which was their standard feature).

So since my last post a while ago, my first valve on my Kanstul has gotten a little "wonky" with occasional slowing of response. Immediately after using my standard valve oil (Ultrapure), the wonkyness continues. Robert Love of Brasswind research loaned me a valve lubricant called: Rouge Lube. Worked like a charm, but did need additional application in about a month. Robert said the magic ingredient was transmission fluid (added to a valve oil at a 1:2 ratio) by his analysis.

So again works like a charm, but only rarely does go into reverse unexpectedly.

@Dale-Proctor said in The Sounds of Silence:

Speaking of yard work, my wife and I spent about 30 hours replacing rotting wooden landscape timbers at the rear of the house with stone borders, as well as moving some plants and providing shallow steps from the yard to one of the bird baths. We redid a smaller natural area in the front yard, too. The total was about 225 stones. Yeah, we’re retired too…lol

It looks very nice. Do you have a big crop of cicadas this year?

I have been "semi" retired. I left my medical practice the end of May, and have been doing 2 months of home tasks, such as building a washer/dryer counter top for my wife, wainscoting our dining room, rebuilding concrete lawn sculptures, mulching 9 cubic yards of our home gardens, staining decks, power washing concrete walls and gutters. And after all of that... I am ready to go back to work so have an interview with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine to go back into an academic practice in a rural community.

Also due to my retirement, I have been playing more gigs with multiple bands. I have been sitting in for vacationing friends in civic bands, playing some nice paying gigs with two big bands, working regularly backing up a female jazz vocalist in her quintet, and was recently added to an "Elvis Presley" 10 piece Vegas style band that plays fairly regularly.

Then there were days like today were I had a day of doing nothing other than dog sitting 4 Schnauzers for my wife and mother in law while they were out and about only to get a call at 2 pm to play a jazz fusion gig at 7 pm.. Just got back from the gig and feeling kind of energized from the vibe. And the Schnauzers are still alive! Picture of the Jazz Fusion Band (Mosaic) I sat in with:

So overall life is good!

Thanks for asking Shifty. Hope all is well with you as well.

I do not have a Callet trumpet but have one of his mouthpieces that he hand lathed for my Olds Recording in his studio when I lived in New York City. An amazingly wonderful individual.

My reply is more however based on you noting the more recent maker of his trumpet, Kanstul is now defunct. I have a Kanstul that recently had an issue that I was unaware a valve cap had fallen off. I tried on line to find a replacement and had a heck of a time (I have had no problems for instance finding parts for my 1946 vintage Martin Committee).

So out of desperation, I contacted Jason Harrelson to see if he has machined caps for the Kanstul, and he did. So I got a complete set of valve caps from him and they fit and work perfectly.

So if you doe need any replacement parts for your Callet, do contact Harrelson Trumpets and they would most likely accommodate your needs.

@administrator Watch the video. There are studies that compare different wind instrument effects on ocular pressure.

Trumpet requires such high internal pressures, I'm surprised more people don't have medical issues. Do you think that playing a lower brass instrument could be a valid solution?

I am a physician and see the "red eye" as a common presentation. The fact that you do not describe seeing "floaters" makes it less likely (but does not rule out) a retinal detachment or hemorrhage. The red eye is caused by many benign conditions, so yes it can be common. But it can also be a sign of conditions that need investigation if lingering more than a couple days.

I am concerned regarding sensation you feel with air vibration causing pain. Red eye and pain with pressures suggests glaucoma, and continued playing would not be recommended with glaucoma. This would be my most likely concern. So I would recommend scheduling a visit with an ophthalmologist to get at a minimum, ocular pressures measured, as well as a slit lamp exam.

I am also sharing a video that discusses trumpet playing with eye disease. Hope you find this information useful:

@Dr-GO Beautiful horn!:

Played it loud and clear from the back deck of my home. Felt so good and even more proud.