The One

[Comeback]

When I started this thread back in November, our world was certainly a different place. So much has happened that was unimaginable back then. Writing about our horns might seem trivial to some, but for us I think it may help us sort of keep our grip.

Mrs. and I, and our progeny, have fared well so far in the age of COVID-19, and we are truly thankful. While we do not get to see our sons and their families in person and hug our grandchildren, we do get to see them and interact with them via FaceTime. And we have maintained a more or less exclusive three person social group with my elderly mother. Sure hope my fellow TB members are doing alright too.

I identified my 1970s Getzen Severinsen as "The One" for me back in November, and it remains so. My Sev has no aid for first valve tuning, which I don't seem to need. It is simple and fits me like a glove, and its great sound and response is exactly what I expect from a good Sev, based upon the others I have owned.

I have been playing my restored lacquered LeBlanc 707 Sonic the last couple days. Why not? It is not like I am preparing for an imminent performance of any sort! The lacquer on the LeBlanc has a noticeably different "feel" in my hands compared to the silver plated Sev, which is quite pleasing. Its first valve slide trigger does not affect my left hand grip and is easy to operate with either my left or right thumbs, not that I have ever had to do much of that. It seems that I can go back and forth between the Sev and LeBlanc with little conscious effort.

Early this year, almost by accident, I acquired a Bach 180S37 Strad, the second one of these that I have owned. Like my first Strad, it appears to have been mostly a closet queen. It has the potential to become "The One" sometime, but it needs a trip to my tech first, which may not happen for a little while. I want it chem-cleaned and the valve alignment checked, along with some attention paid to the third valve slide, which is a little too tight. I expect great sound and responsiveness from a Strad and this one delivers. I do have to adapt more to the Srad when switching from the other trumpets due to the fixed third valve slide ring and the first valve slide thumb hook, but it is not too much of a challenge..

Jim

[J. Jericho]

@Kehaulani said in The One:

Yeah, and lose the moustache. It stiffens your upper lip.

Imagine how much better Doc Severinsen could play without his.

[barliman2001]

@Dr-GO Get into contact with allegro optical in Meltham, UK. They specialize in musicians' glasses and are able to provide you with variable varifocals to your needs. All employees there are musicians themselves and know exactly what to do. I just got my first set from them - fabulous. Previously, I had the problem that after a cataract operation, my eye accommodation was gone. So I had to use reading glasses for the music, but then the conductor was way out of focus and sometimes, even hard to see. Now, that problem is gone (no, I haven't switched to viola). I can read the music clearly and comfortably, and the conductor stays in focus as well.

[GeorgeB]

@Dr-GO said in The One:

@GeorgeB said in The One:

@Shepherds_Crook

Yeah, Doc, and while you're at it, pull those shoulders back and down...

I could, but then I would no longer be able to see the notes on the music stand. It's hell getting old. Also note the stand is skewed so as to place the notes on the right side closer to my left eye (where I am near sighted) and the left side further off to my left eye gaze where I am farsighted. Over all this positioning compensates well for my deficits.

I understand. Every now and then I have to do something similar when the band arrangement staves are so damn small I can never be sure I am playing the correct notes. I'll be 84 in three months and the glasses I use especially for playing music have already been changed twice during the 4 years of my comeback. Soon as this Covid thing is past, I'll need to get them changed again.

[Comeback]

Trumpet homecomings are what I have been thinking about. For the last couple of weeks I have been playing one of my other Bb trumpets instead of The One. I got back on the Sev this evening. Man, what a difference! All of the reasons my Sev is The One, came rushing back, just as they always do. I have been practicing while standing up in order to avoid too much time sitting in the recliner. My other horns leave me fatigued and a little uncomfortable after these vertical practice sessions - not the Sev. It’s weight, adjustability, simplicity, and overall fit seals its place as The One for me time and again!

Jim

[Kehaulani]

This post is deleted!

[tmd]

@Kehaulani said in The One:

Well, surprise, surprise. I got a Schilke B-1 and have had it for a couple of weeks. It's become my go-to horn. I got the Yamaha Shew for its agility and because it's the lightest horn I've ever had and I'm not the strongest guy on the block, (strokes) but I've never been content with the Shew's sound. But the Schilkeis light enough and the sound is more substantial.

Congratulations!!

The B1 is my favorite Schilke.

Mike

[A Former User]

This is my version of the one, I had a trumpet made by a builder, Martinus Geelen, here in Holland who is a specialist in building baroque trumpets but now also produces completely handmade modern instruments. It's an incredible horn. I first thought when I played it that I blew too high on the pitch but there is no low, nor high on the pitch, only the pitch, I had simply to back off and let the horn play.
Often you read that a trumpet is a 'tool'. Seldom I hear violin and cello players, guitarists and maybe even wood players talk about their 'tool'. They all have a connection, maybe a relation with their instruments, they love their 'tools'.
Well, this horn is not a tool, it's The Tool, better, The One. It has everything, it has a fantastic response, beautiful rich sound, unbelievable intonation, extreme easy to play, straight intonation from pp to ff and the horn resonates like crazy. It has a system of exchangeable leadpipes, the valve buttons can be set in different manners, (mine are in Olds Recording configuration). Why is this horn that good? Because like we all know the last step in quality are the little things. And every (little) part is handmade on a lathe, from the parts of the braces to the leadpipe. And everything is fitted as it has to be. In fact I ordered this horn only because I had seen Martinus' workshop. And I had to wait almost nine months for it. BTW, it's not a Ganschhorn. It's another type of crossover horn. And it is extremely beautiful and much cheaper than the Ganschhorn. Did I forget anything? The horn in the clip is in fact my horn.

Youtube Video

http://natuurtrompet.nl/Martinus_Geelen_Natural_Trumpets/Chooser.html

[stumac]

This one will be the last horn I will, after assembly ready for final polishing and lacquering.

Regards, Stuart.

[Kujo20]

@stumac said in The One:

This one will be the last horn I will, after assembly ready for final polishing and lacquering.

Regards, Stuart.

Definitely looking forward to hearing more about this one. I haven’t heard any first hand reviews about this builders horns.

[Kehaulani]

Well, this takes the cake. I got a new Getzen Classic, lacquered not silver, and it can do just about anything. I've always been curious about the lacquer vs. silver. Now, some say that it makes no difference what the finish is, they both sound the same. So maybe it's just the horn or there is really a difference in sound because of the finishes, but this horn has a great sound.

All Classics/Severinsens I've played have been good horns and pretty versatile, but I've always felt there is a dividing line below which a silver Severinsen just can't go. That's putting into a purely classical realm. But not with this particular horn. It plays the full spectrum.

It's become my go-to horn. I got the Yamaha Shew for its agility and because it's the lightest horn I've ever had and I'm not the strongest guy on the block, (strokes) but I've never been content with the Shew's sound. But the Getzen is light enough and the sound is more substantial.

So, I guess this is THE one.

[GeorgeB]

Speaking of Getzen, I recently bought a new 490 at half price and though it is considered an intermediate horn I am really liking it as much, if not more than a couple of my professional horns.

[Dr GO]

@GeorgeB said in The One:

Speaking of Getzen, I recently bought a new 490 at half price and though it is considered an intermediate horn I am really liking it as much, if not more than a couple of my professional horns.

Waiting for the picture!

[Kehaulani]

@GeorgeB - I have a friend who plays first trumpet in a community orchestra and he's played his Capri for at least 20 years and loves it.

[GeorgeB]

@Kehaulani said in The One:

@Dr-GO Well, you won't get one, sorry. Can't plug and unplug my USB chord into the wall. It's awkwardly under my desk out of reach.

@GeorgeB - I have a friend who plays first trumpet in a community orchestra and he's played his Capri for at least 20 years and loves it.

And I cancertainsly understand why.

[GeorgeB]

@Dr-GO said in The One:

@GeorgeB said in The One:

Speaking of Getzen, I recently bought a new 490 at half price and though it is considered an intermediate horn I am really liking it as much, if not more than a couple of my professional horns.

Waiting for the picture!

I don't have an I-phone. The only thing I have is from the brochure...

[Dr GO]

@GeorgeB said in The One:

@Dr-GO said in The One:

@GeorgeB said in The One:

Speaking of Getzen, I recently bought a new 490 at half price and though it is considered an intermediate horn I am really liking it as much, if not more than a couple of my professional horns.

Waiting for the picture!

I don't have an I-phone. The only thing I have is from the brochure...

That is a BEAUTIFUL horn, one that for sure would make my heart race!

[Kehaulani]

This post is deleted!

[flugelgirl]

I just got my new Adams custom A1 genII recently - been having some super fun practice sessions getting to know this one!

[Shepherds_Crook]

@flugelgirl stunning! Congrats and enjoy!!