The One

Comeback

I have been half-looking for a particular vintage horn in a particular version for some time, thinking if one happened to surface I would jump on it. I have become aware of one. It is complete and in excellent shape. It is a little expensive, but I can afford it. The issue is that my will to do the deal is weak. I do not think that I will pursue it.

Those of you whose main horn is a Bb trumpet, do you have such a horn that is “the one” for you, a horn that causes you to desire no other? I may have reached that point with my Getzen Severinsen. It touches all of the Bb trumpet bases that are important to me at this time. My trumpet appetite appears to be sated. Anyone else have a horn that seems to be “the one”?

J. Jericho

My Olds Studio plays like no other trumpet I've ever played, and I've played quite a few interesting trumpets. Now, I haven't explored high-dollar trumpets, but the way my Studio plays for me, I have no inclination to do so.

My Yamaha YFH-731, the brass instrument with the best intonation I have encountered, is a keeper, also. There's plenty of room to bend notes if I want, and I can create any timbre I want as well.

The second-best, as far as intonation, is my aptly named York Perfec-Tone cornet. Great sounding horn.

I do not expect to replace any of these instruments; I truly love each one.

Dr GO

I stopped looking once I took delivery of my Harrelson. There is no better modern horn that I have played, with a range of versatility, amazing dynamics and slotting control and design options that allow for fine adjustments. With that said, my Martin Committee still is the one. That horn really understands me.

Rapier232

@Dr-GO said in The One:

That horn really understands me.

I’m glad something can.

This post is deleted!

barliman2001

@J-Jericho said in The One:

My Olds Studio plays like no other trumpet I've ever played, and I've played quite a few interesting trumpets. Now, I haven't explored high-dollar trumpets, but the way my Studio plays for me, I have no inclination to do so.

My Yamaha YFH-731, the brass instrument with the best intonation I have encountered, is a keeper, also. There's plenty of room to bend notes if I want, and I can create any timbre I want as well.

The second-best, as far as intonation, is my aptly named York Perfec-Tone cornet. Great sounding horn.

I do not expect to replace any of these instruments; I truly love each one.

Olds Studio - yes. I've got one too, and it's my go-to horn at the moment. Except, perhaps, for my newly-acquired Courtois Balanced, or my Buescher Aristocrat, or my Benge #3... But in one respect I am totally sated - my Courtois 154R flugel. I've had that since 1991, and I haven't looked at another flugel since. True, I bought a few on e-bay; but every single one of these went to other players within a week or so. So now, I don't even look at other flugels.

SSmith1226

@J-Jericho said in The One:
Now, I haven't explored high-dollar trumpets, but the way my Studio plays for me, I have no inclination to do so.

You are a stronger man than I am, J. Jericho!!!

GeorgeB

@Comeback
I actually have two: a 1952 Selmer and a 1999 Conn Vintage 1. I love playing both of them so I play them on a rotation basis.

JorgePD

I haven't explored high-dollar trumpets either, but my 1947 Buescher 400 Model 225 seems to be the "one" for me right now. Love the way it plays and it's great looking trumpet.

Tobylou8

I bought a bunch of horns trying to find "the one" since I had been playing my Getzen 900H since Jr. high school. There were many that were close, including a first run Severinsen that is a very fine player and a Holton ST-302 that has a big sound but just isn't quite there for me. I've even played a high dollar horn, it was nice, but that's all. The "one" that supplanted my 900H was another 900H only in large bore. If you can make an offer with a price that is more to your liking, I'd go for it. You can't have too many horns and it is nice to pull them out for others to play and watch them drool!

Bob Pixley

I have a 1976 Bach Strad, ML 43 that is a terrific trumpet. I've owned it since the early 1980s, and although I've bought (and sold) many other trumpets since then, the Bach has always been my "go to" trumpet. Great sound and intonation, even scale, plays easily.

tmd

@Bob-Pixley said in The One:

I have a 1976 Bach Strad, ML 43 that is a terrific trumpet. I've owned it since the early 1980s, and although I've bought (and sold) many other trumpets since then, the Bach has always been my "go to" trumpet. Great sound and intonation, even scale, plays easily.

I'm also partial to my 1974 Bach 43*, which I purchased back in the mid-70s.

When I started playing again (about 10 years ago after a 20-year layoff), I started looking for a new horn. My 43* took a lot of abuse over the years. I went on an extended safari for 2-3 years, looking for a new trumpet. In the end, there were none that I liked better than my 43*. So I sent it off to Kanstul to erase years of wear and rebuild the valves. There are many good horns out there, of course. But the 43* is the one I'm most used to playing, and thus, it's "the one" for me.

Mike

flugelgirl

My A1 is the horn that can do anything. It’s also the horn that I don’t think about having a trumpet in my hands, I just do what I do. No fighting for intonation or squirrelly spots, no limitations except my own. I haven’t had a setting yet where it doesn’t work, from big bands to brass quintets. I like having the A4LT for jazz work where I don’t need to play any lead, but the A1 can really do it all. That doesn’t mean that will never change for me - I make money playing and need equipment that fits me, so I make a change when needed. That being said, there is a gen II A1 out now.....I’ll play it at NAMM
Horns I’ll probably never change - my F1 flugel and P5-4. The flugel is perfect every time and so is the picc. That picc is the only horn I’ve never replaced - been playing it for 20yrs and have never had a reason to.

barliman2001

@SSmith1226 said in The One:

@J-Jericho said in The One:
Now, I haven't explored high-dollar trumpets, but the way my Studio plays for me, I have no inclination to do so.

You are a stronger man than I am, J. Jericho!!!

Steve, just be honest. You're following the sethoflagos routine - equal sums for trumpets and your wife's jewellery. And you love your wife so much that you just have to keep on buying trumpets...

Bob Pixley

@Tobylou8 said in The One:
...You can't have too many horns and it is nice to pull them out for others to play and watch them drool!

I like to watch people drool as much as anyone else, but I've come to the realization that I DO have too many horns. I only play a few of them regularly, and when I do play one of the others (that has no sentimental or rarity value), I always think "why am I keeping this one?". To that end, I sold 3 last year and haven't missed them in the least. I believe a few more may be ripe for the picking, too.

Comeback

@flugelgirl said in The One:

My A1 is the horn that can do anything. It’s also the horn that I don’t think about having a trumpet in my hands, I just do what I do. No fighting for intonation or squirrelly spots, no limitations except my own.

I appreciated your entire post, flugelgirl, but the part above really impressed me. It may summarize what a Bb trumpet we consider to be “the one” does for us. It’s about time for me to grab my old Sev and get back to it!

Jim

mafields627

The one that I want more than any other is an Olds Recording. I could beat myself for not snapping one up when they were $400 on ebay fifteen years ago.

My daily player, a 1999 Model 37 Strad, is finally a wonderful horn. All it took was a Melk MTV-525 leadpipe and receiver and significant work on the third slide (all the result of damage).

Dr GO

Hmmm.... Perhaps should change my mind. Just played a gig last night and had several solos with the big band that really stood out. After the gig an audience member introduced himself to me... The principle trumpet in the Dayton Philharmonic orchestra. He was blown away by my sound and wanted to know what trumpet I was playing... Since it was with the big band it was a Harrelson night. He LOVED it. Wants me to come into the next Philharmonic concert (told him I already had a seat for the performance) and wanted me to bring in the Harrelson as he wants to have the rest of the trumpet section experience this horn...

Should I reconsider my number one? Nahhhh... Martin has been very good to me as well!

Comeback

@Tobylou8 said in The One:

I bought a bunch of horns trying to find "the one" since I had been playing my Getzen 900H since Jr. high school. There were many that were close, including a first run Severinsen that is a very fine player and a Holton ST-302 that has a big sound but just isn't quite there for me. I've even played a high dollar horn, it was nice, but that's all. The "one" that supplanted my 900H was another 900H only in large bore. If you can make an offer with a price that is more to your liking, I'd go for it. You can't have too many horns and it is nice to pull them out for others to play and watch them drool!

I don’t know, Tobylou8, I think I had too many horns several years ago. I did consider making an offer on the horn I referenced in my prior post, but I did not and will not. I have two fine trumpets, which seems to be plenty for an old 3rd chair comeback trumpet player. Besides, I do not want to be distracted from “the one” and my efforts in becoming more adept in its applications. But thank you for your encouragement!

Jim

Comeback

@GeorgeB said in The One:

@Comeback
I actually have two: a 1952 Selmer and a 1999 Conn Vintage 1. I love playing both of them so I play them on a rotation basis.

Hey, GeorgeB! I thought I would do the rotation thing a while back, but it didn’t seem to work that well for me. I am a generally more accurate player (articulation, dynamics, etc) when I am not switching back and forth with horns...and mouthpieces! Players that are more experienced and skillful can probably pull this off without issues.

Jim