On a serious basis: Fighting is another way of expressing interest, even sometimes of feeling within a family. For me at least, the lack of impassioned discussion with all its proliferations means that so far, there is no feeling "I'm at home here". It's like being in the entrance hall of a posh hotel - not even a rock star would seriously misbehave there. The damage is done in the privacy of the room...
As to "off-brand" horns - there are many, many good quality makers in Germany and Austria who are only known locally. Schagerl and Lechner, many have heard of. Dowids of Munich is already on the "not-so-well-known" list. Votruba of Vienna - a blank to many, even though they are at least on a par with Lechner. And in the tiny village of Künzing, in Bavaria, lives a man called Uli Pfreimbtner who really is on the forefront of research in trumpet design. He recently unveiled a trumpet and flugelhorn made entirely out of nickel silver (which makes these instruments virtually corrosion-free) with new rotary valves of his own design. Here's the link:
http://www.musikinstrumente-neusilber.de/Aktuelles.html
At the moment, that site is in German only - Uli is a bit slow in getting his site into English.
I hate breaking-in instruments. That's why I have said goodbye to even thinking about new instruments, and have concentrated on vintage hooters - which, to me at least, have more character anyway. They seem to have accumulated the wisdom and musical spirit of all the players before me.
For me, it's simply a joy to think about how long a pedigree a vintage instrument must have.
And - what's more - I've found that I much prefer the Balanced style of trumpet. Somehow, I feel more at home with them, and they seem to like me... so I now have only one "normal" trumpet left (amongst the Bbs, that is), my 1920s Buescher Aristocrat (oh, and one Conn-Amati thing that is remarkable only for the blue lacquer and the drunk vulture enamelled on the bell). Apart from that, there is two Courtois Balanced models (originally the same model; but one came to me in decrepit old age, and the geriatric department at Votruba's were afraid to restore it as it might dissolve into dust at anything beyond a gentle rub-over with a soft cloth. They recommended I should not even polish the silver plating, as the plating more or less kept the horn together... still a wonderful player, so when a friend mentioned he had a spare one - actually, his wife set him a limit in the number of horns he is allowed to have, so when he wants another one, one has to go, and he desperately wanted an Inderbinen - I secured that before it went elsewhere), and my Olds Recording.
Living in Austria means that I have some experience of playing outside in cold weather...
several hints as to survive and produce something that is not horrible to hear...
Dress warmly, in several layers, keeping care that you remain mobile
Outermost layer should be water- and oil-proof.
Double gloves are useful - finger gloves with no fingertips, then a nice mitten all over to keep warm during long intervals
The Swiss "Brand" turbo mouthpieces are just as warm as Delrin, but produce a nicer sound.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_GK_blbmbt.html?shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiZ2IiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NCwibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOjJ9&reload=1&manufacturer[]=Brand&gk=BLBMBT&cme=false&filter=true
Zip-tie a hand-warmer to the valve block (not a coal-burning one - if they come undone, they will set fire to your gig-bag):
As regards "Knock knock..."
An old lady had a parrot and a TV. One day, the TV broke down, so the old lady called an engineer to repair the TV. However, shortly before the engineer came, the old lady had forgotten the appointment and went out shopping, leaving the parrot in charge.
A very few minutes later, the TV engineer rang the bell. From inside, he heard a voice calling, "Who's there?"
He replied, "The TV engineer."
Again, a voice from within, "Who's there?"
Slightly exasperated, the caller replied, "The TV engineer..." -
"Who's there?" - "THE TV ENGINEER!!" - "Who's there?" - Yelling at the top of his voice, "THE TV ENGINEER!!" - "Who's there?" (engineer has a heart attack and faints in front of the door)
A few minutes later, the old lady returns, sees the unconscious man in her front garden and exclaims, "Who's that?" - "The TV engineer, the TV engineer..."
@Niner I played it before I bought it. Typical Courtois which is what I like. Somehow, every Courtois I ever played was an instant hit for me. I've tried several styles on it - Haydn, 2nd movement, Mahler 5 beginning, Stormy Weather, a few Arbans, some Big Band charts. Suitable for everything. Strong sound in the low range, can be mellow and really sing everywhere, and if you give the horn some beans, you can peel paint with it. Interior condition is mint - clean, tight valves, perfect compression. Outside - well, about one third of the plating is gone at the usual places. No dings or dents. I'm very, very happy (and my wife is happy that I did not spend all her hairdresser's allowance! 
)
Thomann are offering different sizes of waterkey corks as well as different thicknesses of cork sheet to cut your corks out of.
https://www.thomann.co.uk/search_dir.html?__cTr=7bedffb2-1e7f-45de-be1e-2790c2f1c4c7&shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiZ2IiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NCwibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOjJ9&reload=1&sw=cork&smcs=a935ee_13621
@discount-bassy Official Welcome too! You've reached forum where the most perfect trumpet players and the bloodiest of greenhorns - and all shades in between - gather amicably and learn from each other, in a fun atmosphere. And you've come here from the best of motives. Thank you.
Perhaps - if you are in the mood - you might tell us a few bits more about yourself so that we can form a picture of who and what you are beside a nickname and an avatar. No compulsion whatsoever. But we like to know whether you are, as Dorothy L. Sayers put it in the 1920s "boy, girl or hippogriff", where you are located (that is most important, if we are to recommend technicians or teachers or contacts), what kind of music you play and like and where you can be heard live, if someone happens to be in your area. Online contacts are very well; but personal friendships can only really develop if you can meet someone in person. I'm in Vienna, and quite a few TB members have already availed themselves of the opportunity to come here, have a nice talk about trumpets and other things over a meal or a coffee and cake; and in some cases, this ended up with concert tours all over the world, as ssmith1226 can vouch for (he's from the Florida Keys, and a call for help on TB caused him to fly over to Vienna and join a very special orchestra for tours to St. Petersburg, Russia and Lviv, Ukraine). And I have already responded to calls from Norway and Israel. So - the more you will let us know, the more we can plan you in!
What you really should do first is get yourself the Stomvi Mouthpiece system. One rim, two stems, eight cups - that system can adjust to amost everything. And it is fairly inexpensive.
At any rate, gone are the days when anything went through... I remember flying from Ireland to London Heathrow using an expired German target shooting club membership card as ID...
Horn ergonomics doesn’t receive the attention it deserves, in my opinion. Also, what works for one of us is no guarantee it will work for another. Louis Armstrong was just 5’-6” tall, yet he played his Selmer Balanced Model matchlessly. Given my messed up right shoulder and upper arm, I can’t imagine playing that horn comfortably, even though I am 6’ tall. My version of “the one” fits me very well physically and fits my sound concept too. The 6 ounces or so difference in weight between my Severinsen and, say, a regular weight Strad seems to make a positive difference for me as well.
Jim
I did not think the difference between a normal trumpet and a Balanced model would be of any importance as regards ergonomics... then I got my first Balanced, the Courtois I wrote about. And wow, there IS a HUGE difference. With a "normal" trumpet, you are likely, after long playing, to feel a bit crushed. The holding position on the Balanced model is much more comfortable, and playing with mutes is similarly attractive because the weight of the mute (especially if you're dealing with a weight monster like an H&B Harmon) is not dragging down the bell so much. Only drawback is when you are changing quickly between a normal model (or a cornet or flugel) and a Balanced model... when you are taking up the Balanced, you are likely to bash your teeth in.
@Dr-GO Red wine cork for rose brass, white wine cork for silver plated instruments... chips of plastic champagne corks for Chinese-made TSOs... 
@ladonna2 Welcome at TrumpetBoards! We will endeavour to make a musical home for you here. Ask any question you might have (within reason), and have fun playing trumpet!
@ButchA said in Not really a "mouthpiece safari" but the need for a "saving grace" type of mouthpiece...:
Thanks, everyone!
One more question: Does anyone have experience with Denis Wick mouthpieces?
Indeed I have. For me, the rims are a bit soft and round, and some of the cups are deeper than other mouthpieces.
A cheap price for the house next door!
@phxazkyote Jean Baptiste seems to have been a brand name for some Chinese company. I once had one of their C trumpets - not bad, but untraceable.
Thank you; for me, being trained in the Maurice André way of playing #4 valve with the left index finger, this horn is not suitable, lacking the mechanism to operate # 4 this way. It was difficult enough with my Scherzer G (lovely horn, loved playing it until I inherited a Selmer G from Maurice André)...
Me playing my Scherzer G in Händel's Messiah...
@J-Jericho I had a Studio once, and loved it; but then, Votruba's of Vienna told me they had a Recording sitting there, unsold for man months because no one liked the Balanced style; and so I got it for a mere song (less than € 500): A 1954 LA Recording, almost unplayed, with almost virgin valves... now my main axe. I consequentl sold the Studio and was able to afford a Courtois Balanced as well... just out of the sale proceedings of the Studio...
That set is just a bad copy of the Stomvi mouthpiece system...
