Posts made by Bob Pixley

1993 large bore Bach 184G

1890 F. Besson London A/Bb/C cornet still life photo, yesterday in my living room. The Bb configuration is shown, along with a couple pages of “Bride of the Waves” cornet solo.

Not much going on from what I can see.

Practice time!

I'm sad to hear that. He was also on a TV show named "Run Buddy Run" and sang some of the old "Schoolhouse Rock" commercials.

@ROWUK said in BAC Plaza:

https://www.bacmusicshop.com/collection/?sort=featured

In the shop there are some horns with prices.

Those used instrument prices are pretty reasonable. They are in line with what similar instruments usually sell for, not the inflated prices commonly seen elsewhere.

@Kehaulani said in What Are You Doing New Years, New Years Eve:

Worked with a bi band, once, that was offered big bucks to play a New Year's Eve event and they turned it down because they wanted to spend it with their families. I was livid. Shows the differing approaches between free-lancers and guys with non-musical, full-time jobs.

Yeah, that sucks. I've never turned down a paying gig (just because I didn't want to do it) with a group where I was a regular member and my absence meant the group couldn't play the gig. I know some of the guys in those groups are full-time musicians and need the money, and I owe the group my loyalty if I'm a member and can't easily be replaced for a gig.

@Vulgano-Brother said in Who did it better??:

There will always be those that do it better. Only one can be the first.

Sort of like comparing Ian Gillan's performance in Jesus Christ Superstar to all those who came after. Except in this case, I don't believe anyone has done it better than Mr. Gillan.

I'm tired of playing (Christmas wore me out), so I'll be doing nothing trumpet related for New Year's Eve. I turned down a big band gig for that night to give my face a rest. My resolution for the new year is to practice more... lol

I'd give a 10.5C a try. It's not as small as the number might lead you to believe, and in my opinion, is a much better mouthpiece than the 7C. Nice rim, plenty deep enough, and inexpensive (especially if you buy a used one).

Finished playing a dress rehearsal and 8 concerts in 5 days last night. I have a Christmas Eve service to play, and then I'm finished for the year. A couple pics from the "pit"...

In my experience, the earlier 22B years with top-sprung valves are better players than the later bottom-sprung ones. I believe the switchover happened around 1931. I used to own a 1925 22B that looked terrible but played like a very good modern trumpet.

Sold locally tonight. Culling the herd - 4 down and 2 to go...

Picture of the valves...
(I blotted out the last half of the s/n in the picture - the full s/n is on each valve)

@GeorgeB said in Christmas Services:

@Bob-Pixley
Though I have not had to resort to using it yet, I still have my 1953 Bach 10.5C mp just in case I need it to help me survive a performance .

I normally play a Bach 1-1/2C, but it became apparent I didn't have the chops to make it through that many performances playing 1st part on it. I played 1st chair in a community band for many years back in the late '70s and early '80s , and the 10-1/2C was what I used back then. I was pleasantly surprised that I still had a pretty nice sound on it and it wasn't a big deal to switch over. Different horses for different courses, I suppose.

I see you have a Conn 5A Victor. How do you like it? I used to have one and I thought it was a terrific cornet. A little heavy and the valves were a little bouncy, but it sure did play well and had a relatively easy upper register.

Finished a near 3 hour rehearsal last night. Another one on coming up on Wednesday (dress rehearsal), and then a show on Thursday night, one on Friday night, three on Saturday, and 3 on Sunday. I've played this event for many years, always on 2nd part. I was "promoted" to 1st part this year, and about 80% of it is above the staff. I had to revert to using the old Bach 10-1/2C that I used to play to survive this. After that, I won't touch a trumpet until 2020...lol

I've sold horns and shipped them to Europe before, but once they leave the U.S., you lose a measure of security and confidence that they will actually make it to the buyer. The last one I sold (a 1954 Conn 80A) was shipped to a U.S. address and then delivered in person by one of his business associates who was travelling there anyway. That way, my liability ended at the U.S. delivery point.

Very nice Conn 22B New York Symphony trumpet, made in 1929. The silver plating, both satin and polished, is in excellent condition, practically no dings in the horn. The A loop in the rotary tuning slide is dented, though, and the gold wash inside the bell flare is faded.

All the original accessories are there, including the small screwdriver to adjust the valve spring tension. Valves are in great shape, all slides, caps, etc. are free. The A stop rod and screw are missing. Case is in nice shape, too, but the handle is worn.

There aren't too many of these around in original nice condition this complete. I'm asking $375 plus $40 shipping/insurance to the lower 48 states. PayPal only, no international sales.

@OldSchoolEuph said in Christmas Services:

@Bob-Pixley
If it were any normal gig, you would probably have been frustrated - but Christmas carols is just too much fun, isnt it? And there is nothing better when the spotlight is on than knowing you have great equipment. If I were alone on a cornet in that setting, next to my Stratodyne, my next choice would be a Bach 184 I think. Glad you had a good time!

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Part of the fun was being the only cornet (or trumpet) player and being able to embellish the simple arrangements here and there as I felt was appropriate. I used to be friends with the local SA commander, and played at various Red Kettles around town this season, me on cornet and him on baritone. I really enjoyed it, but he transferred and I haven't done anything similar the past couple years, so this past weekend was a treat.

This past Saturday evening, I played the Christmas carol concert I mentioned in an earlier post. Our group had a couple trombones, a couple baritones, a couple clarinets, a couple saxes, a bassoon, an oboe, a tuba, and exactly one cornet - me. We played rapid-fire (maybe 15 seconds between songs) Christmas carols for 30 minutes straight, took a 30 minute break, and did it again. I was a little worried about making it through the whole thing with nearly constant playing and no one else playing the part, but things went well. I played my Bach 184 cornet with a Connstellation 5C-W mouthpiece, the largest Connstellation mouthpiece made. Man, that mouthpiece really suits me and the Bach - it has a beautiful cornet tone with great intonation and endurance. I was pleased.