Posts made by bobmiller1969

@barliman2001 So happy to hear that you are recovering! Have fun in Sicily!

@barliman2001 So sorry to hear this. Hope you have a full recovery and are back in action soon! -Bob

Hi, Everyone!
I'm selling my Amati pocket trumpet and it's in great condition. I just don't use it as much as I thought I would, so hopefully it will find a player that will enjoy playing it. Feel free to message me with any questions here, or on eBay.

Here's a link to the auction...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296003190607
-Bob

Hello, Everyone! I've decided to let go of my Cornet, as I have been finding it challenging with my schedule to find time just to play my Trumpet & Flugelhorn. It's a great horn, and deserves to be in the hands of someone that will actually play it. Feel free to message me here or on eBay with any questions.

Here's a link to the eBay auction...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296003208642
-Bob

@j-jericho They are made with individually laser cut rings of Baltic Birch plywood. The resonators are solid Walnut (not plywood). The only minor change that I'm making, is switching to more traditional corks for the cup and straight mute. The composite cork just wasn't staying on very well.

I haven't had a chance to make new videos, but here are a couple that I posted to the Facebook page. -Bob

https://fb.watch/lFE3IHxVP8/

https://fb.watch/lFE5NCAwVk/

Hi, Everyone! I'm really excited to introduce everyone to my new line of trumpet mutes. Currently, I've released 3 different models, and I believe that they sound great! I hope to post some more videos when I have a chance over the weekend. Please, check them out at buddhabellymuteco.com, or my eBay store, https://www.ebay.com/usr/bobmiller369, where I have most of them listed. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thanks! -Bob

@rowuk Thanks, Robin!

I totally get what you're saying about waiting. Although I do have the tendency to be impulsive, I don't think that this was one of those times. Besides, I can always get pretty much an exact duplicate by ordering a different cup and backbore. He has several huge binders of mouthpiece scans, so if there's ever something else I'm curious to try, we can replicate it. The Mt. Vernon 3C sounded great, but like I mentioned, the intonation issues were borderline unmanageable. Lipping the notes in tune above the staff changed the tone quality, as it was far off center. It almost seemed like the entire range of the instrument was compressed on both ends. It wasn't just a few wonky notes, it was more like notes would gradually go flat as I went higher, and more sharp as I played lower. Don't get me wrong, the 5MM isn't 100% perfect, as I'm finding that I need to use the 1st and 3rd slide a bit, but not on notes I needed to before. But, it's fixed the overall intonation throughout my entire range. The notes are just there where they're supposed to be.

Wait 6 months? My wife and I were engaged after dating less than 3 months, and that was 9 years ago! -Bob

Hello, everyone! I just want to take a moment to share my experience during my visit this past week at Harrelson trumpets. My wife was amazingly thoughtful when she got me plane tickets, hotel accommodations, setting up my appointment at Harrelson Trumpets, and giving me the green light to purchase a new $400 mouthpiece after I tried them out. I had some reservations at first, as I've been playing on mostly vintage equipment for the past 10+ years, and just plunked down about the same amount of money for a Mt. Vernon 3C, which up until my visit at Harrelson, was the best mouthpiece I've played on.

I know that many folks might say that the Mt. Vernon 3C is one of the "Holy Grail" trumpet mouthpieces, and I'd have to agree... mostly. It sounded great, and I was quite happy with it, but it did have some intonation issues. It played quite sharp in the lower register, as well as flat above the staff. This was manageable for the most part, and I thought that the extra work was worth it for the sound I was getting from using it. Nonetheless, I went out to Harrelson with an open mind, and lots of questions.

I met with Christine before Jason arrived, and she gave me a tour or the shop and showroom. I've seen so many of his YouTube videos, that I felt like I had been there before. Christine was super friendly, and we got started trying out some mouthpiece configurations. She set me up with something similar to my mouthpiece, and we kept trying different options until I found the right combination. She made a note on my invoice of a few of the other configurations I liked as well.

The first thing I experienced was that almost immediately, I realized that I needed to back off with my pressure, which isn't excessive, as well as my airflow. The mouthpiece has easily 2-3 times the mass of the Mt. Vernon, but responded almost effortlessly. Wow!

Jason arrived just as we settled on my configuration, and he took me over to try his horns. I tried one of the HT series first and was immediately impressed with how easy it was to play, even though it wouldn't have been the right leadpipe and bell combination for my style. I tried a couple of Summit trumpets, which were even better. Then I tried the Muse, along with the Gravity trumpet. I was floored! He setup the muse with a #4 leadpipe, and the #11 bell. In the lower register, it could play almost as dark as my flugelhorn, but when I pushed it a bit, it lit up, but with very little effort. The Gravity trumpet was insane! That one weighs in at just over 5 pounds, with huge bottom caps, and about a 1 inch thick solid brass leadpipe. Also, there is extra mass added to the valve block. I'm not sure I remember correctly, but I believe that it also had the #4 leadpipe, and a #7 bell. Looking at the horn, I was thinking that it would be stuffy, difficult to play, unresponsive. Wow!!! I could practically whisper into the mouthpiece, and the horn would just speak. I don't think I've ever been able to play at such a soft volume level with that amount of control. Jason was very friendly, and very relaxed. He wasn't trying to sell me anything, or being pushy at all. He happily answered all of my questions, and I must have spent about 4 hours there at the shop.

Bottom line, I have an amazing 5MM mouthpiece which is making it extremely difficult for me to put my horn down. I actually played for a few more hours with a practice mute back at the hotel. I'm also now 100% convinced that he makes the most efficient horns on the planet. (I haven't tried every horn on the planet yet, so I'll let you all know if that ever changes.) I'll be purchasing mouthpieces for my Flugel and cornet shortly, as well as some modifications for my Selmer until I can afford to take the plunge on a Muse MMXX of my own.

Anyone that's interested in an excellent condition Mt. Vernon 3C, you can find it listed on eBay and Reverb, along with quite a few of my other mouthpieces that I no longer require.

I know that Jason has quite a few haters on the forums, mostly from people that haven't played his horns or mouthpieces. That's a shame, really. He's a true innovator in my opinion. Maybe all of the science talk goes over most people's heads, or somehow puts them off. Everything he's doing makes complete sense, and now that I've experienced it first hand, I'm on team Harrelson!

-Bob!

@barliman2001 Good ones! Will be sure to share with my Mom next time I see her.

@barliman2001 I grew up in a home where both of my parents were music teachers. Dad was a HS band director, and Mom was a violin teacher. Living in a house where most afternoons, the house would be filled with the awful sounds of beginner violin students was... well, let's just say that I could have done without it. Although, I did actually play the viola in middle school and HS, only partially against my will. (Clearly, the horn won.)

Those of you that don't know the difference between a violin and a viola...

Violas burn longer! (Unless they are also made of brass.)

Do luthiers know how to do proper dent removal? -Bob

@administrator It's my '69 Selmer DeVille. I sent the artist a photo, and said to just do her thing.

@kehaulani Thanks! I plan on going back to her for more soon.

Hello, Everyone! My wife and I were vendors at the Atlantic City Tattoo Expo this past weekend. No. We aren't tattoo artists. My wife reads Tarot, and we co-own a small shop that sells crystals, incense, spiritual items...

Anyway, we did fairly well at the Expo, but I spent most of my share on some new ink. What do you think? -Bob

I've checked out your site previously, and the renovations look great! I've never owned a Reynolds horn, but I've been curious. Thanks for the informative site! -Bob

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that I'm selling off some of my ever growing mute collection (Most likely to be replaced by even more mutes). Some/most are vintage and have been restored by me. Feel free to message me here, on eBay, or on Reverb if you have any questions. (Might be a horn or 2 up at some point too!) Thanks! -Bob

eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/usr/bobmiller369

Reverb Shop: https://reverb.com/shop/bobs-gear-depot-65

@stumac Thanks for this! -Bob

@dale-proctor Looks like it was definitely the photo. The engraving looks great in this one. Beautiful! -Bob

@administrator Also, the last one of these I saw listed had the French style underslung 3rd valve ring. I can only assume that this was optional. -Bob

Definitely a 2B. I haven't seen one of these pop up in a while. THe last one I saw went for $600-$700 as I recall, and had definitely been overbuffed when it was refinished, otherwise I probably would have bought it. Has this horn been refinished? -Bob

@georgeb I had a '62 24BX. I loved the sound of it, but it was a bit "stuffy", even with the larger "X" leadpipe. I never measured anything on that horn, but I remember that it did have a much larger venturi than my 37, yet still quite a bit of resistance. I could never quite get it to light up the way I wanted. I find that the Selmers I've played have a lyrical quality to the sound that I haven't found with other horns. Also, I like that they typically give me little to no gap with my Reeves mouthpieces (standard shank, no sleeves). I've had older "vintage" mouthpieces that would bottom out on these horns.

I've got a couple horns that are on my radar, and am hoping to make a more informed decision on my next horn purchase. Thanks! -Bob