Posts made by Dale Proctor

I recently bought a 1976 Bach Mercedes trumpet, and love everything about it except for the awkward 3rd slide ring. To keep the all brass (no nickel) vibe of the horn, I started searching for an all-brass fixed ring, and found out that was a real project. I finally found an old slide from a Sears Silvertone with a brass ring on it and bought it. A trip to Southeastern Musical Services and about a week later I had the horn back, the fixed ring is in the same spot as my Stradivarius, and my finger is happy again…lol.

@BigDub
Beautiful!

I’m sorry to see this and I hope the water recedes quickly and you can get back to normal life. Sounds like you’re pretty well prepared. We live on a small mountain about 1000’ above the city below, so no flood worries here, but…tornadoes are fairly numerous in this part of the country (Alabama, USA). It seems like just about anywhere people live, they are subject to some sort of natural disasters.

Here’s a photo I took today. It’s random and pretty creepy, too…

@J-Jericho said in How about a "Random Meaningless Image...let's see them string"?:

A month ago this was a Walmart Superstore, but involuntary inventory reduction prompted the decision to close this store and another one in the area. I wouldn't be surprised if those responsible for the inventory reduction aim their activities at Target to a greater degree than they had been doing previously.

They still arrest and prosecute people around here who are afflicted with sticky fingers…

@Dr-GO said in 1970 Bach 43 elusive high G#:

@ROWUK said in 1970 Bach 43 elusive high G#:

@Trumpetb I will heartily disagree with the mouthpiece having anything to do with a G#.

Do not loose the focus with this response. There is just something about the G# that just bedazzles the note itself from my experience. Doesn't matter which horn I am playing, which mouthpiece I use with any horn, you have to think (and hear) that G# to slot squarely on it.

You just have to think “Ab” instead of G#, and you’ll hit it dead-on…lol

@JWM
If you’re referring to the G# on top of the staff, I used to have trouble with it too. I had no trouble with the Ab, though, so in my case, it was a mental problem. It may sound silly, but try thinking Ab and see if that helps.

@J-Jericho
Sometimes, it seems like I can barely play one at once…lol

Top to bottom:
1977 Strad, ML (.459) bore, 43 bell, 25 leadpipe
1976 Mercedes, M+ (.456) bore, 38 bell, 7 leadpipe
1982 Strad, ML (.459) bore, 239 bell, 25C leadpipe
1993 Strad, L (.462) bore, 184G bell, 184 leadpipe

Here’s an overlay of scans of the “no dot” (in red) and the more modern (in green) Bach 7C. There is quite a difference…

I recently acquired a Bach 7C mouthpiece that came with an old Bach Mercedes trumpet I bought. I was cleaning the mouthpiece up to possibly give it away to a student who’s taking private lessons from a friend when I noticed there was no period after the CORP lettering on the cup. I have never played a 7C that I liked, and have gifted numerous ones I’ve found in cases of trumpets I’ve bought. After researching the odd stamping, it seems that these were made shortly after Bach was sold to Selmer, and are basically the same as Mt. Vernon mouthpieces.

Well, I tried it out today and it is definitely different from the typical Bach 7C mouthpieces I’ve given away. The rim is comfortable and the cup seems to have a slightly different shape and doesn’t feel as deep. It plays really well, is easy to get around on, and has a nice sound. I think I’ll keep it a while, since I hadn’t mentioned it to my friend yet. Time (and playing it with a few groups) will tell if it’s really a keeper…

After playing a bunch of scales, I usually begin a practice session with exercises that are difficult for me and work on them. That isn’t much fun, but it’s a good way to improve your playing skills over time. Then I work on a tough solo piece or two that I can’t play…lol, and then play a few melodic pieces for a more enjoyable finish to the practice.

@J-Jericho said in WWII plastic bugle:

How does it play? Do you think that a good car wax or perhaps ceramic coating would seal the smell?

It’s a little dull sounding, but plays ok. I probably won’t play it again due to the unstable material it’s made of. I’ve read that the chemicals in them break down over the years and they can deform and/or disintegrate. This one seems to be in fine condition, so I probably won’t do anything but dust it. It’s on a shelf in the spare bedroom, and you don’t catch the smell unless you get really close to it.

“In order to prevent decay and prolong the life of Tenite materials, the US National Park Service recommends these items be stored with a "stable temperature below 68°F; stable RH between 30%-40%. Well ventilate, segregate; use gas adsorbents if stored in closed container.”

We keep the house a little warmer than that, around 73 or 74 during the day, but that will have to do…lol

This is a fairly rare Army bugle (field trumpet) that was manufactured by the Frank Aman Corporation from a plastic material called tenite, produced by the Eastman Corporation of Tennessee. Tenite was used as a brass saving measure in the later part of the war. It’s missing the plastic mouthpiece, but I have an old metal bugle mouthpiece that fits it. Old tenite has an unpleasant odor, so I won’t be playing this one much…lol