@ROWUK said in Trumpets Made ONLY by Their Maker:
Even although I own some trumpets that qualify in this thread, I think that the concept is bogus.
Another misconception is the custom horn built for the player... You may get a choice of bell, bore or weight, but what trumpeter really understands how a trumpet works AND how they work? What builder takes the time to really get to know the intimate side of a clients playing.
I have an answer to these questions: Harrelson.
His concepts take personal production to the artist. and any artist that doesn't do this, I guess risks making a bogus purchase.
Harrelson gives you the opportunity to take bogus out of the equation:
Harrelson I agree gives choices of many bell sizes, flairs, and leadpipe configurations. And once again, I agree with the above post, "but what trumpeter really understands [this]." You really don't know what this actually relates to the sound unless you play with these sizes and combine the options.
The concept on intimate: Jason is gifted on this concept. Harrelson first sent a representative into my region of the country to display a wide range or horns, including bell sizes, leadpipe configurations, and models. That is how I first discovered a Harrelson. I played all the horns his representative brought to this meeting of professional players. I found the combination that worked for me during that session, and had the ability to try many. I found the combination that outperformed all of the vintage horns I had ever owned, and in my mind, was never so clear with a purchasing decision. AND ONLY after that experience, did Jason schedule an interview with me (which lasted 15 minutes) to be assured that this was, indeed the horn that was going to deliver my long term performance goals for how I intended to use that horn. I know of no other technical master that goes to that length to serve their customer.
So can purchasing a horn from Harrelson wind up as a bogus decision? Yes it can if you chose not to discuss this with the Master. But does Jason do everything possible to give the opportunity to the customer to get the experience right? From my experience in working with horns, he really does.
I have gone to many trumpet hangs to play on the horns I have purchased to make sure I know what I was getting, but Jason is the only horn maker I know that brings a trumpet hang to you, to give the professional the chance to understand his product.
