I have a nylon triple that is my go to - 99% of my gigs require a flugel, and the large lid fits my Adams F2 beautifully. I also have a leather Outlaw and a nylon classic. If I just need a trumpet I’ll usually use the outlaw. Great cases! I’ve been using mine for years and they barely show a scuff, and I have travelled with them a lot!
Ambassadors can be good players, though I don’t think they compare with most modern pro horns. I feel their playability has more to do with condition than year of production, since so many have either been played to death or have had a lot of possibly questionable repair. I have one I picked up at an estate sale for $50 that isn’t bad, and I occasionally use it as a loaner for when I’m working on a friend’s horn. The pristine barely played one I got for my niece is a better player, and they are within a couple of years of production. Those that I play tested after valve jobs when apprenticing at Dan Oberloh’s shop were night and day before and after.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive backup, Ambassadors are a great choice as long as they are in good condition.
It’ll be nice one day when there aren’t any more conversations like this when people will have realized that gender has NO impact on the ability to play an instrument.
As far as discrimination, I didn’t experience much growing up. A lot of women around my age did, however, and were not allowed to or were discouraged from playing jazz, especially. I never really felt the need to be a feminist until the last few years as the political climate changed. I do play in an all female big band, but because I like playing with them, not because I don’t have other places to play. That group blends much better than some others I play with, and plays an artier selection of music - most of it quite challenging. I serve the same function in that band as I do in others as soloist and relief lead. SWOJO sponsors a yearly Jazz program for school age girls which I have been a coach for, and I’ve also been a featured guest artist for the MPMEA all-girls Jazz program. I would love to say that discrimination no longer exists, but just last year we had a student in one of the programs that was told by her band director(from Alabama) that “girls don’t play drum set, they play mallets”. Our exceptional drummers got her started on set and she’s improving every day! I’ll be happy when we can stop talking about female musicians and just talk about musicians - gender should never be the primary descriptor.
Keyed bugle. We have one at work but it’s in no shape to be played right now. That one’s only half my job - I’ll remove the dents, and the woodwind tech will repad the keys.
WOW a lot of stuff seemed to happen here in a few hours! Glad there’s a few left who can still be civil to each other! I would think that given the current lack of social interaction it might be better to be kind to each other. To think I missed all this drama while working on some modal scale patterns is kind of funny, though!
Thought you all might enjoy my newest blog post - this horn was super fun to work on and is a great player as well!
https://www.brassandwinds.com/blogs/news/what-s-on-amanda-s-bench-a-conn-eb-soprano-flugelhorn
This album has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. It’s also one of the albums that convinced my mother that Jazz isn’t awful 
I like your design! Looks like it offers the ability to stick in extra in when needed, too. I generally carry 5-7 to cover my playing and shop play-testing needs, so it’s a plus to have room for extras!
I have a nickel allergy and maybe more than that - I don’t have any trouble with silver or gold, but have reactions to raw brass. When playing raw brass horns, my hands will smell and develop an itchy rash. It usually takes prolonged contact, but helps if I use a valve guard with extra coverage for practice or gloves for prolonged dent work. I have noticed that I have less of a reaction if I keep patina from developing, which seems strange, but it works so I polish. With jewelry I stick to gold, silver, stainless or titanium. I can wear stainless in my bottom earrings but have fewer reactions if I use titanium in my cartilage piercings.
I’ve know people with mouthpiece allergies, some of which have given up playing because of severe pain. Trent Austin developed his acrylic tops to help with his allergies - maybe he will chime in.
Interesting question. I know that if I have to listen to or play with others that are extremely out of tune it gives me a headache, but it’s a tension headache from grinding my teeth. One of the many reasons I repair instead of teach!
@Richard-III a quick and easy recork for a Harmon is sticky back craft foam - cheap, easily removable, and easy to fit. It’s also a bit thicker, so it may help make your older Harmon fit if you want to recork it. It also lets you just put the mute in with a twist instead of having to breathe in the bell. I did this on my bubble and it worked great! Had no need with my zinger - the cork on that one is quite thick and fits my A1 perfectly.
It gets harder to judge vintage horns when you also have to account for condition. Many don’t realize how leaky their old horn is, which can make it much more difficult to play. Also, many horns both new and old can be affected by the amount of tension in them, or by damage they have had. I get to play a lot of vintage, and also new back to back, and have played good ones and bad of every model. Sometimes you’ll have a badly soldered frankenhorn that plays great, and a highly sought after horn with no real damage that does not play well at all, but normally if pistons are tight there’s much less effort involved.
@administrator Better to get used to the new horn with your current mpc and see how you like the combination. If you don’t, worry about that later. Changing up both at once might be more than you really want to deal with.
Generally most mouthpieces are silver plated brass. While plenty of players have allergic reactions to nickel or even silver or gold, I have yet to hear of an actual case of lead poisoning from a mouthpiece. I’ve also seen plenty of people play on unplated mouthpieces with no ill effects, though my face would be a giant rash. I wouldn’t waste much time worrying about it - I ‘m pretty sure they could catch worse stuff from dirty attic horns or public bathrooms. I would worry more about the grandkids getting their vaccinations and eating their vegetables than from lead poisoning from your mouthpiece that has not yet affected you after years of playing.
Anyone with more ego than skill. Also, bad intonation and bad time. Tuners are valuable in the practice room and to get in the ballpark before rehearsal, not on your stand or horn during rehearsal. Metronomes are an absolute must during practice sessions. Practice is also a must, and if you didn’t practice don’t bother me! Finally, be nice, and if you can’t, then shut up! I spend a lot of time hired to walk in and sightread a show for community type groups - I’m getting paid because they can’t do it without me, and if they’re not nice I won’t do it again. I make a big effort not to step on the regular’s toes in those situations, and don’t appreciate it if I’m not extended the same courtesy.
@kehaulani I agree - classy and very well done. No complaints, especially compared to some renditions.
You could try a Torpedo Coyote with the snarl lid - works for my Adams F2 which is quite large. If you contact them they can tell you if it will fit.
I used to use Band in a Box, but have been enjoying iReal Pro app the last few years. Much more user friendly, easy to set up on phone or tablet, and easy to download tons of charts or make your own. Easily transposes to other key signatures, and easy to set up time or even which instruments you want in the mix. I’ve used it on iPad with a Bluetooth speaker for a room full of kids with no problems, and on my own regularly.
