I played a Conn 28B Constellation between 1953 up until I stopped playing in 1965. I loved that horn and kicked myself in the ass for selling it. I am now three years into my comeback and finally playing a Conn again. This time it is a 1999 Conn Vintage One 1BR-46 Trumpet that I got from Trent Austin and it is a honey.

I like that TrumpetBoards saw fit to have a place for come back players. I came back to playing in the spring of 2016 at the ripe old age of 80 after a 51 year hiatus. Those 3 years up to now have had plenty of ups and downs, including 3 lip injuries last year, but things are really starting to work out for me. This year I have changed bands because the one I belonged to since the fall of 2016 was no longer challenging enough. The one I recently joined offers plenty of challenge, including being able to play beside a 30 year pro trumpet player who goes out of his way to help me learn the band's extensive play list. Right now I am in Trumpet heaven.

I hope other come back players here will join me in sharing our trials, tribulations and, most importantly, our successes and joy from playing the devil's instrument we all love so dearly.

I am pleased to report that rehabilitation is going well. Starting to regain lost endurance an inch at a time. My range still a little weak B to high C above staff, but that will work itself out as my playing improves. I played about 45 minutes of our 90 minute band practice last night, dropping an octave when needed and this morning practice went well.
The band will be playing at a special Battle Of Britain memorial service this Sunday, consisting of Canada's National Anthem, God Save The Queen and 7 selected Hymns . Nothing difficult here so I will play the entire service.

I want the good doctors here to know that I am truly thankful for, and following, their advice.

George

Next Wednesday our band is booked to play a reception for A Volunteer Award night. The event runs from 6:30 to 9:00 pm and we play as people arrive and at various times throughout the evening. Below is our play list :
Cabaret
Alley Cat
Disney Film Favorites Medley
Snowbird
King Of The Road
Over The Rainbow
Rock Around The Clock
Pennsylvania Polka
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Mambo No. 5
Looney Tunes Overture
What A Wonderful World
Colonel Bogey March
The Way We Were
Hawaii Five O theme
Sweet Caroline

Lots of lip burners here. I hope I survive...

I love the 1952 silver plate Selmer Paris medium bore Bb I purchased from

ACB in 2016 and now I have added a companion in this gorgeous 1959

Selmer Paris 24B K-Mod medium large bore Bb in lacquer.

This is a honey with a rich warm tone and will serve as a backup to my Manchester Brass band horn. It is in beautiful condition. Of course it came from ACB.

My longest layoff was 51 years. I had played between 1953 and 1965 and by the latter the good gigs were disappearing . It was also a time when work and family needed full time attention so I just sold my Conn 28B and concentrated on my career in printing and publishing and it was a move that paid off. After my wife of 57 years passed away in 2012 my world turned upside down. After three years of existing in a dark hole I finally started to see light again and in March 2016 I felt it was time to get back at playing the trumpet. Playing again became my salvation.

Well my Olds Recording arrived on Tuesday and I have been playing it mornings and afternoons ever since. I think my other horns are getting jealous.

Fortunately it arrived in perfect condition. And I do mean perfect. This baby looks like it just out of the showroom. It is 3 years younger than me ( 86 in July ) and in much better shape. I had a hard time finding any wear, but there was one tiny area at the bottom of the 3rd valve casing. The previous owner must have had a sweaty left hand pinkie. The rest of the horn is immaculate. This was a well cared for horn.

Because it was recommended to use a thicker grade of valve lubricant, I am using Berp #3. It may have helped, but there was plenty of compression and I am sure a #2 grade would have been just as good.

It is a balanced horn, the only one I have ever owned. Maybe that is what makes the Recording so versatile. I played classic, jazz ballads, swing and even some country music and it was fantastic.

It may not be the best playing trumpet in the world, but IMHO it is certainly one of the best.

All the good things I have heard and read about the Olds Recording are absolutely true. I am one huge happy camper.

And musn't forget Josh and Nate at Austin Custom Brass who go out of their way to make your purchase a pleasure.
George

I have used a Wedge MD65 (.650" measured vertically ) for the past 2 years and though it has been good to me in many ways ( comfort and increased endurance ) the setting on my chops is often a problem. A slight deviation of placement within the oval shape of the Wedge affects my overall playing ability. My OLDchops are just too unforgiving.
But I loved the Wedge and lived with the problem until a recent pinched nerve problem with my left shoulder and arm brought the situation to a head.
The pinched nerve did some damage causing me to lose some mobility of the left arm. I usually play with the elbows pointed away from the body, but in order to hold the horn, I had to rest the left elbow just above the hip, and even then the horn would move a little on the chops affecting my tone, breathings and what not.
I discussed this with Josh, the mp guy, at Austin Custom Brass and he suggested I try the ACB3CS. It matched the .650" ID of the Wedge and said I should find the comfort of the ACB to be as good as the Wedge.
Well, I've been using the ACB3CS for a few days now and couldn't be happier. The struggle to get back in shape after that pinched nerve injury has taken a turn for the better thanks to the change in mouthpieces.
I never thought that I'd find another mp as good or even possibly better than the Wedge, but I really think I have. It's early, I know, but good things are happening, so we will see.

This was posted at that other site by Jens Lindermann :
A salute to the Covid 19 health care workers by 32 trumpet stars :

I am 83 and playing first trumpet with one the best local bands and everything that report says is dead on. I played trumpet in the early 50s and 60s but stopped for career and family reasons. Fifty years later, after three terrible years grieving over my wife's death, I started playing again ( almost 4 years ago now ) and playing music became my salvation mentally, and in many ways, physically.

@dr-go

It sounds like something Botti would play.

You are quite a songwriter, Doc. I think it is a beautiful piece of work. I'm going to send Wayne an e-mail and tell him you said it was alright to give me a copy.
George

@dr-go

Absolutely great work by Wayne. And let me also say that you have written a beautiful piece of music, Doc.

And, if Wayne is reading this, perhaps he would like to send me a pdf file of that arrangement. He has my e-mail address.
George

@dr-go

Oh, I wouldn't call that a slap in the face, Doc, but even if it was, I'd welcome the slap anyday if I was told I sound like Clifford Brown.
George

@trumpetb
I see what you are getting at and understand completely. The trouble is that you may use the most expensive recording equipment in the world and still think your sound is crap if, like me, you are your own worse critic.

You really have to learn to trust what others are saying to or about you to others. But if you still think it's the recording system, then by all means buy what you can afford and find out for yourself. Caution, though, you still may not be satisfied.

I don't do a lot of recording but when I do I simply use my computer's sound/recording system and use a Blue Yeti as the recording/playback device and I am happy with what I hear ( but never completely satisfied... lol ).

George

@kehaulani said in What’s your “sound” and how do you get it?:

So my sound is just as good as I can make it on any given day.

And there is nothing wrong with that...
George

I never really learned how to circular breathe. I'm sure there are times when it would come in handy. But honestly, at my age I am happy just being able to breath in a straight line.
George

Because of my age today, in my youth I was graciously exposed to great music from all the big bands and by some of the greatest trumpet players that ever put metal to their chops. But in the 40's and 50's there was an abundance of players who sounded like, but never exactly like, Harry James. As my playing progressed musician friends often told me I had the Harry James sound. He, Louis Armstrong and Bobby Hackett were my favorite players back then and since I was influenced by all three of them I'd say my sound likely emanated from that. Heinz variety ? I dunno. I just put metal to the chops and blow.
George

Re: the 10,000 hour rule
Well I exceeded 10,000 hours in my first 12 years of playing which was 1953 to 1965. So there was a 50+ year gap before I started playing again in 2016 and that initial 10,000 hours probably helped me greatly in my comeback because I picked up the horn on March 8th, 2016 and was playing first chair with the local Horizons band by late September.
Just saying...
George

@trumpetb said in Question?:

@GeorgeB

I used to have to read and understand legal documents and legal documents have to be so precise in meaning that they quickly become confusing in their clarity.

English can be very convoluted in meaning and I too suffer when trying to comprehend the meaning behind some of the more complex writing.

We all have our own unique abilities that make us who we are and I would gladly trade some of my pointless abilities to have a deeper understanding of music to the level of yourself and of the other members in here.

Respect to you George

That is very kind of you, sir. Thank you so much.
George

@dbtrumpet

Interesting. I'll give it a try.
George