Posts made by J. Jericho

@jolter Sadist!

I came across this today:

... reminds me of these:

I came across this while surfing the 'net:
Youtube Video

Here's a source with price: https://www.thomannmusic.com/mute_tube_basic.htm

@rowuk My experience with good techs is very much like yours. I have not built a trumpet from scratch, however. I knew a particularly skilled and generous instrument repairman/fabricator who allowed me to not only observe, but also on occasion participate in repairing and servicing various instruments, and he at times guided me in working on my own instruments, for which I am forever humbly grateful.

The genetic wiring in my brain has always enabled me to excel at all things mechanical, and I have always been willing to share my knowledge with others without concern that someone would steal business from me or outdo me in other ways, because I knew it would be very difficult at best for them to do so. If someone is better than I am at something, that means that there is room for my improvement, and it also means that they deserve the patronage of those looking for expertise.

I have observed that those who jealously guard their "secrets" may have shortcomings that they do not want others to discover and are uncomfortable having others looking over their shoulder.

On balance, I also feel that there are those who have no innate ability in certain things and should not be encouraged to pursue them, as disaster surely awaits them.

@barliman2001 said in My collection...:

As I am enjoying a leisure moment, I have begun a list of every instrument I ever owned... not in chronological order. And I've decided that you out there, my trumpet friends, should be allowed to share this info.

Selmer K-Modified (stolen in burglary in Ireland)
Buescher #11 with quick change to A (stolen in burglary in Ireland)
Bach Strad 239, with additional slides in Bb and Ab (stolen in Munich)
Bach Strad rotary C (stolen in burglary in Ireland)
Votruba Professional (stolen in Vienna, found and destroyed by police on suspicion of being a bomb)
B&H Sovereign Round Stamp bell-tuned Soprano (2x, one stolen in burglary in Ireland, the other sold)

Your list of stolen instruments is shocking. That's a lot of pain to have to experience.

In approximate chronological order, with overlaps:

Chrome-plated POS TSO - "I'm playing the trumpet!" traded in on:
Selmer Signet Special cornet - Small-bore intermediate-level instrument traded in on:
Bach Stradivarius Model 37 - Magic early Elkhart I foolishly sold
Rexcraft bugle - Just for fun; used a lot of Brasso on it; donated it
Benge Claude Gordon - Fabulous trumpet that was stolen from me and never recovered
Shofar - Received as gift; small end far from optimal, but I play it anyway
Olds Opera - Sold it because I couldn't match a mouthpiece to it (today would be different)
Olds Ambassador trumpet - Good condition, a mediocre player; sold it
Olds Ambassador trumpet - Average condition, a poor player, I disassembled it for unfinished Frankenhorn project
Bach Stradivarius Model 72* - A demanding horn that delivered results, eventually sold - no regrets
Olds L-12 flugelhorn - Decent horn sold when replaced by:
Yamaha YFH-731 flugelhorn - Great sound, best intonation of any horn I've ever played
Rotary valve flugelhorn - I don't recall the German manufacturer; sold it because I couldn't match a mouthpiece to it (today would be different)
Gemeinhart flute - Given to me; never played one before; easy to play; eventually sold it
King Cleveland 602 cornet - Travel horn; eventually sold it
Parrot field trumpet - Chinese, excellent pitch; sold it
Getzen M2003 Bb/G field trumpet - Used it in BAA; sold it
King Opus 7 cornet - Wonderful sound, worst intonation ever, sold it
Selmer Bundy trombone - Surprisingly good horn replaced by:
Olds Studio trombone - Decent horn prompted by my Studio trumpet (we're a bit out of sequence here)
Olds Recording trumpet - Very nice horn, valve ergonomics not for me; sold it
Olds Super trumpet - Generic sound, marginal intonation; sold it
Marceau trombone - Art Deco period TSO (Trombone Shaped Object); sold it
Dillon pocket trumpet - Good for travel
Olds Studio trumpet - Best trumpet ever (for me)
Olds Special trumpet - Underrated horn
York Perfec-Tone cornet - Aptly named, unlikely to be replaced

@flugelgirl said in Building and Repairing:

Technicians tend to keep our info to ourselves because we’ve seen what happens when DIYers work on stuff, and it’s almost never good. It can be hard to guide a good apprentice right in front of you, and even harder to guide anonymous folks on the internet. There’s a reason we go to school and/or apprentice with good techs - it’s a hard trade to learn! Not only do we not want to lose any possible sources of income, but we also want to save you from breaking more than you fix and having a higher repair bill in the end. We also don’t want to be blamed for giving you just enough info to be a danger to your equipment, and then be blamed for it. The same goes for pro players/teachers, although it applies more to lost income. There are many players doing some kind of YouTube free lessons, but you don’t end up with the full benefit of the lesson without feedback from the teacher. Sometimes it’s just enough info to be dangerous as well, depending on the student and the lesson.
I’ve been getting paid to play for 35 years, and as a tech for 3.5 years. Neither pays enough that I live any sort of glamorous life, though having the benefit of a pension from my career in Navy bands has made my repair career a possibility. During COVID, both pro musicians and techs have suffered, many to the point of needing to change careers. Many have not only lost income, but also gigs that would advance their careers. I definitely lost two gigs due to Covid that would have helped me quite a bit! Many techs that lost business have also had to deal with the possibility of being exposed to Covid through customer horns - not an easy living, for sure. Since I work on horns before they go up for sale, I try to send as much business to local techs as I can. If you don’t use them, they may not be there to help when you need them!

Disassembling this bunch...

... and dropping one each (after lighting them) into each of the tubes connected to the third valve should open things right up!

@bigdub said in This is strange.:

@shifty said in This is strange.:

@bigdub
Could the third valve be in backwards? Valve guide installed backwards making it look right?

Might be something to check, too. Thanks

Most valves have a number or numbers stamped on the spring housing. Are they all facing the same way?

@tjcombo Too true. Hilarious in its own way. And unfortunately not funny at all in another.

@bigdub ... just like that!

Youtube Video

@barliman2001 You saved the best for last. Interesting coincidence (sort of): I watched it last Thursday. It's been my favorite for years.

@barliman2001 New Hampshire. https://www.defensivestrategies.org/general/charlie-cook-instructor

@curlydoc You could add this to Artist on BOARD https://trumpetboards.com/topic/256/artist-on-board/439 as well.

Dominica

@emerson-siefken I find them indispensable. Combined with scrupulous dental hygiene before playing, using them on a weekly basis has ended the need for any other type of cleaning, and I inspect the inside of the tubing periodically with a flashlight and an endoscope just to be sure.

I bought a vintage trombone several years ago and scrubbed the Hell out of the inside. Herco says that its Spitballs get what other methods miss. I didn't think the product was magic until I blew one through the horn. It removed a shocking and disgusting amount of black crud, so I used another. And another. And another. And another.... Well, I put most of a jar of Spitballs through the horn before one came out clean.

I'd say that if your horn is clean, keep it that way with Herco Spitballs. Also, pizza won't grow in your horn if you floss and brush before you play. Your dental care bills will be minimized as well. Depending upon your saliva chemistry, you might need to have a competent tech deep clean your horn from time to time if there's mineral buildup, but I think that using Spitballs will extend that interval dramatically.

@barliman2001 Yes, it did, and it produces the same reaction in those familiar with Communism. Music is a powerful form of communication, sometimes deeper than words alone.