@BigDub I believe Amazing Grace is one of those songs that really demonstrates how music is the language of GOD. This is one of those pieces that is relatively simple but if one opens up their heart while playing, it (the song) will create many variations and speak to multitudes of people in their own way. I have never played it the same way twice and I have never played it that I wasn't touched in a new way.

I personally feel that sounding (not playing) Taps is a tremendous honor, I never quite understood this till about eight or nine years ago. Let me back up a lot and tell you a story. Back in my hometown of Sidney, OH we always had a Memorial Day Parade and the high school band always marched. When we got to the cemetery one of the band members would sound taps and then another standing way off would sound the echo, always very moving. My junior year I was supposed to be the echo, when it came time I could not get a note out of my horn. I was so ashamed and so embarrased as I had performed many solo works since 7th grade. Needless to say I never tried again as I was just too emotional. Fast forward about 45 years and a gentleman we went to church with passed away and his wife and daughtrs asked me to sound Taps for him, I reluctantly said yes ( I play my trumpet a lot in church). I struggled with the idea of doing this till the funeral but I made it thru just fine even though each time I do this I still get a large lump in my throat. I will say that is one of the best things I have ever done. The little town we lived near has an active American Legion Honor Guard to salute veterans at their funerals and everyone without fail has expressed how much it meant to them to have live Taps. It has given great satisfaction to me also as it humbles me to honor their service. I have now done this more times than I care to remember and on numerous occasions people have tried to pay for this but I say no as it is the least I can do.

Bugle or trumpet doesn't matter if you let your heart do the playing.

@Tobylou8 - Thanks for all the info and your advice, think I will flash it up.

@ButchA

How PRECIOUS - Praise The LORD !!!!!

@cuivree said in Trumpets Made ONLY by Their Maker:

@administrator said in Trumpets Made ONLY by Their Maker:

Besides Monette, Harrelson, Getzen and Conn-Selmer (and the now defunct Kanstul), I do not know of any American trumpet makers that truly make 100% of components in-house (excluding spit valves, of course).

Kanstul isn't defunct - yet. They're still breathing, but the life support plug may be pulled at any moment.

I am not sure what you mean by 'Still breathing' but when I called Kanstul several weeks ago looking for a part they told me they were out of business and all parts were gone.

does anyone have any experience bending the trumpet tubing ? I have played around with making "Dizzy" style bells but with limited success, I hope some of you can help me increase my success.

I have watched videos of the Conn factory bending tubing filled with a mixture of soap & water frozen but I don't know what percentage of soap to water works best. My results have been anywhere from great to minor rippling to 2 bells actually breaking in two.

I have also tried Cerrobend and had a bell break in two.

The bends I am attempting are just forward of the 2nd valve and just under 45 degrees.

Any advice would be appreciated.
TIA,

Ray Z

@Shepherds_Crook here are some pix.

I have acquired a nice old trumpet that I have been unable to find any info on so I am hoping that you all can help me with your collective knowledge.

The horn is a A K Huttl Graslitz trumpet, the bell engraving has Grand Prix, Buenos Aires. I have not been able to find anything in particular on the internet, maybe I just don't know how to look.

I will try to post some pictures soon.

TIA,
Ray Z

@Shepherds_Crook Here is one that I hope shows the copper leadpipe, if it was replaced it must have been a long time ago as it looks original.

@rowuk Thanks for your opinion, I do respect it.

@flugelgirl said in How Do I Date A King 2055T:

Try this, from Conn-Selmer: https://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/resources/serial-numbers/king-instrument-serial-numbers

Thanks for the help Flugelgirl but this list seems to have the same problem I run into with other lists and that is that this serial number (352xxx) x refs to between 1956 and 1960 and I have been told that the 2055T didn't start production till after 1979.

I can't seem to get Conn-Selmer to respond to me with any help either.

I am mostly an old Conn man so I don't know much about King instruments. In some rudimentary research I have discovered that most people when referring to a King Silver Flair are actually talking about the 1055. I have also learned that the serial numbers on a 2055 won't jive up with the King serial # list that is the most commonly found. Does anyone know how to date 2055T (SN 352xxx) ?
Thanks,

This certainly sounds like a good deal and I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but I think I did pretty good a few years ago. I actually found a 5 digit serial # Strad in a pawn shop, silver plated #37 that was basically perfect (no work needed) for $299, they didn't know what they had.

@kehaulani said in An Interesting Situation I ran Into Today - Wonder if anyone Else Has Or Your Thoughts:

So, your information is second or third hand?

How do you figure that, I was communicating with the parents ?

@kehaulani said in An Interesting Situation I ran Into Today - Wonder if anyone Else Has Or Your Thoughts:

But make sure that is actually what the teacher said and the student "heard".

It is my understanding that this was told directly to the parent(s).

I have been fixing up older horns for about 12 years now in order to get quality horns in the hands of students cheaper than renting. I had a parent call me looking for a trumpet. I had 2 available (a 1971 Olds Ambassador that looked almost new and a 1956 E K Blessing Standard). The parent said they were trying to find something in the $100 range (i was asking less than $200 for either of mine).
The parent contacted me again and told me the middle school teacher said that the students could only bring Yamahas or Bachs.
Has anyone heard of any schools putting this kind of restriction on the students?
does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle a situation as this.

I saw a youTube video some time back by Charlie Porter demonstrating the difference between a $200 Chinese trumpet, a $2000 Bach Strad and I think a $20,000 Monette and using three different mouthpieces. Now I am not going to claim that I have the most discerning ear but I noticed very little difference in the sound of the 3 horns themselves but I did notice a big difference between the three mouthpieces, I don't remember what the 2 lower end were but the high-end was a Monette. This demonstration brought to mind a thread I saw on the old Trumpet Master started by someone asking about the difference between a student mouthpiece and a pro mouthpiece. One of the responses (by ROWUK I think) that has stuck with me said "it is not so much about the hardware but the software".

I have had several Martin trumpets, I currently own a 1934 Handcraft Imperial converted to 'C'. In the course of finding older instruments to repair/rebuild I have run across numerous Martin trumpet. In trying to learn more I sought advice from numerous folks and in summary the consensus I got was to stay from Martin instruments with serial numbers higher than 200,000 and of course that Martin Busine and other closely named instruments were not real Martins.

Any opinions/comments are appreciated.

@j-jericho
No I haven't, didn't know about this site, I will look, thanks.

I have seen the number '9' near the bottom of the 2nd valve casing on several horns, and heard people refer to it as the model number, I have a 1929 Buescher True Tone with the the number '212' near the bottom of the 2nd valve casing. Does anyone have any info on this horn/model as I don't know enough about Buescher instruments.

Thanks,