Hello all! Formerly ‘cyber_shake’ on TM (and still that on TH), going to use ‘Shepherds_Crook’ here.

@ACB Trent makes that $280 axe sound pretty good!

Yes, the rare model 143! That just makes ya mad ... as I’m sure so many probably get sucked in on these. Sad. Parents are often cheap when it comes to getting first instruments, and I understand, because you don’t know if the kid will stick with it or not.

I remember while working at Baldwin Piano back in the ‘80’s, we had a comic on the wall of a kid and his dad standing in front of a 100-year old upright piano missing key tops, with broken stings sticking out where body panels were missing, and looking like a piece of junk. Dad was smiling (while the kid looked stunned) as he said to his son, ‘we got you this starter piano to learn on. Once you learn how to play this one, we’ll get you a nice one’!

Not everyone can afford a nice new instrument for their kid, but getting them a crap instrument really lowers their chance of ever learning to play. Instrument rentals are a nice option, if you can rent a decent instrument ... not just a smashed Bundy that the dealer has been renting for the last 20 years.

BTW: Trent can make a garden hose sound really good, so don’t buy a knock-off Strad because it sounds good in the video above. Do your child a favor and get a decent horn. Buying a nice 2nd-hand Strad, Yamaha, or Getzen can be a great option that you’ll likely be able to sell in 2 years for exactly what you paid for it now ... IF it turns out that little Jimmy is going to be a soccer star and not the next band president at his school.

Trent also has some really nice playing ‘new’ horns that won’t break the bank ... so you ought to visit his website, give them a call with your questions, and get junior a horn that will help them become the best player possible... and then get your kid a good trumpet teacher! That is the other part of the success equation!

My flugel Days started in high school when I convinced my parents I needed one. I tried a Getzen 4-valve, an Olds Clark Terry, but the winner was a new Couesnon 140 at Ray Lammers Music in Cincinnati. I played it from 1979-2005. Great sound... lousy build quality and suspect intonation.

I commissioned Lawler to make me one, but I never liked it. Great sound and intonation, but it closed off at A above the staff, and after trying different MPs with the same issue, it was traded for a Weril Regium that I played at Miles Ahead Music in Louisville. My college buddy, Miles Davis (really! But not ‘that’ Miles) has a nice store worth checking out. It was a solid player, but I kept looking for a better axe. Enter the CarolBrass flugel! It looked amazing, and played easily, but the tone was muddy.

Then at the 2015 ITG I played every flugel I could find. Kept returning to the ACB room to play this one horn five different times during the day. It was an Adams F1 with a red brass bell that had a silver flair. I was stunned how nicely it played. I could not leave ITG without it!

My favorite MP is a Curry. I play the deepest one and the next to deepest one he makes. They have a great sound. I played more shallow ones in the past, but they sound too trumpety.

Couesnon 140

Weril Regium

CarolBrass CFL-6200-GSS-SLB Brushed Matte Lacquer

Adams F1 with Red Brass Bell and Silver Flair

I love The Boss, and have listened to his music more hours than some of you have been alive ... but can’t leave this thread without a mention of the ‘other’ Scream Machine!

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My Marcinkiewicz Rembrandt Four-X Rick Braun model with commercial bronze bell

Another (not mine) Marcinkiewicz Rembrandt Four-X Rick Braun model with copper bell in satin lacquer

My Adams A4 LT-S with red brass bell

Getzen 3850 Cornet

WTS: CarolBrass CTR 8060H 'BALANCED' Trumpet in silver plate. Excellent condition. Similar look to vintage Selmers and Olds Recordings. .460 ML bore. Gold brass bell and a sterling silver lead pipe. 5" Gold brass bell with Bach 72 styled bell flair. Included case, 2 tuning slides: C and D shaped, and 2 sets of finger buttons/top and bottom valve caps: heavy (pictured) and light weight. $1,200 includes shipping CONUS. Paypal preferred. Contact me for the Paypal address or with any questions. BrassHurricane@gmail.com. Located in Cincinnati, OH USA. This is a really nice playing trumpet and the fit and finish are exceptional.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49074884213_cbe00b4273_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49074884203_d3d184cc7e_b.jpg

For the fans of the Olds Recording, Adams has just released a new balanced trumpet made exclusively for Taylor Music in Aberdeen, SD with offset valves! The horn is here: http://www.1800usaband.com/products/view/7875

and ACB did a video review here:

for your viewing and listening pleasure.

Based on the Adams A3 model, this new 'Fulcrum' model was modified and now features Olds Recording features:

• The 2nd valve is offset to the left, for a more ergonomic hand-position.
• The entire valve-section is moved forward, to better balance the horn and to provide the performer with many hours of stress-free playing.
• The spring-return 3rd valve trigger provides smooth, easy tuning for certain 3rd-valve combination fingerings.

I am geeked by this new horn and look forward to playing it at ITG (I hope it will be there)!

The balanced aspect is cool (as long as you don't crash your mouthpiece into your chops), but I am more excited to see the offset valves! I always enjoyed playing the Recording because of this feature ... and know with the outstanding quality at Adams that this horn will be well done in every way.

How lives in SD?

The first response will be from Dr GO, I imagine = king of the Recordings!

@lake-serperior said in Good trumpet upgrades?:

Hello, I have had the same trumpet (Yamaha advantage trumpet ytr200ad) since I started band. I in high school now, and I'd like to upgrade. I have found some trumpets that I will link below, and I'd like an opinion on if they are a sufficient upgrade, and if so, an opinion on how do they compare to other trumpets.

First, I'm glad you are on the forum. Second, it is cool you are still playing and enjoying trumpet + wanting to upgrade your axe. If you aren't currently doing so, spend you money on trumpet lessons from a good teacher. Beyond increasing your skills, they are going to be a great resource for 'your next trumpet' too. Third, isn't it time to practice? Yes! Yes, it is! Forth, go and play as many horns as you can (go to ITG this summer, if you can) and see what you like. Then discuss with your teacher. Njoy!

@Dr-GO I not really ‘old’ yet ... I think!

@J-Jericho said in Favorite Music:

Timbre, phrasing, voicing, counterpoint, building to a climax - all here:

That specific version is my favorite Sinatra song of all time. The trumpets throughout are so tight, but that ‘shout chorus’ is super special! The reverb on the drums and percussion is also totally hypnotic and totally enjoyable. And Frank was pretty good too .... Great choice!

@lake-serperior said in Good trumpet upgrades?:

Hello, I have had the same trumpet (Yamaha advantage trumpet ytr200ad) since I started band. I in high school now, and I'd like to upgrade. I have found some trumpets that I will link below, and I'd like an opinion on if they are a sufficient upgrade, and if so, an opinion on how do they compare to other trumpets.

First, I'm glad you are on the forum. Second, it is cool you are still playing and enjoying trumpet + wanting to upgrade your axe. If you aren't currently doing so, spend you money on trumpet lessons from a good teacher. Beyond increasing your skills, they are going to be a great resource for 'your next trumpet' too. Third, isn't it time to practice? Yes! Yes, it is! Forth, go and play as many horns as you can (go to ITG this summer, if you can) and see what you like. Then discuss with your teacher. Njoy!

Enjoyed the trumpet MP so much I got one for my flugelhorn too. I really like the comfort of the AR rim design.

@administrator Adam’s brand = Lotus.

In case you didn't know ... AR Resonance does offer silver-plated. I just opted for the gold finish. I was trying to discuss this brand ... not just a gold finish vs silver or plastic.

Additionally: Tony at AR Resonance states this about the material used to make the mp: 'Nickel silver has a much faster response and sounds pretty bright and precise. Bronze has a very full and resonant sound and fast response but not as fast as nickel silver. Brass sounds like ... brass :)'

@dr-go Nah, It's not age but chattering the teeth from living through all those cold Cincinnati Winters!

= that is the truth!

Hi @richard-iii, I felt that way in the past. Most of us get to decide what to spend our time and money on. Monette and other mp’s are in that ballpark too. After playing it, I consider it money well spent. Thankful I have the ability and option to do so.

Added: tj was replying at the same time … glad to see the price comparison.

Hi TBers,

Unlike anyone else on this board, I have been on a number of mouthpiece safaris over the years ;-D. That ended a while back when I tried the Harrelson 5MM system. But as I get older and my teeth have shifted together a bit, I was having some playing issues that made me decide to try to a smaller diameter mouthpiece with a wider rim to see if it improved my playing comfort. Coming from the 3C family of MPs, I tried a Bach 7CW and 7DW and found that the 7DW worked really well for me. At that time, Harrelson didn't have the 7W rim in stock (they do now) and I saw a new model introduced by Tony at AR Resonance on Instagram that caught my attention. A local friend had been very pleased with his AR Resonance mouthpieces, so I decided to reach out to see if they could make something similar in spec to the 7DW.

Their website: https://www.arresonance.com/mouthpieces

Dama con Arpa Ritorta model. Material = bronze with gold plating.

Email response, back and forth discussion of my needs and wants, overall customer service, fairly short build time and the quality of what I received combined for a totally fabulous experience. I would highly recommend to any/all players. Best of all = I love how it feels on my chops and how it plays = #epico!

FWIW: I had played an AR mouthpiece at the 2015 ITG but was not wanting to pay the asking price at that time. I know some may think the same. My wife ultimately is responsible for helping 'get over' the price barrier, encouraging me to spend the money on 'what I love to do'. So, whether student, pro, high caliber amateur, hobbyist, daily player, come-back player, or other ... I encourage you to check out this brand. I just ordered another for my flugel and can't wait to receive it.

@flugelgirl stunning! Congrats and enjoy!!

I’ve used Hagerty’s Silver Polish since 1978. Light blue bottle of liquid polish is my preference with a microfiber cloth or a cloth diaper (super soft). Apply with a sponge (I used the little circle sponges that came with my Getzen SEV from 1978 - 2004). They also make a Soft paste that comes in a Round container that has a sponge in it. Apply light amount, let is sit for just a moment and wipe it off. Easy on and easy off with no pressure. Can usually find it at Kroger or even a hardware store.

@OldSchoolEuph said in First Horns:

@Shepherds_Crook said in First Horns:

This thread makes me mad. My first trumpet was a new Conn Director rented by my folks when I was in 5th grade. I had no clue how horrible I was until 9th grade when my teacher told my folks that I was progressing well and needed to get a new trumpet. My dad agreed, and my first trumpet safari began. I played a Clark Terry Olds, Bach Strad 37 and 43, Benge 3x, 6x, and 7x, Conn Constellation, a Schilke (can’t remember the model), and the Getzen SEV that became the winner. Everything I played was light years better than that stuffy, nasty sounding Director. I couldn’t sell that Horn fast enough. I don’t want to ever see one again. I now consider those first 4 years of playing the ‘lost years’ because that horn so crippled my development.

Just imagine if you had been forced to start on an Ceccilio, a Mendini, a $69 Oswal - or a plastic toy masquerading as a trumpet. Suddenly that Director is not so bad. Kids today have not just two strikes against them, but 8 other innings.

Would be equally as horrible. It is one thing to not have the funds to buy a decent horn for your kid, but another to give them a junk ‘starter horn’ because you are cheap and just don’t know if they will stick with it. Those kids are virtually doomed from the start.