Solar Bell

Why don't we try that at the ITG in May?

I think we could find an auditorium we could use for a few minutes. Have someone play both types and we'll listen from the back of the room.

-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

TrentAustin

I promised a reply and am sorry I'm tardy in getting back to everyone. I wanted a chance to really sit down for a few minutes and talk about the recent month or so of my trumpet life. Drink a Red Bull if you get drowsy during the post ;)

I have always considered myself a fairly strong and fundamentally solid player. I never want to make excuses about my playing or technique but have always noticed that I get EXTREMELY red chops after playing, even after only a few minutes. I guess that was my "Irish" blood in me. I can get sunburned after only a few minutes and have very light skin. I just thought it wasn't anything serious, and for most people it isn't.

Occasionally after particularly taxing days I've woken up with "pimples" on my lips. I originally thought these were cold sores but have since realized that wasn't the case. I also attributed these to playing REALLY intensely... like when you work out to hard and pull a muscle. Nothing enough to warrant a MRI but something to take you out of commission for a day or so.


When I was asked to perform Brandenburg #2 last year I started REALLY noticing issues that put me where I am currently. I would notice that even after a few moments of playing my lips experienced a burning sensation. I again contributed it to me being a “wimp” and thought this was a normal aspect of my personal playing. More and more I began to think it might not my inadequacies on the trumpet and more my body trying to tell me something.

Fast forward to about a month ago. I had a particularly hard weekend of playing gigs, including a grueling lead session after two earlier gigs that day. I woke up the next day and it looked like my chops were in a blender. Reading all the stuff that happened to Wynton recently and remembering that part of his issue was an allergic reaction to gold made me ask a friend about this. His reply was short and dead on (he’s a doctor by nature): He said I was allergic and I should seek out other options immediately. He said that I would continue to notice a downturn in my endurance and consistency as I kept refining my diet (I’ve lost about 30-35 lbs since July). The toxins that might have been in my system before actually helped the reaction to stay minimal. I went to my doctor and he agreed with my toxic reaction to silver plating. It never occurred to me but I wear a titanium wedding ring, and don’t wear a watch. When I used to wear a gold watch it did make my skin tender. (RULE OF THUMB… listen to your BODY!)

So I tried a $20 Kelly mouthpiece. INSTANT success in terms of chop issues. No more burning, stinging, lost endurance, flexibility, etc. I was really excited but didn’t feel the sound of the Kelly would be strong enough for section work. So I emailed Mark Curry about my situation. I have always been a huge fan of Mark’s work. His extensive playing experience helps greatly in understanding a player’s needs.

He understood my situation and promptly sent me a 3TC prototype with a Lexan rim. WOW. I couldn’t believe the difference. All the benefits of the Kelly and the sound of a Metal mouthpiece. Check out the clip below to hear the piece in action :
www.trentaustin.com/sounclips/steps.mp3

I then made a considerable order (6 other pieces (4 trumpet, one cornet, and one flugel) all with Lexan rims) and he filled it for me quickly. I couldn’t risk playing the metal pieces much longer I thought. Mark really was a savior in terms of making anything I asked and turning it out quickly. I know normally the wait is longer but he really helped me by expediting my order. Every piece I received is of the highest quality and while his lexan rimmed pieces are more than his standard line (obviously due to the extra steps of adding a screw rim and manufacturing the Lexan rim) his prices are still extremely fair!

Since I’ve received them I haven’t ONCE experienced any blisters or burning. Yes, my chops still get red but the redness and swelling is greatly decreased. I am happy again, feeling great, practicing longer and loving the trumpet! A lot of thanks go to Mark Curry, who has ended pain and mouthpiece safaris permanently!
Regards,

Trent

__________________
Trent Austin
lurking around. If you want to chat PM me.
http://www.trentaustin.com
http://www.onlinejazzimprovisation.com

Manny Laureano

That's great Trent.... it must have scared the crap out of you to feel that way and not have a sloution at the ready. Bravo for perservering through it and finding something that worked well for you. Let's hear it for divine intervention !

ML

TrentAustin

Thanks Manny.

I do believe you do lose a LITTLE (note little) outward projection with the plastic rim but trust me I'll take it every day of the week. It's actually a lot better after a few weeks. Initially I felt like it didn't project at all and was a bit bummed. I think it might be 1-2% difference on my extreme louds now.

I was even thinking of switching instruments due to the pain and discomfort I was feeling.

woo-hoo (and back to the shed... practicing Paganini is fun!)
-T

__________________
Trent Austin
lurking around. If you want to chat PM me.
http://www.trentaustin.com
http://www.onlinejazzimprovisation.com

krossum

Trent-

way to go man! Onward...

-Kelly

__________________
“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

Richard Oliver

In Motu Trenticus Asutinicus

Makes me happy to read things like that.

Richard

tpter1

Good for you, Trent!

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

dishul156

Plastic mouthpeices. I have never used one but my instructor has told me about them. you genereally can get excellent tone out of them. He uses a 5B mouthpeice that has plastic on the outside(where he would put his lips) and the rest is metal. He mainly uses this because he is allergic to the metal of the trumpet but he gets excellent sound out of it

S-Money

Theres a difference between not being able to tell a difference, and not being able to distinguish which is which ;)

__________________
Blow your life through your horn

Manny Laureano

Isn't the difference about 15 bucks?

ML