TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - Bach C trumpet bell and leadpipe combinations

richtom · 12-23-2003, 11:12 PM

I had always assumed that a 229/25H would be the combination that I would gravitate to. After all, in the Chicago area, that is pretty much what you are "supposed" to play.
A month ago, my ancient Getzen Capri C from the late 60s gave up and the splits in the leadpipe just leaked too much to fight with and the horn was just not worth repairing, so out I went in search of a new one.
Fortunately, a music store in Des Plaines, Il always has a good stock of C trumpets from Bach and Yamaha. (No Vintage One Cs though). They even had one French Besson Classic left.
I tried 7 horns. Five different large bore Bach combinations, a Xeno, and the French Besson Classic. I use a GR e65MX and e65M and used both of them on each horn.
They had 2 229/25H combos, a 239/25, a 229/25S, and a 239/25A, all in silver. I immediately went for the 229/25H combos and found I could not control either of them and could not play them in tune. The 239/25 was better, but not quite open enough, the 229/25S played nice and in tune but I must not be able to control the 229 bell and had trouble controlling the overall sound. The 239/25A played open and in tune. Very smooth, very clean. Not at all stuffy or too open.
I then went to the Xeno. No comparison. The horn was not for me at all. It was impossible for me to control it. I've had Yamaha Bbs and they were both good horns. This one wasn't. I have a Yamaha 6810 pic which is just great. It was likely me, but that was a funny sounding horn.
The Besson was last. It wasn't bad at all, but lacked the ease the 239/25A possessed.
I kept trying each Bach and kept going back to the 239/25A. I ended up buying it. Quite honestly, it is a terrific horn. In tune and no quality problems with it. My 229 bell friends all played it and liked it. It blends perfectly with theirs, too. (I have a naturally dark sound so a little brightness doesn't hurt).
The only horn I ever had that was as easy to play was my old Burbank Benge 5X I used for 25 years before it wore out.
I guess the point of the story is you must play the horn that works for you. Not all symphony players play the 229 bell, in fact, the great Frank Kaderabek used a Selmer Radial for much of his time as principal in Philly. He is greatly underrated and not mentioned enough as a principal player. He was very, very good, but that is another topic line altogether.
Way too long a post for a first timer and I've likely screwed it up anyway, so I'm outta here.

In case anyone is wondering, My Bb is A Bach Vindabona, about 30 years old in raw brass with an somewhat rare 43L bell.

12-23-2003, 11:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
richtom Pianissimo User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 87	I had always assumed that a 229/25H would be the combination that I would gravitate to. After all, in the Chicago area, that is pretty much what you are "supposed" to play. A month ago, my ancient Getzen Capri C from the late 60s gave up and the splits in the leadpipe just leaked too much to fight with and the horn was just not worth repairing, so out I went in search of a new one. Fortunately, a music store in Des Plaines, Il always has a good stock of C trumpets from Bach and Yamaha. (No Vintage One Cs though). They even had one French Besson Classic left. I tried 7 horns. Five different large bore Bach combinations, a Xeno, and the French Besson Classic. I use a GR e65MX and e65M and used both of them on each horn. They had 2 229/25H combos, a 239/25, a 229/25S, and a 239/25A, all in silver. I immediately went for the 229/25H combos and found I could not control either of them and could not play them in tune. The 239/25 was better, but not quite open enough, the 229/25S played nice and in tune but I must not be able to control the 229 bell and had trouble controlling the overall sound. The 239/25A played open and in tune. Very smooth, very clean. Not at all stuffy or too open. I then went to the Xeno. No comparison. The horn was not for me at all. It was impossible for me to control it. I've had Yamaha Bbs and they were both good horns. This one wasn't. I have a Yamaha 6810 pic which is just great. It was likely me, but that was a funny sounding horn. The Besson was last. It wasn't bad at all, but lacked the ease the 239/25A possessed. I kept trying each Bach and kept going back to the 239/25A. I ended up buying it. Quite honestly, it is a terrific horn. In tune and no quality problems with it. My 229 bell friends all played it and liked it. It blends perfectly with theirs, too. (I have a naturally dark sound so a little brightness doesn't hurt). The only horn I ever had that was as easy to play was my old Burbank Benge 5X I used for 25 years before it wore out. I guess the point of the story is you must play the horn that works for you. Not all symphony players play the 229 bell, in fact, the great Frank Kaderabek used a Selmer Radial for much of his time as principal in Philly. He is greatly underrated and not mentioned enough as a principal player. He was very, very good, but that is another topic line altogether. Way too long a post for a first timer and I've likely screwed it up anyway, so I'm outta here. In case anyone is wondering, My Bb is A Bach Vindabona, about 30 years old in raw brass with an somewhat rare 43L bell.