1. New feature or design
Build a trumpet based on the Eclipse with the following features
- Heavyweight leadpipe which would enhance the projection and core of the sound. The heavyweight section would only need to be as far as the first bend of the leadpipe, or maybe a little shorter.
- The weight would be balanced by moving the valve block away from the bell just fractionally – shortening the bell taper and lengthening the leadpipe.
- This may require a large-bore valve block as the valves are further down the taper of the entire instrument.
A heavyweight leapipe would enhance the projection and response of the trumpet even beyond that possible through the existing long leadpipe design. Changing the position of the valves would allow this without compromising the whole instrument with an extra heavy bell or sheet bracing.
Lengthening the leadpipe and shortening the bell taper would also have an interesting effect on response. I'm not really able to forecast this but it would be interesting to see where the nodal points would be and tune it for the theme described below.
A
big opportunity is to offer a
custom mouthpiece fitting service with each trumpet. This would ensure the mouthpiece is the best possible fit to the player, and that the equipment is properly balanced across the cup/backbore/leadpipe/bell. Issues such as mouthpiece weight, backbore size, mouthpiece throat and gap could all be resolved for that particular individual, rather than trusting to luck or average measurements. (If all the expertise is not available in house, you would licence designs and fitting methodology.)
2. Give us a theme for a trumpet!
The Solstice. Using various tinted lacquers from earthy tones at the mouthpiece to bright and metallic colours at the bell to evoke the flowing waves of energy between the earth and sun; and to evoke the essential core and purpose of the trumpet; a strong heavy "earth" core flowing through to the the dazzling "sun" overtones and screaming high register.
3. Short story Quote:
|
The moment that changes your life - walking the cold streets of London, coat pulled up by your ears, finishing a sad cheese sandwich, you hear the sounds of a trumpet. Investigating further you find a band. Their lead trumpet is ill – they point you to the chair and hand you an Eclipse. Time for all the practice to pay off.
|
4. Why I should win
We are entering the golden age of trumpet manufacture. For the first time, the technologies and knowledge to build wonderful instruments are available beyond the leading couple of manufacturers in the US and Europe.
The next step in the evolution of the industry is going to be the closer customization of instruments to player’s needs. By offering custom mouthpieces, your brand will be much more strongly recognized – every trumpet player likes to buy mouthpieces. The mouthpieces then can build the trust in your brand required for people to make an investment of thousands in the two or three instruments they should own.
The Solstice will be yet another benchmark horn that everyone will be talking about. And I promise to send all my friends straight to Dunstable to buy a new trumpet!
Steve