| Trumpet design/improvement
My idea for my trumpet is this---build a trumpet that has a built in mike system like that used for the 'silent brass' system. Take the 'mute' that normally stuffs into the end of the bell and instead form the bell around the mute. Make a plug in spot under the bell of the horn and run the cable to one of those nifty 'midi' type boxes, then on to the amplifiers.
The horn would, physically, play much like any other horn but with the midi box an almost infinite number of variables could be changed. If you're playing with an electrified group you'll be plugged into the same 'stacks' as they are. If you are playing solo, you can change the instruments sound and projection to match the venue you are playing in--and do so without wearing yourself out. Plus, you don't have the problem of 'how do I get the &^% mic to stay on the horn!'.
Want a bright sounding horn with lazer like tones? Dial in a number on the midi box and whatever you play comes out with that sound. Need to change keys? Dial it in. Need to change the sound to a flugelhorn? Dial it in and that seductive flugelhorn sound will come pouring out. Best of all, the MIDI can correct for imperfections in pitch and tone---meaning that you will have 'spot on' slotting and intonation. If you want to sound bluesy--dial down the correction so that you can bend the notes. If you want legit, dial up the correction. Bad acoustics with lots of sound absorbing material around? With an electric horn and a MIDI/Amplified system you can tweak the sound to overcome that problem and you've got enough amplified power to blow the walls of Jericho down!
Similar types of MIDI boxes are available for guitars---so why not use the same technology and plug it into a trumpet?
Theme---
I'd call the horn 'Elektra', and the color would be a pale, shimmering blue.
Short story---
I couldn't believe what I was holding in my hands! It was an honest to goodness 'electric' horn.
My mind went back to the horn show in Las Vegas several months ago that I had gone too. I live in Tahoe and play with a band in the Carson City area, so Las Vegas is only a short flight away. I decided to attend the show so I hoped a commuter flight out of Reno down to Las Vegas. I played most the horns at the show on that 'tryout' day--just like everybody else.
That evening, I'm sitting in the conference centers' little 'choke and puke' wolfing down chili dogs and sauerkraut when I see Leigh from Eclipse trumpets with a plate of food looking for a place to sit. The place was packed but I had a spot at my table so I waved him over even though I really don't know him.
Anyway, we got to talking about horns and playing. Leigh asked me what sort of playing I did and we got to talking about the band I play with. We're a five or six piece band playing all sorts of stuff---blues, early jazz, rock, fusion, popular and some stuff that defies description as we've done the arranging ourselves. The lineup is keyboard, drums, electric bass guitar, electric rythym guitar, electric or acoustic lead guitar, occasionally a sax and me on the horns. In a gig, I might use the trumpet, cornet or flugel horn several times over the space of a couple of hours. Of course, I usually 'mic' the horn to keep from being buried by the guitars.
We play local theatres, coffee shops, shool gyms, outdoors---whenever, where ever. We play in Reno, Carson City, Gardnerville and up the hill in Lake Tahoe.
So, Leigh asks me what I think of the Eclipse trumpets. I told him they were beautiful and played great----but it wasn't what I was lookiing for. Leigh asks 'so, what are you looking for?'. I told him about my dream for an electric horn. I wanted a horn I didn't have to 'mic'; a horn that could plug into the same 'stacks' as the guitars and keyboards. A horn that I could change the sound on to match the venues; change the key with a turn of the dial; even change the sound into a different instrument; a horn that would correct the sound coming out so that the notes would be perfectly in tune.
Leigh sits there with this stunned look on his face and says 'where did you get this idea from?'. I told him that the lead guitar player had a MIDI box that could do most of these things and that this guitar player could even make his ax sound like a trumpet. I told Leigh that I really hated competition like that and that I had been hoping to find an equalizer at the horn show. Leigh just shakes his head and laughs.
Anyway, we trade business cards and Leigh has to run to another appointment. It was a chance meeting and I had pretty much forgot about it after a few weeks.
Then, one cold snowy morning I'm rousted out of bed by somebody banging on my front door. I staggered sleepily out of bed, grabbing my terrycloth robe on the way to see who's at the door. There stands the UPS guy with a good sized box that he wants me to sign for---which I do even though I'm not expecting anything. Shoot, even that little 'Eclipse' logo in the top left hand corner of the box wasn't registering in my brain that morning.
I finally get the box open and out falls a note that reads 'Here's your 'Equalizer'----knock 'em dead' and it's signed 'Leigh@Eclipse trumpets'. I sat there in my kitchen in stunned amazement for a while and then carefully popped the latches on the case that had also been inside the box.
Inside the case was this pale blue horn with a plug in under the bell and something built inside the bell itself. Along with the horn was a small box with a couple of dials and switches on it. Yep, I was really grinning by now---Leigh had gone and done what I didn't think could be done. And boy, how that horn could play.
The look on my lead guitar players face was priceless when he saw me hooking into the amps at our next gig. He goes 'Hey, that isn't a horn because everybody knows there is no such thing as an electric trumpet!'. I laughed and said 'Just keep thinking it's not a horn while I blow you away!'.
By the end of the show at Comma's in Carson city he was a believer in what the odd looking horn could do. Best of all, the audience seemed pleased with the sound pouring out of the speakers. The show ran thirty minutes over its' alloted time because of the folks begging for more tunes.
Well, that's the story of this odd looking horn. It's not conventional and some trumpet players says it's not a 'real' horn. But, it does what I need it to do, audiences love it and that's what counts!
Why do I deserve to win?
Well, I'm currently unemployed. I'm also playing on a totally worn out Conn Director with leaky valves and slides so loose that I can blow the first slide out of the horn if I'm not careful. I'm a comebacker who's never had a pro-quality horn and right now the only way I'm going to be able to get one is to win a contest! I really need a new horn............
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Gabriel is NOT a woodwind player! |