The Eclipse Lunar Module: The ultimate modular adjustable trumpet. Four things I would do to improve the design of the trumpet.
There are limited items to work with when considering upon improving the design. I have yet to hear or see of a completely EASY trumpet to try stuff out on. You have screw bells, backbores, but try to change leadpipe and you have to attach one of those things in your receiver.
The Eclipse has already made huge innovative strides by having the tuning slide at the bell section to improve everything (so I hear, haven't tried one). It seems natural that Eclipse trumpets has the guts to actually try new stuff. In order to improve it even more I would like to see 4 things.
1.) Different shaped tuning bell crook(s). Add different options for a little more square shaped crook. I know how the tuning slides affect things on the leadpipe, but I'd like to try out different combos on the bell crooks.
2.) Screw bell system
This is not new technology, but many people find it very useful into tuning the trumpets to their sound concept.
An idea to integrate the screw bell into the Eclipse existing technology and strategy would be: Where the bell currently meets the last brace (by the tuning slide), have a thread at that point integrated into the brace to make a very stable attach point. To attach the bell to the valve block, have a sliding interlock that would fit into the current brace system, or perhaps have an ornate type clamp that would go around the bell and secure there. I don't know how the clamp would affect the nodal response but the clamp would be a 'new' type improvement if it happens to make the horn have more core sound. If it doesn't work out, then the sliding interlock type brace would still allow the great flexibility of having interchangeable bells.
3.) A screw leadpipe option.
It seems that the Eclipse design could accomodate a carefully designed flawless thread option on the leadpipe (as to not interrupt airflow). Again, the attachment of the leadpipe to the horn would have to be experimental to see what works, but I would like to see a 'clamp' type of twin tube technology that is seen on the Selmer Concept TT applied only at the braces (not full length of pipe). That way you could have a floating type screw in leadpipe. This would allow great resonance and exceptional amount of experimentation possibilities for the player (provided Eclipse makes different taper screw in leadpipes). If the twin tube did not work out, then the same interlocking brace type would work too.
4.) Gap adjuster on the leadpipe receiver
With all of these options available on one horn, and you will have the ultimate adjustable trumpet, that would be the utmost in versatility for the player.
I did not include anything on the 'looks' or 'style' because the question was how to improve the 'design'.
Theme
The Eclipse Lunar Module: Since this is a modular trumpet in all aspects, and it also ties into the product brand name.
This theme would be very space looking: For the styling of the core valve block and tubing, I think it would be cool to see a graded blue lacquer with star shapes stamped into the valve block and then silver plated the stampings inside for that exceptional twinkle twinkle... (or inside the valve numbers and SN).
The graded blue lacquer would be a light blue at the front end 1st valve side, and gradually get darker as it moves towards the 3rd valve side of things until it is eventually nearly all black. Then it would be very cool to have a moon sliver shaped leadpipe brace that is stunning sterling silver with black edge to replicate the Eclipse (tm) kind of like the logo on the home page, and it would fit well with the space theme. I have two choices for the screw on bell...
a.) do the lacquer thing and engrave the Eclipse logo and have stars engraved with plated silver or
b.) have a plain sterling silver bell with engraving.
Going with the Lunar Module theme, you think of the Lunar Module as this gadget looking thing, and the brace designs and/or clamps would fit well into that. All of those would be silver.
The exploratory nature of the possible modifications to this horn ties the theme and into the curious human nature of the space missions of which I am very fond of.
I'll take a look at that software and see if I can't describe some of this visually.
Story
"Tripel C"
One time in a musical land far far away there lived a note named "C".
C had been a legit note all of his natural life, round, jolly and soft on the edges. C had made an appearance at small halls throughout the world to great acclaim, particularly in Europe.
On a particular tour of Belgium with a brass quintet (C's favorite place was to come out of the trumpet you know, 2 leger lines above the staff), the lead trumpet player for a local jazz club was ill. C's player, having been an acquaintance of the ailing Belgian lead player, was asked to fill in on a big band gig at a local pub on very short notice. C's player agreed.
C's player, a typical trumpet ego, had no reservations about subbing lead, having not played in that style for a few years. He started preparing for the gig that night. He ate a big steak so his stomach would be full and he would have lots of energy, and some fullness to pressurize up some air for some real high notes. C's player also changed his shirt to put on his silver shirt with the collar two sizes too big (to accomodate all that neck expansion).
At the gig, C was excited as it was his first time being a jazz note. Things were going fine most of the first set. C was riding the airstream 20 feet all night, he was a little beat up from hitting the corners so much, but he was surviving. At last it was almost time for a break, one more tune to go. C's player had been having a blast all night as well. This tune had not too many C's in it as well due to the key signature, except for the last note on the page, a Kenton-ish chord of high dissonance, a note one octave higher. C had never taken an air ride an octave higher before. C's player had been schooled in the methods of airspeed to hit higher notes, having studied with Don Jacoby in Texas. As a result, C was always mentally instructed to transport himself on the airstream out about 20 ft from the bell. So the moment was coming to try this new air ride...C watched and watched, and was sub-dividing mentally as the last ride was about to come up. OK, OK, 4-ee-and-ah. GO!!! whoops, C felt a very sharp pain in his back. His normal plush air ride had nailed him in the back like the front end of a rocket, sharp and powerful. He sucked the pain up, and flew through the trumpet at tremendous speed, bouncing off the wall behind the bar, landing directly into a glass of Belgian Tripel Ale sitting on the bar. Delirious from the impact, C took a few moments to recuperate and to down some of the ale. As C emerged from the delightful ale and returned to the player, C started telling the player about the Tripel he had landed in. In the noise of the pub, C's player didn't quite hear him correctly, but did hear the subconscious word Tripel ("Triple" in Texas spell). From that moment onward, C's player had believed he played a Triple C and the legend of the Triple C had begun. Nobody ever heard that note!
The note fizzled and was born from a glass of beer and an ego (like all fish stories, and how high you can play stories)
3. STORY INCORPORATING:
A. A TYPE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - trumpet
B. A COUNTRY OR CITY - Belgium
C. A FORM OF TRANSPORT - airstream
D. AN ITEM OF CLOTHING - silver shirt with the collar two sizes too big
E. A FOOD - pre gig steak
Why I should win?
It's very hard to answer this question. Overall, Eclipse trumpets is being very generous in sponsoring this contest, and I would hope that my ideas above would help them break into more business selling leadpipes or crooks or bells or receivers so they can continue sponsoring these contests and other people can win as well. At that point, its a win-win for everyone.
If Eclipse does not want to do the modular thing as a regular type horn, then at least it will make my trumpet cleaning chores much easier!! 8)
Besides this, I've been drueling over the existing Eclipse websites, and I really WANT ONE
