I planned on waiting for the ten day trial period to end but, being the impatient person I am, I couldn't wait to post my first day thoughts and impressions! Here goes:
DAY 1: The Post Office.
Opened the package there, and immediately noticed the Pro-Tec contour case. My reaction was a sort of "The funk?" This was the first pro-tec case I had seen for a trumpet, and I was almost half-expecting some version of those ugly-butt egg-shaped clarinet and sax cases I have become used to seeing around these parts. I was pleasantly surprised, and very much like the case, although I am not fond of velcro (Not that this will be my proudest recollection, but I had some trouble getting the velcro binders together later on....)
I then proceeded to open the case. I was surprised and sort of agitated that the case doesn't open up a full 180 degrees, but not so agitated I'm going to write any more about it.
I then proceeded to look down. OOOOOO... Shiny. The very first thing that caught my eye was that the color of the slides are lighter tinted (I'm partially color-blind, so I'm not going to embarass myself with guessing if the color is manilla or yellow). It also had a smell I have never smelled on a trumpet before (the smell was akin to cork grease, but milder.. SPICED CORK GREASE!).
Using my glow clothes (The post office employees were staring at me) as a make-shift glove, I pulled out the horn. The bell portion of the Pro Tec case was stubborn, and didn't want to part with the trumpet, so I spent another few second fiddling with that. That done, I started looking at the horn.
No dings, no scratches. Unblemished.
Noticed the larger bell and valves almost immediately. I hadn't brought my mouthpiece with me, so I couldn't test it just yet. I returned the trumpet to the case (the bell holder of the case gave a bit of trouble again), and left for my sanctum.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER...
TEST 1: WARM UP
I immediately laid the horn case on the couch, next to my '94 bach strad (I can start calling the strad mine, I guess!), pulled out my 68MD, slid it into yon Kanstul (no problem with the mouthpiece reciever), and started to play.
I played my basic C scale, stopped, went "Duh-huuuuhh!?" and played my D scale. Amazing sound, and I can tell and feel the difference already! I could sometimes when I was really into my strad create this secondary "hum" of what I was playing in my ears. One of the best things I like about the 1503 is that all I have to do is think and move a LITTLE bit towards where I THINK it is, and darned if I can produce that "hum"! Never have I actually just sit around in my living room (AHEM, studio!) and just play notes in a warm-up to just hear them, or maybe "feel them" is the term I am searching for...
SCORE (Out of Five Stars): *****
TEST 2: CONCONE STUDIES
After a bit more scale/chromaticness, I proceeded to whip out my Concone lyrical studies, and play through a few of my favorite passages (#17 is my favorite). Slurs are noticeably improved, for instance from second-octave F to First F, are EXCELLENT. It's almost like all I have to do is WILL it, and the horn slides down to my destination perfectly! The slurs From the second octave to my sub-octave (Below low C but not quite pedal?) are also much improved (though I can tell now it's me doing the slight "fuf-sound" mistakes when I initially hit those low notes. I can no longer blame the strad fo my imcompetence
)
When I wasn't stopping on notes to "hum" (I've found a new habit!), I would use a slight to moderate jaw vibrato. The vibrato sound I perceived coming out of the Kanstul was what I have been wanting to create- the "hmhmhmhm" sound, NOT the "wahawaha" that has plagued me for SO long. Again, super sound!
SCORE (Out of 5 Stars): *****
TEST 3: DESIGN SCRUTINY
Now that my hunger for playing has been slackened slightly (Price is Right was one, haha), I spent the time off looking at the difference in design between my strads and yon Kanstul.
Taking the thing apart, found everything to clear very well (I always watch the main tuning slide-bell clearance, I HATE DINGING BELLS!!). The space between the 3rd valve slide was also what I have been searching for, when I clean a horn, I DESPISE not being able to reach an area of the trumpet. Strads are hard to clean in the space between the third valve slide loop and the part of the lower bracing that is obstructed by the slides, it was ALL so easy to reach. For an obsessive-compulsive like me, I thank the 1503 designers heartily.
Noticed the rings on the horn are smaller than any horn I have ever played on. Of course, I didn't notice this until this time, but now it feels a bit differently in my hand.
I'm going to have to get used to amado water keys, I keep reaching for the lever! Minor nuisance though. THANK YOU for putting a water key on the 3rd valve slide! Removing stop nuts was so annoying....
The way the trumpet prevents the 1st and 3rd slides from falling out is INGENIOUS. The screws are almost invisible to the naked eye, and seem more build into the horn than two nubs with a screw and two nuts soldered onto the bottom of the horn.
The bell is larger than what I am used to, but I cannot get the specs on the diameter or bore (DARN KANSTUL AND ITS 404 NOT FOUNDNESS).
SCORE (Out of Five Stars): ***** (WHATS THE BORE AND DIAMETER!?!)
TEST 4: ARBAN FANTAISIES AND AIRS VARIES
Obee-Kaybee, after a brief warm-up, I pulled out my tattered Arban and decided to play the back sections (Like most everyone else, ignore the front
).
Played intro and theme on Fantaisie Brilliante.
WHOOOOOOOOAAA!!
SINCE WHEN DID I STRAIN ON A HIGH G!?!??!
%$@%!^%#$^%#$*&(*&(&......
After THAT initial reaction, I remembered Dr. D's essay on how you sacrifice slotting and tone for flexibility.
A FIVE NOTE SACRIFICE!?!??!?!?!
!@#&!@%#&%@$&@^%.....
I then started thinking. "It IS a new horn, and everything new I've ever had brass wise, from trumpet to mouthpieces, needs a settling-in period."
Of course I knew this was right, but I
*&(*&^*&^
Still needed to vent. Its not like I have a gig to play with this horn in the next week, and I AM wanting a heavy horn, flexibility problems or not. I have the patience, and its not like I'm doing anything else...
So, after playing The Little Swiss Boy, Favorite Theme, Carnival of Venice, and the ending of Norma (The only part of it I LIKE), I called it a mid-day, and went to my room to play some Diablo 2 and grumble.
SCORE (Out of Five Stars): ***.. (Probably just a bad practice, I've had them MANY times before).
TEST 5: OTHER OPINIONS
So, later in the evening my father arrives from work, wanting to see what all the fuss was about. He looked it over too, immediately noticing the diference in size, and immediately noted a change in sound.
He thought the sound was actually brighter to him.
My mother arrives, and she too does the same thing, and I play a bit for her too.
She thinks the sound is darker.
Two different opinions on what the trumpet produces? Well, must remember this for a later test :) .
I have been thinking more about sound than price, but I am hoping to get to try a Wild Thing sometime (Mr. Turner is to call me soon), was hoping to try a ZeuS Guarnerius (No reply to my e-mail in a week at least), and am meaning to drive over to Decatur and Blackburn's sometime (Town's so backwoods, is frightening. Its almost dumfounding how such a renouned trumpet maker hides in the boon-dogs of Tennessee like that..). In all but the ZeuS's case, they are over one grand more expensive. I'm just hoping I can tell a grand's worth of difference, is all I am saying..
So generally, the reception towards the horn is good, though they can't decide weither its darker or brighter. They noted a great improvement over my over horns, which is what I wanted.
SCORE (Out of Five Stars): *****
TEST 6: END DAY PRACTICE/WARM DOWN
Ahh, when everyone else in my class is out partying, here I am practicing. I guess we all have different values, heh.
Pulled out older quintet music. Played arrangement of All Beautiful the March of Days.
My range has returned slightly.
I could reach the high Bb before it sounded forced, which relieved me (slightly). My max range is still cut to a C#, which is annoying, but not too bad, I guess.
Sounded good, so I went on the Intrade from Pezel's Three Pieces.
My tonguing in the upper register was slightly forced, but maybe it's because I am shot.
I'M SHOT!?!?!?
I only practiced three hours, in hour increments over the day, and I shot myself? Guh, no gooooooood. Hulk smash. HULK SMASH.
So, I finished with a good warm down (could still get the "hum", so I felt better). I tested the baby right good, and, even though I shot myself on second octave G to C *SHUDDERS*, I guess I will have to call it a day.
SCORE: ***.. (HULK SMASH!!)
[i]Well, that was my thought on yesterday's playing. Overall, I thought it went excellent (Minor complaints aside). I might not like having to re-work range (when it was still comparatively small), but the ends justify the means. I was hoping to also get some curry heavy valve caps, and a Wartburg backbore. Won't that be good for range :) ?
Today, day two of trial, will be a review/chill day for me (My lips are mushy on the inside, dangit). Tomorrow, I will resume testing with playing in an open environment (my pature), and a closed environment (Basement). I also hope to get some time in my college's concert hall, but Dr. Farnsley hasn't returned my call, so I dunno.. Literature for day 3 will be something a bit harder, increasing the difficulty rating, so to speak. The review for day 3 will be posted Sunday morning, same bat-time, same bat-channel!
Van "Bb" Bryant
(Never curse in an audition if you played concert pitch scales!)