Hi everyone - New to the group, and a 68 year old comeback player that had not played for 35 + years until last year. I was a music major my first year of college, but finally realized that I wasn't going to be good enough to make a career playing. Played recreationally for some years after moving on into Electronic Engineering, and had owned an Olds Recording that was so much better and easier to play than the copper bell Conn student horn I had used up to leaving college. Wish I had it or one like it now, but being retired and trying to survive on Social Security, I'm afraid that is out of my reach.
I have been playing on a borrowed Conn 80A Cornet, that is only one year younger than I am, (read "Older than Dirt") but recently was able to pick up a King Cleveland Superior trumpet, s/n dates it somewhere in the 60's, in pretty decent condition. The valves have good compression, and after correcting a bad valve misalignment due to worn felts, it seems to blow fairly freely.
Now to my quandry. Everywhere I look, I see posts saying that Olds Ambassadors and also Reynolds Trumpets are very close to the quality and free blowing that my Recording had. In fact, just today I bid on a decent looking Reynolds Medalist on Ebay that was going pretty cheap, but even though I was "sniping" got "outsniped" and lost the bidding. It went for $50, which is $25 less than I have invested in the King, so I felt that if I liked the Reynolds better, I could sell the King and at least break even. Here is what the Reynolds looked like.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT
Does anyone have any experience playing the King Cleveland Superior and also Olds Ambassadors, Reynolds Medalists so as to be able to compare? I'm afraid that, because of the "ravages of age", not to mention the long period of not playing, that I will never be able to return to my original level of playing. Also, I am missing one front tooth, lower jaw, just off of center, and am wondering how much this is affecting my embrochure. I just purchased a Arban's Method book, and am going to try to practice at least an hour a day. I played this summer in the Iola KS City Band (oldest city band in KS) and am playing this winter in the Iola Symphony. (Ironically, since the Iola City Band pays it's members a small amount for playing, my dream of being a "Professional Paid Musician" has finally come about, even though I'm playing worse now than I did in high school.)
I apologize for being so long winded, but I have one more question for the group. The King came with a King 7K mouthpiece, don't know what that corresponds to in a Bach. It is pretty badly pitted, so I've been using a 10C Bach that was floating around with the borrowed cornet. (Yes, it's a trumpet MP, not a cornet shank) I have on the way from an Ebay auction a new Benge 7C. Should get it later this week. I am having a little trouble getting a consistent good tone, partly due to insufficient practice, I'm sure, and perhaps due to the missing tooth? Some days it sounds pretty good, other days it doesn't. Also, having problems with the upper register, again probably will improve with more practice, but wonder if it would be worthwhile to try a shallower cup MP?
Any and all suggestions on the above will be very much appreciated. I am so happy that I am playing again, and don't know why I was so stupid to have stayed away so long. :?
Thanks
Les Elliott