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RichN · 05-09-2005, 08:42 AM

Graham,

I saw the cornet's bell and I've previously seen a box of bits that was going to be the first cornet (at the old workshop). I asked Leigh about why it wasn't finished and he just pointed to a whiteboard that they use to manage the repair jobs they've got on. It was full. I think the cornet's taken a bit of a back seat to actual customer orders at the moment, but I'm sure it'll get done soon enough. I actually grew up playing cornet in brass bands, so I'm really curious to see what it's like. Leigh's promised to let me play it.

The trumpet that I got originally started life as a MHY but the only difference between that and the MY is the thickness of the material in the bell. Now that the bell and tuning slide have been swapped for standard weight ones, it's just like any other MY, except for the sound. I'm not sure exactly what Leigh did, he'd have to comment himself, but it worked. The MR was lovelly and warm sounding, the first MY had a really clean clear sound with lots of focus and 'meat' to it, but lacked a little of the warmth and richness I was looking for. The MY has a slightly 'commercial / showtune' edge to it compared with my Bach 180-37, although if the MY was also lacquered, I think that aspect of the sound would be similar but it would also affect the response. The MY that I eventually chose has that extra bit of warmth and richness, about half way to the MR sound, but because it wasn't lacquered, still has the original incredible response. That's why I'm gold plating it; I don't want to lose that feeling at all. It's significantly better than my Bach in the stave, but streets ahead in sound, response and intonation from about F (top of stave) upwards. Clear as mud?

Dunstable Eclipses vs Luton Eclipses? I think they'll all be classics, because they're the same instruments made by the same people using the same tools. In a few years time, after Leigh and John have made their millions by selling out to Conn-Selmer-Music-Group and Leigh is sitting in his office in a big leather chair with a fat cigar and a glass of brandy (or a vodka and Mountain Dew), and never has to get his hands dirty any more, we'll all be talking about the old Luton and Dunstable classic Eclipses and how the Elkhart Eclipses are just pale imitations trading on the former glory of the name

.

Rich.

05-09-2005, 08:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
RichN Pianissimo User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK (Mids) Posts: 97	Graham, I saw the cornet's bell and I've previously seen a box of bits that was going to be the first cornet (at the old workshop). I asked Leigh about why it wasn't finished and he just pointed to a whiteboard that they use to manage the repair jobs they've got on. It was full. I think the cornet's taken a bit of a back seat to actual customer orders at the moment, but I'm sure it'll get done soon enough. I actually grew up playing cornet in brass bands, so I'm really curious to see what it's like. Leigh's promised to let me play it. The trumpet that I got originally started life as a MHY but the only difference between that and the MY is the thickness of the material in the bell. Now that the bell and tuning slide have been swapped for standard weight ones, it's just like any other MY, except for the sound. I'm not sure exactly what Leigh did, he'd have to comment himself, but it worked. The MR was lovelly and warm sounding, the first MY had a really clean clear sound with lots of focus and 'meat' to it, but lacked a little of the warmth and richness I was looking for. The MY has a slightly 'commercial / showtune' edge to it compared with my Bach 180-37, although if the MY was also lacquered, I think that aspect of the sound would be similar but it would also affect the response. The MY that I eventually chose has that extra bit of warmth and richness, about half way to the MR sound, but because it wasn't lacquered, still has the original incredible response. That's why I'm gold plating it; I don't want to lose that feeling at all. It's significantly better than my Bach in the stave, but streets ahead in sound, response and intonation from about F (top of stave) upwards. Clear as mud? Dunstable Eclipses vs Luton Eclipses? I think they'll all be classics, because they're the same instruments made by the same people using the same tools. In a few years time, after Leigh and John have made their millions by selling out to Conn-Selmer-Music-Group and Leigh is sitting in his office in a big leather chair with a fat cigar and a glass of brandy (or a vodka and Mountain Dew), and never has to get his hands dirty any more, we'll all be talking about the old Luton and Dunstable classic Eclipses and how the Elkhart Eclipses are just pale imitations trading on the former glory of the name . Rich.