| To C or not to C....
OK, I am more of a spy when it comes to legit gigs. I'm a free lancer and I tend to do more commercial/jazz work.
However, I almost always use a C trumpet when I play legit gigs. Right now I use a large bore Bach with a 229 bell and some sort of Frankenstein's monster thing as a lead pipe. I use an Opera Model asymmetric for the mouthpiece. This gives an extremely dark tone.
Now the qustion is why did we start doing this? In all honesty I am not sure, but I have this recollection that it began with the NY Philharmonic under Leopold Sotkowski, or something like that. You real legit guys can straighten out that part. I THINK the motiviation was for transposition purposes. I don't think accuracy or delicacy of sound was part of it, but I sure could be wrong here.
I do think C trumpets are a bit more accurate - less prone to split notes - better Q. In the mf territory of orchestral gigs they are very nice that way. Now, I know of only two guys that I've worked with who insisted on using them on big band and jazz gigs, Frankly, I don't think they blow well enough for those jobs. When blown as hard as I have to play on commercial work, a C trumpet will go nasal and twangy, not mention a bit stuffy. I just don't think the sound is big enough for jazz/lead stuff.
Tha's all just my opinion, fwiiw. As to the facts, we'll need some "real-deal" legit guys to pop on by.
Peace.
Nick Drozdoff |