Shermy

I am floored with how well these horns look together!! Heck, I'm floored with how beautiful they are on their own. Looks is actually only a very small reason for my purchase. I really wanted a new trumpet that suited the type of music I like to play - Combo or 2nd book big band Jazz - and also be able to blend well in a legit setting if the need arises. So, I guess here goes my first impressions and to let you know if it lives up to what I want it to. I'll keep this to the trumpet.

Visually it is beautiful, right down to the little brass colored seam running down the length of the bell. The lacquer finish is impeccable. The valves, right out of the box, were butter smooth and lightning quick. The compression on the valve slides was much more than my Bach 37* but not a lot. The 1st and 3rd slides moved quite freely, again, right out of the box. One plus, that I really didn't notice before purchasing, is the brass action rods (the rods that connect the finger buttons to the valves). I believe All stock Bach, Shilke and Yamaha action rods are aluminum, which (from first hand experience) corrode after time. All connections (anywhere where anything had to be soldered together) were meticulously done. It also feels a few ounces lighter than my Bach 37*.

It was shipped with the double radius slide in the horn. Since it was there, and I already warmed up on my Bach 37, I figured what the heck. Later discovered this tuning slide is not stamped with the last two digits of the serial number like all the others, however, it fits just as tightly as the stock (single radius) slide. I put my mouthpiece (Curry 2BC) into the receiver, which is stamped with 1601. The mouthpiece went in a few millimeters deeper than in my Bach. It also doesn't fit quite as snuggly as in my Bach. It isn't lose mind you - probably because there isn't enough corrosion for it to stick to...

I started on an open space G. The sound right away was different than the Bach. I could hear a rich spectrum of tone from bright to dark - true brilliance. This is (from first impressions behind the bell) dang close to what I was looking for. I hope it sounds the same out front. My Bach sound is almost the same, I think the difference is more of the bright sound and a little less of the dark sound. The response is AMAZING. You can really 'ping' on this horn - sound is almost instantanious. I then did some simple lip flexibilities up to C, then E, down to C, G then low C checking on slotting and intonation. This horn connects! I tried the same on the rest of the open notes up to high C up and down at various speeds. I'm not sure if it's because my 37 is old and leaky, but I was expecting at least one clam. Nothing happening! You can find the center on this horn so easily. Next, since I was already warm, I played the first few phrases of Charlier 1, again checking for slotting, intonation, valves, and also response - WOW, WOW, WOW, and WOW!! Man, what I've been missing (or what I didn't miss - note wise). I never thought a piece of equipment would make this much difference.

Next, I pulled out the double radius slide and put in the single radius slide. I was expecting it to be radically different - so much that the clams would start showing up and the slotting would be all over the place. Not true at all. It gave me just the right amount of 'lose' slotting, a little less resistance, but retained all the center. I played some of the same stuff to try to make it crack, well of course it can, but when you're trying to, how real of a simulation is that? I decided to again play Charlier 1 to see if I could make it through the first 3rd with out fracking, and to my own 'comeback player' chop's amazement, I did just that. The whole time I'm thinking how can I play this much more accurately than a horn I've played for the past 25 years on a horn I only started playing minutes ago?!?!

Finally, I put it through the paces for its intended purpose. I started playing some improvised licks over the changes to "A Night In Tunisa". On my Bach, I would hear stuff in my head and about 90% of the time it would come out of the horn, the rest of the time, it would be a missed partial, or something else. On this horn, again, a lot of that was eliminated. It's a dream come true - at least on my limited exposure to date. I still need to play it in a section.

I've played it for about 4 or 5 hours since it came early Thursday evening. Every time I bring it to my face is a joy. I love the sound, I love the accuracy, and the looks are a big plus!

I'm meeting up with a pro in the area tomorrow to let him look it over and listen to me play. I'll chime back with his impressions.

Thanks and Cheers!
Shermy