Flip Oakes

Welcome Arturo Sandoval

It took me a long twenty-five years to develop the Wild Thing trumpet, and over the years, I had many dreams for it. But I have to admit, there were some dreams I feared would remain only a vision. And, even now it is hard to believe that I have been bestowed this great honor as a trumpet designer. Having Arturo Sandoval play a Wild Thing trumpet is a privilege that I do not take lightly because of the sincere respect I have for him.

I would have never guessed that the same day I attended a funeral for a close trumpet player friend, Al Davis, would be the same day I’d get a call from another friend, Nathan Mills, telling me Arturo Sandoval liked my Flip Oakes Celebration Trumpet after playing it backstage during a show. Arturo wanted to meet with me to talk about my trumpets. However, our schedules conflicted. So, Nate took a Wild Thing down to the Anthology Jazz Club in San Diego the next night and met up with Arturo after his performance. I understood the risk; what it would imply if he didn’t like it. But more than anything, I know the Wild Thing Trumpet and I believed that Arturo would understand its concept. I play it, and I wanted him to play it. I wanted him to hear it and feel how it is different from all others. I asked Nate to call me, regardless of the hour, and let me know what Arturo’s thoughts were about the horn.

At 9:45 pm I received a call. I was elated to hear that Arturo wanted to meet me that night. So my wife, Joyce, and I drove down to the Anthology to meet with him. Within minutes of my arrival, he announced, “Say no more, this horn is mine. How much do you I owe you?” He was taken back by its sound. He not only embraced the trumpet, his enthusiasm filled the room.

Later our conversation evolved, Arturo told me he was looking for a flugelhorn mouthpiece. I told him that I had just what he needed in my shop. Even after telling him it was a 35-mile trip, and despite the fact it was 11:30 pm, he energetically said, “Let’s go!” He tried my Flugelhorn, and selected a new #3 WT Flugelhorn mouthpiece. Then he meticulously chose a mute for his new Wild Thing trumpet. Yet, it didn’t end there, time seemed to pass effortlessly with him. This was more than business for me; this was the beginning of a friendship.

It was late and Arturo was hungry since he hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch. On our way back to San Diego we decided to stop to get a bite to eat. He overwhelmed us with his sincerity and graciousness. He has perfect balance of humbleness and conviction. In the end, we drove him back to his hotel at 2:30 am, and he seemed like a kid with a new toy. I too, felt like a kid in my own way.

It isn’t often that you meet someone for whom you have such respect, and at the same time, you have the opportunity to offer something that can be of value. That night wasn’t about what either one of us could get from each other. Instead, it was about giving and sharing. We talked about life, family, music, and playing. I personally feel like I was the one on the receiving end of it all. For me, it was a once in a lifetime experience. I was overwhelmed to be witnessing the beginning of a relationship between a true master and his new trumpet.


It was a true pleasure, Arturo Sandoval, to have met you. Thank you for your support.


I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Nate Mills for thinking of me and introducing me to Arturo Sandoval.


Flip Oakes

Flip Oakes
“Wild Thing Trumpets”
COME AND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE
http://www.flipoakes.com

“To read what Wild Thing Owners say about their horns, click on this”
http://www.flipoakes.com/testimonials.htm

Flip Oakes
2559 Mottino Dr.
Oceanside, Ca. 92056-3421
760-643-1501
760-643-1511 Fax

To Hear the Flip Oakes Wild Thing Trumpet go to
http://www.flipoakes.com/multimedia.htm

midwestchops

congrats to you. sounds like an AMAZING day. arturo is a phenominal player. i love to hear his power, technique and amazing range and then hear him smooth out his sound and play a classical piece. very nice.

Richard Oliver

Flip,

Thanks for posting, and I so enjoyed reading about this. I picked it up on Trumpet Hearld, and Nate's excitement shone through.

Hearing your account does the same thing for me. Yes, it's more than business. All this is a little history in the making, and we get to be bugs on the wall.

All the Best,

Richard Oliver

The BuZZ

tatakata

I thought he played on "Arturo" Leblanc/Holtons. Did that deal end?

gzent

Flip,

Congrats to you! What a great story! I love it when I hear that one of the guys at the top is playing on a horn from one of the no-compromises, true custom builders like you.

Way to go!

Greg

Flip Oakes

More photos, and the meeting of Arturo Sandoval video clip is now up....

http://www.flipoakes.com/arturo-meet...wild-thing.htm

My wife Joyce, has a small digital camera, and it has a video built in as well, and she just happened to be taking photos, and shot this short video clip. Talk about timing.... What an exciting night..

All The Best,

Flip Oakes

Flip Oakes
“Wild Thing Trumpets”
COME AND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE
http://www.flipoakes.com

“To read what Wild Thing Owners say about their horns, click on this”
http://www.flipoakes.com/testimonials.htm

Flip Oakes
2559 Mottino Dr.
Oceanside, Ca. 92056-3421
760-643-1501
760-643-1511 Fax

To Hear the Flip Oakes Wild Thing Trumpet go to
http://www.flipoakes.com/multimedia.htm