annapurna

Hello,

maybe someone is interested in my experience with my visit of Spada in Switzerland. So here is my report:
I was there for 4 hours and even as a mediocre amateur as I am, I wasn´t a second class costumer at all. Vincenz Spada was very kind, helpful an has very good ears.
First I tested a Large-Bore valve block. Not my cup of tea. The sound was a bit stuffy and dull. So I stayed with a ML-bore.
The first bell he gave to me was a 43 made of goldbrass (tuning bell of course). It had a wonderful rich and "gentle" sound. I played a couple of others (standart 43, 43 heavy, 37, 72...) but my choice was the 43 goldbrass bell.
For a leadpipe I choose a 2L. Which is an exact conical manufactured leadpipe out of nickel silver (very hard and consistent). For me it has the best balance between free blowing and resistance.
My choice for a tuning slide was a hand hammered fully rounded slide also made out of nickel silver and with one brace. On all Spada-Bach trumpets you can change the position of the braces and remove them.
You cannot image how the sound changes, when you change the position of the brace between the slide of the first valve and the bell. (I didin´t even know that I have such a brace at my old Bach) If you push it towards the valve block, the sound gets a little more brilliant and lighter. If you pull it back, your tone gets warmer and richer.
I decided not to get heavy valve caps. There was no change for the better. I only have a heavy ring in the bottom of my third valve. BTW Vincenz Spada told me, that a heavy cap on the second valve does more harm than do good for most of the players. And you should tighten the second valve cap the most, than the first one and the third one just a little, so that it is just closed.
What can I say? I have now a wonderful Bach-Spada here at home, that is better in every way than my old Bach and it even looks beautiful. It is half silver and half gold plated. I can test it for one week and can then decide if I keep it or not.
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If you are in Switzerland you have to visit Spada! They make a great job there and it is a lot of fun and an enrichment for every trumpet player. Also try their BJ trumpets. They are just amazing. What a sound!
For more information check their website SPADA MUSIC AG or just contact them.
Next Tuesday I will visit Thein in Bremen to test their MH-One (The Matthias Höfs Model)
Greetings from Germany

Annapurna

PS: Sorry for my English

kerouack

nice horn, how much?

annapurna

It´s 3000 Euro (weak Dollar so ~4300 $)

But I chose the Thein Mh-One which is (for me) even better. 200€ more, but completely hand crafted. An unbelievable trumpet

Here you can see some pictures and a short description.http://www.trumpetmaster.com/vb/139/...-35526-17.html (What is your main horn?)

If you have any questions about the trumpets fell free to ask.

Marco

rowuk

There you go! Bach at its logical extreme. The basic design is good and in the hands of a switch watch maker it becomes MUCH more!
The Thein Höfs model is also excellent!
Spada is a experience that I wish EVERY trumpet player could have!

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

annapurna

Yes Robin. It was a great experience. They make great trumpets and it´s so nice to deal with both of them. "Der Kunde ist König" (costumer is king) at it´s best! As well as Thein. And the variations you can choose from are unbelievable. At Thein you can choose from approximately 10-15! different bells. Then different leadpipes, tuning slides and valve blocks. It seems that I found my dreamhorn. I can test it now for two weeks.

Marco

rowuk

Marco,
let me know how it goes! I like the idea of a tuning bell. We then have inexpensive options for the future! We still need to get together.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

annapurna

Hi Robin,

I would definitely like to hear and see you in a concert.
The Thein isn't a tuning bell model. It´s just a changeable bell system. The leadpipe is in a sleeve so it is also changeable.
And by the way. There are no inexpensive options at Thein

Marco

rowuk

My experience with Thein does not match yours. You are right about their pricelist strategy though!

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Miyot

Nice looking horn. Is that an exercise bike in the reflection in the bell. I would like to pop over to Spada and give one a try.

ozboy

What? The trumpet or the exercise bike?