My Dream Trumpet

gzent · 06-25-2005, 12:56 AM

OK, so after weeks (months?) of planning and working with my incredibly talented technician my 'Dream Trumpet' is complete and I brought it home today.

The goal was fairly simple: build a trumpet that has:

- Superior intonation and response
- Super fast AND light valves
- A seductive, warm tone that is full, yet crystal clear above the staff
- A minimum amount of resistance
- Hand crafted one at a time

Oh, and bring it in for well under $1000.

Well, all goals have been met and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Hats off to Mark Kuklok for his patience and craftsmanship.

Here are some initial pictures of this beauty I have named 'Forza I'.

http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza01.JPG
http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza03.JPG
http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza04.JPG

Enjoy, I know I am!

Greg

trumpet blower88 · 06-25-2005, 01:56 AM

Looks nice, but is it supposed to be missing some braces and and finger and thumb rings on the 1st and 3rd valve slides? Or was it built with the D's and C sharp's to already be in tune?
Looks good, but at the same time a litle "naked". I like the finish too.
Good Job!

trickg · 06-25-2005, 06:29 AM

Greg, what did you start with? Is that an Olds Ambassador? What did you have done to it?

From where I stand, it looks like you took an Olds Ambassador or some other older trumpet, had it reworked and reassembled, added amato water keys and possibly a new leadpipe and tuning slide.

A friend of mine who does brass work says that when it comes to trumpets, it's far less about name brand than it is about workmanship and how well it was assembled.

That's a nice looking horn. Keep us posted on how it's playing and working for you.

gzent · 06-25-2005, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the kind words, its been a lot of work and fun bringing this horn to reality.

Yes, it started life as a '56 Olds Ambassador. First, a rose brass custom Pilczuk leadpipe from Rich Ita was selected from a group of 5 possible models to provide excellent intonation, a warm tone on the low notes and a fairly open feel.

The slides were 'conditioned' to remove any rough edges on the inside, the horn was cleaned and disassembled. To improve response and reduce wieght all the extra bracing was indeed removed. The bell braces were moved to improve response and feel. 2 custom tuning slides were made to further reduce resistance and Amado water keys were used.
An oversized pinky ring was made for the leadpipe.

The valve caps and buttons were 'thinned' to reduce wieght and improve appearance.

The valve psitons were lightly lapped and the valves aligned with new pads.

A scratch finish was created to finish it off.

As I said, it plays very close to what I was going for. As for the lack of slide rings, well, I guess its up to each player to decide if slide adjustments help their intonation. Certainly, this horn doesn't have perfect intonation, no trumpet does. However, I find for myself that the physical act of adjusting the slides for certain notes was: 1) Something I have seen very few players do 2) An inexact way to correct pitch 3) Disruptive to making the best sound I can and 4) Not necessary since I learned to 'bend' the notes that are off.

I am still working on a way to accurately measure intonation, but its tough since I find myself bending/correcting the pitch on any horn I play. Preliminary comparisions have shown that this horn has better intonation than the group of new $1500-$2000 pro horns I have played in the past 9 months.

If I come up with a repeatable way to compare intonation I'll share my results.

I'll try to report how the horn is sizing up and which of the two curved slides I prefer.

Greg

trickg · 06-25-2005, 11:42 AM

How did you guys go about eliminating the step marks on the Pilczuk leadpipe?

gzent · 06-25-2005, 02:08 PM

They are still there if you look closely. I think because its a scratch finish
with no laquer that they don't show up as much.

NYTC · 06-25-2005, 02:14 PM

Greg,
Great job!Looks very good, and I am sure the horn plays amazing as well.

Felix

wrbandel · 06-25-2005, 02:24 PM

Greg,

Looks GREAT!
Can't wait to try it out at rehearsal.

Warren

gzent · 06-25-2005, 05:45 PM

Thanks guys. I am very interested in hearing what others who play it have to say about it.

Greg

Chris4 · 07-16-2005, 04:42 PM

Looks good although a little bare..but whatever works best for you!

06-25-2005, 12:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
gzent Forte User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,515	My Dream Trumpet OK, so after weeks (months?) of planning and working with my incredibly talented technician my 'Dream Trumpet' is complete and I brought it home today. The goal was fairly simple: build a trumpet that has: - Superior intonation and response - Super fast AND light valves - A seductive, warm tone that is full, yet crystal clear above the staff - A minimum amount of resistance - Hand crafted one at a time Oh, and bring it in for well under $1000. Well, all goals have been met and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Hats off to Mark Kuklok for his patience and craftsmanship. Here are some initial pictures of this beauty I have named 'Forza I'. http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza01.JPG http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza03.JPG http://webpages.charter.net/gntzent/Temp/Forza04.JPG Enjoy, I know I am! Greg __________________ Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revalation And the mind's true liberation

06-25-2005, 01:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
trumpet blower88 Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 644	Looks nice, but is it supposed to be missing some braces and and finger and thumb rings on the 1st and 3rd valve slides? Or was it built with the D's and C sharp's to already be in tune? Looks good, but at the same time a litle "naked". I like the finish too. Good Job! __________________ -David Jacques

06-25-2005, 06:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	Greg, what did you start with? Is that an Olds Ambassador? What did you have done to it? From where I stand, it looks like you took an Olds Ambassador or some other older trumpet, had it reworked and reassembled, added amato water keys and possibly a new leadpipe and tuning slide. A friend of mine who does brass work says that when it comes to trumpets, it's far less about name brand than it is about workmanship and how well it was assembled. That's a nice looking horn. Keep us posted on how it's playing and working for you. __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

06-25-2005, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
gzent Forte User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,515	Thanks for the kind words, its been a lot of work and fun bringing this horn to reality. Yes, it started life as a '56 Olds Ambassador. First, a rose brass custom Pilczuk leadpipe from Rich Ita was selected from a group of 5 possible models to provide excellent intonation, a warm tone on the low notes and a fairly open feel. The slides were 'conditioned' to remove any rough edges on the inside, the horn was cleaned and disassembled. To improve response and reduce wieght all the extra bracing was indeed removed. The bell braces were moved to improve response and feel. 2 custom tuning slides were made to further reduce resistance and Amado water keys were used. An oversized pinky ring was made for the leadpipe. The valve caps and buttons were 'thinned' to reduce wieght and improve appearance. The valve psitons were lightly lapped and the valves aligned with new pads. A scratch finish was created to finish it off. As I said, it plays very close to what I was going for. As for the lack of slide rings, well, I guess its up to each player to decide if slide adjustments help their intonation. Certainly, this horn doesn't have perfect intonation, no trumpet does. However, I find for myself that the physical act of adjusting the slides for certain notes was: 1) Something I have seen very few players do 2) An inexact way to correct pitch 3) Disruptive to making the best sound I can and 4) Not necessary since I learned to 'bend' the notes that are off. I am still working on a way to accurately measure intonation, but its tough since I find myself bending/correcting the pitch on any horn I play. Preliminary comparisions have shown that this horn has better intonation than the group of new $1500-$2000 pro horns I have played in the past 9 months. If I come up with a repeatable way to compare intonation I'll share my results. I'll try to report how the horn is sizing up and which of the two curved slides I prefer. Greg __________________ Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revalation And the mind's true liberation

06-25-2005, 11:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	How did you guys go about eliminating the step marks on the Pilczuk leadpipe? __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

06-25-2005, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
gzent Forte User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,515	They are still there if you look closely. I think because its a scratch finish with no laquer that they don't show up as much. __________________ Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revalation And the mind's true liberation

06-25-2005, 02:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
NYTC Forte User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brooklyn,NY Posts: 1,062	Greg, Great job!Looks very good, and I am sure the horn plays amazing as well. Felix __________________ www.NewYorkTrumpetCompany.com Stage 1 Trumpets

06-25-2005, 02:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrbandel Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 164	Greg, Looks GREAT! Can't wait to try it out at rehearsal. Warren

06-25-2005, 05:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
gzent Forte User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 1,515	Thanks guys. I am very interested in hearing what others who play it have to say about it. Greg __________________ Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revalation And the mind's true liberation

07-16-2005, 04:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chris4 Pianissimo User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 101	Looks good although a little bare..but whatever works best for you! __________________ Check Out my Forum TrumpetChat.myfreeforum.org Yamaha Xeno RGS Yamaha 2320 Parduba Double-Cup #6

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