Phil Kersh

Okay, for starters, I'd like to thank everyone for all their posts regarding everything trumpet related. Reading them has been quite educational. Recently I purchased a used C937 with an early 1000's serial. A couple of months prior I ran into a fellow-trumpeter that had purchased a Monette Bb a few years ago and the experiece re-sparked my desire to play my own Dave Monette special. Up to this point I have been playing a modified Bach C with a 229H bell, Malone MC2 leadpipe, modified tuning slide, and of course, heavy valve caps and bottom. I've also been playing on a B1-2 and C1-2 mouthpiece set since 1993, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the Monette concept. What I'd like to do it get feedback and ideas of what you suggest is the best way to start the acclimation process. With the trumpet I received a STC2 Prana C1-2 S3 81 mouthpiece which feels nice, but the bore and overall feel of it is very different. I'm thinking that since I am getting used a totally different horn, I should stick with my old STC1 C1-2 for now, and then later make the switch to the larger STC2. However, my main concern is still the best way to get into the new horn. I look forward to hearing from the Monette fans and pros out there.

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Mt. Vernon Bb - Monette B1/2
Monette C937
Bach 229H C with Malone MC2 - Monette C1/2
Schilke P5/4
Yamaha YTR-9610 Eb/D
Bach 184 Bb Cornet

Tromba1030

Hi Phil,
I too just got my first Monette trumpet this spring a gold plated STC-1 formerly owned by Andrew Balio of the Baltimore Symphony while he was playing Monette equipment. Unlike your new horn, my horn was built for STC-1 weight mouthpieces and I haven't had to go about switching to a heavier mouthpiece. My horn was built to be used with larger mouthpieces and came with a C1-1 made especially for the horn with a 12 stamped on the shank (I think that might be the throat). This mouthpiece plays great but I am quite fond of my regular C1-1S1. I have found the slap cups to be a great improvement and I have given some thought to maybe eventually playing around with the larger backbores/throats that perhaps the trumpet was meant to be played with. I am not sure that I answered your question about the mouthpiece necessarily but I thought I would share my experience with my "new" horn/mouthpiece set up. In terms of acclimation, I have found that playing lots of long tones and lyrical passages have really helped me to play the equipment with as relaxed an approach as possible. I have also been doing a lot of work on my breathing so that I can make this horn as efficient as I know it can be. Enjoy the new horn!

Jacob

P.S. make sure that the valve caps are always adjusted properly- for some reason that is beyond my understanding the varying tension on each cap makes and extraordinary difference in the way the horn plays.

__________________
“I am in the present. I cannot know what tomorrow will bring forth. I can know only what the truth is for me today. That is what I am called upon to serve, and I serve it in all lucidity.”
-Igor Stravinsky

Monette STC-1 C Trumpet
C1-1S1

Vulgano Brother

I'd stick with the Prana, and start from scratch, (but accelerated), letting the trumpet find "its" sound. You might want to pull out some of those old Arban's exercises you had done cold in the distant past and let the trumpet do the work.

Don't forget to read the stuff on the Monette website!

Have fun!

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Bear

Wow, congrats on the Monette... It's on my wish list (XLT or MF Prana)... but there are more immediate things I must use my finance for, lol. Let us know how she plays!

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-C. S. Lewis

Life is about learning; when you stop learning, you die. -Tom Clancy

And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
-Revelation 8:6

Phil Kersh

Thanks. It plays like a charm, but I really do need to call the shop and find out a bit more of the actual specs and history. It's quite a bit heavier than what I'm used to, but then again, that's what I expected. I think the biggest difference is that I have to be extremely relaxed to get it to speak easily. It's definitely not as forgiving as the Bach. But I really love it.

__________________
Mt. Vernon Bb - Monette B1/2
Monette C937
Bach 229H C with Malone MC2 - Monette C1/2
Schilke P5/4
Yamaha YTR-9610 Eb/D
Bach 184 Bb Cornet

rowuk

Phil,
I assume that you mean that the new C with Prana is a bit sharp in the upper register and a bit flat in the lower (a common observation when switchng to Prana if there are some body use issues).

The solution is to search and destroy. There is something about your playing that adds tension.

I am not sure what your playing schedule looks like. If you have a summer break, Monettes' recommendations found here are actually what I teach and haven't let me down yet:

David G. Monette Corporation

I would use the Prana right away - if your playing schedule allows for it.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

B15M

Robin,

Thanks for the link. It's been a long time since I read that stuff. I forgot a lot of it. Now I have to go and try the things I forgot.

My advise for switching to the Monette trumpet is to play on it exclusively with the correct mouthpiece. The change will be drastic at first. I think after a week, if you go back to your old trumpet you will notice a huge change in your playing. If you play a lot on your B-flat, that will hold back the change to the Monette.

For me the hardest thing to get used to was the heavier trumpet. Not holding it but how much sound to put out of it. You won't be able to hear yourself the same way. This caused me to over blow. Believe me when I tell you that they can hear you out front. This took me a long time to get used to.

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Phil Kersh

The biggest challenge so far with the Prana is the larger backbore (81) as opposed to whatever is on the standard STC1 C1-2 that I've been married to for the last 16 years. It sorta reminds me of what it felt like when I first converted from my Bach 1B! Honestly though, I love the overall sound and feel of the new mouthpiece and horn, but it definitely takes a lot more air. It will be really interesting to start rehearsing again so I can get a feel for how others hear me in an orchestral setting. I really appreciate the comments on over blowing and removing tension. You don't suppose Dave has any advice on dealing with teenagers?

__________________
Mt. Vernon Bb - Monette B1/2
Monette C937
Bach 229H C with Malone MC2 - Monette C1/2
Schilke P5/4
Yamaha YTR-9610 Eb/D
Bach 184 Bb Cornet

Phil Kersh

I am looking for more wisdom concerning the Prana mouthpiece that came with my C937. What would you say is the big differences and benefits of the Prana configuration? And as another query, what do you think about the Slap modification as well? Dave sure makes a big deal about the Prana, what with all the additional steps it takes to create the mouthpiece.

__________________
Mt. Vernon Bb - Monette B1/2
Monette C937
Bach 229H C with Malone MC2 - Monette C1/2
Schilke P5/4
Yamaha YTR-9610 Eb/D
Bach 184 Bb Cornet

RichJ

I have an STC-7 C trumpet in the same serial range, which is virtually identical to your horn. I would practice lyrical stuff on it at first, like the Snedecor Lyrical Etudes. I think the hardest acclimation point will be getting used to the fact that it will be difficult to hear yourself in a loud ensemble. The horn won't give you the same edge to the sound that you might be used to hearing, but the sound will get out there plenty. I would not play anything lighter than an STC2 weight mouthpiece on it, even getting used to it. The heavier mouthpieces and their large bores are a large part of acclimating to a heavier Monette. If anything, you might find it beneficial to do some practicing of the heavier mouthpiece on a lighter horn.