tom turner

I recently received, for testing and review, a new silver "Celebration" trumpet by Flip Oakes. These things are so rare at this point that only a few handfuls of people have played one, so I feel very blessed.

I'm going to spread the review out for several threads over the next week or so, in order to focus on testing different elements of the way the horn plays. IF ANYONE HAS SPECIFIC THINGS THEY'D LIKE ME TO TEST, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

PART ONE:

1. THE F# SCALE -

I've found that if a horn can lock in and play a nice F# scale throughout the ocatves, that the horn will generally be a really fine playing one. With all the multiple valve combinations interfering with the horn, this scale can sometimes be quite telling. So, after a careful warmup on my Wild Thing trumpet, I was ready for the first test on the Celebration.

Results

Very, very nice and even transition on each note throughout the octaves, from the low F# up to the F# below Triple C. Intonation was really fine, but that's the least of what I was looking for.

Like my other F. Oakes horns, (and using a stairstep analogy) each note ascending seemed to rest on an equal height step with an equal "depth" to each step. This is not encountered on many fine horns, for most horns have notes that are harder to hit and/or harder to stay on the pitch without falling off. The evenness of effort from one note to the other was also remarkably the same!

Of particular interest on this scale test was the way the High G# (above High C) would play. Would the note speak normally, or would it be like on most horns . . . and hardly "work" well at all. I was quite impressed. The A# above that was also solid.


2. THE HIGH A -

Typically the hardest note to speak on most trumpets, I figured I'd spend a while testing how this note spoke . . . and hopefully locked in on the Celebration.

Doing repeated interval skips was VERY pleasing. The note was a real one, and it locked in as good as any trumpet I've ever tested or played. Frankly, I got a real kick out of doing this test, and was amazed how consistent I could hit the A from different directions and speeds between the intervals.

I think people who routinely play above the "ceiling" High G will be quite impressed at what this horn would do for them! I also think that lots of folks who've never been able to comfortably and consistently play above the High G will find that this horn helps 'em get over that barrier caused by the typically "lame" High G# and High A.


3. EASE AND EXTENT OF CONTROL OF THE INSTRUMENT'S RANGE -

Throughout the entire range of the horn from the low F# to the Triple C, the horn was as good and consistent as my Wild Thing. Heck, it might even be a tad easier to play in the stratosphere! I was very impressed. All notes locked evenly and properly, yet released with great control when doing tip trills.


I can already see that this horn holds a whole lot of promise for someone wanting or needing a very serious trumpet! Heck, I might want one of these myself. There are some really exciting things I have to say about the sound, focus and blow. I'll be covering these things in a later test.

Tom Turner

ctm2aud

Ok, Tom,you and Janet have convinced me. Yesterday I ordered a lacquer Celebration from Flip. Turned out he had silver in stock but no lacquer so he's sending me a new one he set up for himself. I've played the Wild Thing before but found that the #1 slide was asking for too much air. Otherwise I thought it was great. From what I have read in this and other threads the Celebration ought to be just right. I particularly enjoyed (and found useful) the comments made by Tom's wife in another of Tom's reports on the Celebration.

Regards,
Dave Taylor

Gr Tech
Bach Strad MLV 65G
Celebration arriving next week!

tom turner

Hi Dave,

I think you'll like that new lacquered Celebration!

Poor Flip keeps hand-picking one for himself and then has to give it up!

I'd started my Celebration review here and then had to give it up for a while . . . due the the fact that the original silver Celebration he'd simply sent me for my opinions on got sold . . . to a friend I play with.

By that time, I'd already notified Flip that I'd realized that I had to have that horn . . . but the fellow I'd lent it to for evaluation thought otherwise . . . and bought it out from under me.

So, I asked him to pick me out another I'd love just as much . . . and he sent me HIS silver one. He hasn't had a bunch made up in gold yet, so he was playing a silver one.

When he wrote me he'd decided to send me his personal silver one that he'd never even left the house with, I initially felt bad . . . until reading further when he wrote "I really don't like polishing silver anyway, and I found a certain LACQUERED one I like just as well.

Thus . . . Flip has now lost TWO that he'd picked for himself . . . and you've gotten a really special instrument!

Enjoy!

Tom

BTW, I'm almost to where I can test and post more reviews of this second one that I now own.

These things take time to do . . . and about ten days ago I became a proud grandfather for the first time . . . and my son lives 130 miles from here. Thus, I've been playing gigs on Saturday nights and then driving on Sunday to see the little guy. Here's his photo.

My son and daughter-in-law named him the "fourth," which is quite an honor. I just wish my dad, W.T. Turner, Sr. had made it another five years to see it happen. Then again . . . he WAS there, looking down from Heaven.

Walter

Hey Tom

You look really proud...the little guy is great....all he needs now is some whiskers.!

All the best

Walter

ctm2aud

Hey Tom,
Congrats on the new grandfather gig! It's good that you're close enough to make the trip!

Regards,
Dave Taylor

ctm2aud

Hello all,
Just an update on the Celebration I ordered. I got it, played it for a few days and thought how does it compare to a Wild Thing? Well, I decided to take it with me on our California vacation and compare it head to head with the Wild Thing. Flip was great; he allowed me the option of trading for a WT if I liked it better. He also gave me some good tips to improve my playing plus an opinion on the sound of the mouthpieces I was using (more on this in a mp thread).

After about 45 min of going back and forth between horns I settled on the Celebration. I like the more focused sound of the Celebration and the fact that, for me, it has a little more resistance than the WT. The Celebration is very flexible and easy to play. A note to all you Bach guys, this is the horn you want if you want to upgrade and still fit very nicely in the section.

Regards,
Dave Taylor

Richard Oliver

Sounds great Dave!

Photos when you have the time, eh?

tom turner

Ditto on your accessment Dave, and congratulations!

I think this model will be Flip's most popular, over time . . . a true Bach killer with the ease of play and accuracy of all of Flip's horns!

It has truly turned some heads in a fine big band that I play in. Two of us now play 'em. The other guy who has one is 60 and has played at a very high level his entire adult life (Music Major, Band Director, Air Force bandsman (now retired), etc.

He "retired" his five digit, early Elkhart Bach Stradivarius after trying a Celebration (an early one that Flip asked me to evaluate) on a couple of gigs. He told me he's never had a horn that played so wonderfully.

I now have my own too . . . and it has a nice, rich, focused sound to die for . . . and that incredible Oakes "feel."

I think you'll be very, very pleased with your new Celebration, just as I am!!!

Tom

MJ

Congrats on your grandson Tom!

Richard Oliver

Yes Tom, Congrats!

A beautiful baby, happy father, and beaming grandpa!