tatakata

Anyone got a really old Monette trumpet? I heard Monette started with leadpipes and conversions and then moved into full horns. So I'm talking about the early ones which I'm told were made with Kanstul Bells / Parts and Getzen valves.

I played on an old Monette Bb today and it was a great instrument. Nice sound and very even. I might keep my eye open for one down the road.

rowuk

I have a close friend with a low sn Monette (<500). He has no information on what parts went into the horn. It does have the 2 piece bell that Monette still uses today though and the valves do not look like any Getzens that I have ever had or played. Considering Getzens reputation for valves, that would not have been a bad choice in the beginning though. I have a catalog from the mid 90s and that shows Dave building "real" Monette valves.

My buddy wants new valves to make his axe "tight" again. Monette can do this but there are certain tolerances up to where new pistons can be reasonably fitted. Beyond that, it is not worth the effort. Building a new valveblock is too expensive and the new horns are just too good. Contact Monette for more info.

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loudog

I had a Chicago Monette C trumpet, serial number in the low 200's...GREAT instrument!! I sold it for almost twice what I bought it for to the original owner...I used that money to buy a 2000LT which I actually didn't like nearly as much. Made me kind of sad! My playing needs have since changed, and I'm no longer on Monette equipment, but I LOVED MY CHICAGO C!!! Those old horns are the best, IMO. My undergrad trumpet teacher owns serial no. 72, and his son owns one in the 400's. All three of those horns (mine included) were incredible instruments.

L

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tatakata

Thanks for the info Rowuk and loudog. So loudog what did you like more about your older Monette vs the newer one. I have tried a couple of the newer models and for me they just are not what I'm looking for. I guess the older ones are more "conventional" obviously. I noticed the tuning slide was quite rounded and the construction of the tubes was a bit unique. For example the tuning slide had almost a raised line on it. Like it was two pieces put together. Hard to explain.

And why the 2 piece bell. It was easily noticed on the raw brass bell. I was always told 1 piece bells were superior. (not that that means anything)

Didn't use a Monette mp on it when I tried it. It was a great horn.

loudog

I just thought that my older Monette was more open, and played much smoother than the 2000LT. The sound was a bit brighter too. My 2000LT's bell was unbuffed, so it was quite a bit thicker, making the sound just a bit too dark for my tastes. As far as the piping on it, with the raised line on it, this topic was discussed recently either here or on TrumpetHerald. I can't remember what the details were. I didn't pay much attention to it...my Chicago C had that as well, but it didn't bother me, because the horn played SO FLIPPIN WELL!

As far as the two piece bell, Monette said in an old video (a PBS special about making brass instruments) that he preferred a 2 piece bell, because when the bells were spun, they typically get thinner the further out in the flair, and he wanted uniformity in the wall thickness. I'm not sure much more other than what he said.

Again, I try not to focus on stuff like that, I'm more interested in making music, so I try to find horns that play well and sound great. I think I've definitely hit the mark with my Bach malone converted 229 C trumpet! This horn, IMO, plays better than both my old Monette's did, and sounds EXACTLY the way I want it to!

Louie

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loudog

I found it...

"...and there are NO seams on the bends of the valve slides. They are cylindrical tubes and one piece bends. The lines on the tubes are left over from the bending process as each bend is placed into a two piece iron form and a steel ball is forced through to make the bore consistent. Those lines that look like a seam are the brass that is pushed out the crack of the two pieces of iron. Monette chooses not to buff that line off of the slide.
The tuning slides are made the same way."

This is a cut and paste from a user on TPIN, who I know personally, and has a very strong connection to the Monette factory. If anyone would know, he would...very credible source. I'll leave his name out, however, as he usually stays out of Monette threads.

Louie

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Jimi Michiel

Louie-

Have you tried the new Prana light weight horns? I've heard mixed reviews about the 2000LT and STC-1 Classic models that were built ca. 1999-2003, but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the Prana XLT and LT. Of course, if you've found a horn you like, why change?

-Jimi

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loudog

Hey Jimi,

No, I haven't tried those horns. I'm never opposed to trying new things, but I think I've found the ticket with this Bach/Malone (although I said that too about my Chicago Monette C when I got that).

LE

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Vulgano Brother

Dave did a lot of work with Allied, so any Getzen valve connection would have been of the Donald E. variety. There are rumours that some of his early mandrels were, uhh, "cloned." Rumours only, though.

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B15M

I've played a few old Monette C trumpets and I liked them all.
At ITG I played a MF Prana and loved it. It was hard to really play because of what was going on while I was there.

In the lower register the sound was dark and in the upper register it was extremely bright. Almost like two different trumpets.

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