brem

So I got myself an NYTC Stage 1 California Light Bb trumpet...

Yup. I did. Impulse buy.

First off, although it was sort of an impulse buy, it certainly wasn't an impulse transaction. I had been emailing Felix Vayser (NYTC owner) for a while, asking all kind of questions, all of which he was sport enough to answer.

After a while, I decided to do what everybody on the trumpet forums tells you NOT to do, which is to buy before you try. I jumped in the NYTC bandwagon and ordered one. But I guess these horns being custom made and having very few available for trial, there wasn't many other ways to find out if this horn was for me or not. Right?

Anyway, here's my impressions of that horn.

Bear in mind that I am NOT a pro. I'm a serious amateur, at best. I have hectic practice schedules and have not seen a "teacher or mentor" in yeeeeears. However, I am motivated.

I have been playing most of 20 years with my Bach Stradivarius Model 37 Lightweight. Like most people, wanting to hit those high notes, I played with a shallow mouthpiece (Schilke 12A4) with mitigated success. I had stopped playing in recent years and ony a few months ago came back to trumpet playing. I've switched to a Schike 15B mouthpiece (simiar to Bach 3C), less shallow, slightly larger than my previous piece. I worked my chops back up to their legendary status, being able to hit a high C or high E on good days.

Anyways, back to the California Light.

Upon reception, I tried the horn with my Schilke 15B mouthpiece. I immediatly felt something different with the horn, but I couldn't pin point what it was. What I know is that the different response I was getting from the horn made my chops work different muscles. I was again adapting to the new feel, the new horn.

I practiced a week long, switching between the two horns, trying to figure out the differences.

I brought it with me at our weekly band practice, and every member of the band noticed *I* sounded different. Heck, when my wife heard it, she said: "Oh, it does sound different. I like it better."

Ok, so what makes it better?

The first thing I noticed is that I played LOUDER with the same breath and buzz. This was surprising.

Maybe what I felt was louder is actually what people would call "richer sound"? I don't know.

The bell, having less braces would usually hint that since more resonnant this bell probably makes for higher overtones, brighter sound . Well, not necessarely.

I believe the weighted bottom valve caps and the heavier mouthpiece receiver help balance the horn and make the sound more centered, more "round", somewhat darker, and makes slotting easier. When I say it makes slotting easier, it really is a matter of not fighting the horn. I could play the exact same thing on my Strad, but somehow, on the California Light, it was easier to render. More so even in the higher register. I DID NOT gain more range playing this horn, BUT I did feel that my high C and high E are more in control.

That's it. I feel more in control. I don't feel the horn is against me, but it's working with me. I know it sounds cliché, but that's really the case. Honestly.

It's not just me, people I play with, my wife, they all could hear the difference. So it's not just in my head. It's not just psychological. :)

It is however a trumpet, and when I play louder (louder than my usual loud!), the vibration of the bell can really be felt (when you touch it) and heard. It is still centered, but brighter, more sparkly.

The valves are smooth, just like my Strad, but less clunky, less noisy, nothing to say other than they are top notch. The slides slide easily. Just like one would expec from a new horn.

I'm very satisfied with my purchase so far. But it does need an adaptation period on my part. I'm still not used to Amado water keys...

Right now, I feel like this new horn from NYTC can help me expand my abilities, faster than I would have with my Strad. Who knows, when I pick up my Strad in a few months, I might sound totally different on that older horn.

To be continued...

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brem
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NYTC Stage 1 California Light - Wedge 3C cup w/ Warburton 7 backbore mpc
Bach Stradivarius Bb Model 37 * #124xxx (circa 1975) - Schilke 15B mpc
Yamaha YFH-731 Flugelhorn #000xxx - Yamaha 14F4-GP mpc
Conn Connquest 20A Cornet 1954

Brekelefuw

I am jealous. Are you selling your strad?

tedh1951

You sound like a very happy camper - 90% of it IS psychological, the other 90% is the new horn. :)

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Ted

Mark Bradley

I had mine for sale, an excellent trumpet (I needed the moola). But I've come to my senses and the ad is pulled. You snooze you lose....

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http://jazztrpt.freeservers.com

brem

Mark: I need moola, but I prefer to eat peanut butter and jelly than to depart from it. hee hee
Ted: totally :)
Brekelefuw: I will hold on it for a little while. I also want to replace the third slide crook that was repaired but is esthetically so-so. I might sell it. It's pretty worn out, so I don't know how much I could get for it.

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brem
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NYTC Stage 1 California Light - Wedge 3C cup w/ Warburton 7 backbore mpc
Bach Stradivarius Bb Model 37 * #124xxx (circa 1975) - Schilke 15B mpc
Yamaha YFH-731 Flugelhorn #000xxx - Yamaha 14F4-GP mpc
Conn Connquest 20A Cornet 1954

miles71

Glad to hear you are happy with the Stage 1. And I think that was a great review from you, very honest and candid. I look forward to hearing the progress.
TD

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NYTC Stage 1 Endorsing Artist
www.domenicomusic.com

jazz9

I REALLY want this horn, but as a high school student, it's just not going to happen. This horn will be mine sometime in life, but until then, I'll have to look at it in awe. Congrats on your great buy. I will be buying a Strad pretty soon as my first step-up horn, so I hope it will carry me until I can afford one of Felix's fantastic instruments. Thanks for sharing your experience with it!

BTW, how long did it take to get it once you ordered it?

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Bach Strad 37