[TPIN] "True Bach" horns being built

[badnote]

OK I will jump in, I just cannot resist this one. First of all I must 
preface all I am about to say by stating that I love music first and 
equipment way on down the list. Equipment is more or less of a curiosity to 
me really. Here goes. I have owned many different horns and gotten rid of 
them all at some point. I more or less get a horn, play it for a while maybe 
tweak it and then sell it. In the process however, I get the opportunity to 
learn about that instrument or mouthpiece first hand. I have had several 
configurations that I loved but then there was that one thing that was more 
difficult to play than the one before and so.....it goes. Now I have to say 
that no equipment will substitute for practice but I wouldn't want to play 
lead trumpet on a 1 1/2 C bach mpc either (I have done this and it does not 
work unless of course you are Byron Stripling). Of the Bach trumpets I have 
had (5 or 6), I have had to tweak either Ackright or someone else tried to 
make that Bach into something else. The only one I ever owned that I played 
right out of the case was a 1930 NY large bore. Truly a wonderful instrument 
but it deserved to be in a collection rather than on a trumpet stand in 
between choruses of "Brick House" (yes, I paly money gigs, please do not 
shoot me!). I always seem to go back to Schilke trumpets until I think I am 
a legit player and try to start practicing excerpts again then I get rid of 
the Schilke and get.......A Bach! and the whole thing starts over. But I 
tell you that is it! No more messing around. I hunted down my old 1973 X3 
and bought it back. Lead gigs are effortless again, Jazz gigs 
are........well....a bit bright and legit gigs are probably almost over 
because all the Bach guys are sick of me showing up with the Schilke but do 
you know what? I like the sound of that horn and I am just getting to old to 
care if anyone likes the horn I am playing or not. "Music is 99 % visual" or 
so it seems unfortunatlely. So, if you like your new "true Bach" don't feel 
guilty because there are some folks out there that like Schilkes (or 
whatever you play). Be proud of that scab made horn (just kidding) and 
practice it until the braces come off, then everyone will want a horn like 
yours because you sound so good on it and they want to play that good too. 
They WILL buy a horn like yours and who knows maybe you will get an 
endorsement and hawk your horn (with a different stamp on it like a Leblanc 
copy of a Schilke X-3) and you too will be rich and famous! OK, I hope I did 
not offend anyone, I was just trying to be funny-that is the Monty Python in 
me. But seriously, practice (and listen) like there is no tomorrow and it 
will not matter if you are playing a Bundy (Chet Baker played one from time 
to time) or a Monette and you as well as those who listen to you will be 
inspired!

John
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dwight Bird" <trumpet at birdfam.org>
To: <Vaxtrpts at aol.com>; <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 1:49 PM
Subject: RE: [TPIN] "True Bach" horns being built


>I know that I am in the minority in that I really have not liked the sound
> of Bach trumpets since I was young.  I also play in an orchestra that uses 
> C
> trumpets.  In the C trumpet work nobody is playing "true Bachs".  Everyone
> that I know that is playing C trumpet more than just occasionally has had
> some modification to their horn.  The most common are lead pipes and the
> Malone conversion.  This may not be as common in the Bb world, but I know
> that my Bach Bb that was made in the early 60s is quite unrewarding to 
> play,
> very stuffy.
>
> So it seems that for a very long time professional players have used Bach
> Stradivarius trumpets more as a donor instrument than the end result.  Do
> you agree?
>
> Just so you know, I like Monette trumpet best.
>
> _______________
> Dwight Bird
> Kaysville, UT
>
>
>
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