Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 685 Location: Hofors, Sweden
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: Meazzi (CCC = Conn Connstellation Copy)
So, I bought a strange trumpet which is called "Meazzi, modell Oro".
I cannot find more than one reference on the entire internet, O. J. says in his player/horn combinations list that Woody Shaw played one and that it was an Italian Conn Connstellation copy.
Do you know anything more?
The serial number is XX00, so I tend to believe it really is only XX. Unfortunately the seller thought that he did not need to stabilize it in its case before he shipped it so now the bell is pretty screwed up. Everything else is in perfect condition, but I have no photos yet as it went (almost) straight to my repairman.
However it looks like a Conn Connstellation but gold plated and without the vertical leaderpipe brace. I think Woody Shaw plays his in this Youtube video. It has a VERY sweet tone.
I have understand that Meazzi made other instruments, mainly drums, but also guitars and basses.
For drums/amps, you could try Harmony Central. I've never heard of Meazzi amps, were they guitar amps? _________________ Kanstul 1600
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 685 Location: Hofors, Sweden
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:
I do not know, just saw a side note when I googled it that some guy in South America had one... Drums seem to be most prominent with Billy Cobman playing a "Hollywood Meazzi" drum set according to some comments on Youtube. Here it is with great playing by Bill Hardman on trumpet:
Meazzi was an Italian band instrument company. I owned one of their rotary valve trumpets for many years. The company no longer operates, I believe. According to one source I found the instruments were considered to be mediocre at best. I played a gig with an Italian dance band with a sax player using a Meazzi. He played so out of tune that I nearly herniated my chops trying to lip into tune with him.
As for the rotary trumpet, I sent it to Jason Harrelson to "experiment" with. He has never produced a rotary trumpet yet so I thought I would give him a base model to work from. Maybe one day we will get to see it with a heavy wall mouthpipe and receiver, sheet bracing and a titanium kranz ring
or not.
Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 383 Location: Milan, Italy
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:
I remember from when I was a guitar player that Meazzi were distributors of musical instruments and accessories for Italy, for example Marshall amps. I seem to recall that there was a line of products under their name, but they were all 'entry level', cheap stuff for beginners.
From when I started playing trumpet (10 years ago) I never heard about Meazzi trumpets here in Italy, so I guess that production must have been discontinued several years ago.
I cannot find any specific info on the internet, only an Italian wikipedia page regarding Meazzi musical publishing branch, which refers to Meazzi as one of the leading Italian musical instruments manufacturer, but we're talking about the sixties. _________________ "Don't play like a trumpeter, play like a singer!" Andrea Giuffredi
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 685 Location: Hofors, Sweden
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:41 am Post subject:
A few more pieces to the puzzle, thank you both!
However this trumpet is clearly not "mediocre at the best", but one of the most pleasing trumpets I have ever tried! The craftsmanship is very good, so is the sound. No question this is a top trumpet. As I mentioned earlier it is gold plated and engraved. The engraving covers the entire bell up to the bell bow and is well done although it lacks the "depth" that makes it artistic.
After a few more googles it looks like Meazzi mainly was a dealer with own brands. The instruments were often made by other companies. Calderoni for example, made their drums. This page about their drums is pretty informative.
Drums and guitars were their main products and there is a guy with quite many of their guitars. Seems like they made their early guitars by themselves.
Looks like they made both high and low quality guitars until 1969 and then focused on selling entry-level guitars. Maybe that counts for other instruments too? I guess this trumpet was made in the 60:s or 70:s. That also feels right if I look at the case and the mouthpiece (Bach without a dot after corp., puts it at 65-70 according to other threads here).
Probably they had some guy/firm to produce a few of these trumpets to sell under their own brand. As this trumpet is a very true copy of a Conn Connstellation (except for braces, plating and first valve trigger) it ought to be possible to find out which company build it as the design is as odd as it is with those special Conn valves for example. I guess you also need to have special tools to make that wrap.
So, the only other European Connstellation copy I have seen (once on ebay) was made by one of the German Meinl companies, I believe it was Rudolf Meinl. Sad I do not remember if it had the same braces. If it had then the case had been solved, I believe.
Joined: 23 Nov 2003 Posts: 95 Location: nashville, tn.
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:
I can say for sure that Woody Shaw played one of these in the early 80's, and it was ( a very worn ) gold plated horn. Did look like a 38B copy, and of course he sounded just incredible on it. I have no idea what happened to that horn, but never saw another one until these pictures. I'd love to know if there are any more floating around.
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:16 am Post subject: MEAZZI trumpet
To bring life to an old thread: I've just bought a pretty beaten up MEAZZI Modell Oro trumpet from ebay. Hope it comes in restorable condition and good playing .....from the pictures it looks like there's a lot to be done (bell accidend, sticky valves..........) .......
Joined: 03 Dec 2001 Posts: 2681 Location: Queens and upstate, NY
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:07 am Post subject:
Well the 38B is an amazing horn. Having recently reaquired one, I can'tbelieve I ever sold it. The Meozzi doesn't seem to have a first valve trigger so that's why I would pass on that particular model. I would like to try a Kanstul Mariachi which is supposed to be a copy of Snooky Young's best 38B. Also Adams has the A6 copy I believe.. _________________ Mpcs: Jim New-Manley Jazz1/Jazz2/Jazz4/Lead3. Legends MF1. Reeves 39EX/HV. Frost 39MVD. Flugel: Jim NewMF3. Jim New-Manley F1+F2. Pickett MF. Reeves HF.
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I can say for sure that Woody Shaw played one of these in the early 80's, and it was ( a very worn ) gold plated horn. Did look like a 38B copy, and of course he sounded just incredible on it. I have no idea what happened to that horn, but never saw another one until these pictures. I'd love to know if there are any more floating around.
George Tidwell, in Nashville
I'm going to agree and add a bit to this post. I was a student of Woody Shaws. When he got the horn it was law. he had it gold plated and had a new set of valves on it. I've know some trumpet layers who played his horn and said it was terrible. i never heard Shaw place this horn live, but on recordings he plays, what is in my opinion some of his finest music.
My associtation with him was during his Back and Yam. years. I saw him play both these instruments, including flugs and cornets (Bach only.) During his Bach years, he frequently switched back to the Miazi. But once with Yam he stayed with only the trot and flug. , the near the end of his tragically short live he only played two Bb, one silver one Laq. and sometimes with a cornet mpc. which he also used a cornet mpc. with his Back Flug. as well as his Yam flug.
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 685 Location: Hofors, Sweden
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:35 am Post subject:
I see that I never added what I found out to this thread:
Prof. Romeo Orsi made these Meazzi Oro trumpets. I sent an email and asked them, it was a long shot from my side, but they responded and confirmed that they had made these instruments. They also said that they still had all tooling available if I was interested in a new version. This was about five years ago, so I don't know if it still is the case.
Finally I received the MEAZZI: several drops of oil and the valves do their work. The bell is in bad condition and the leadpipe bent, I'm going to contact my repairman. Nevertheless: it has a sweet tone and is definitely not a mediocre quality horn.......................................
Just received the MEAZZI from my repairman: extremely well playing and slotting......I'm going to contact ORSI (Milano) to get more information about this great horn.
krax can you provide photos of the third slide stopping mechanism? It's completely missing on my MEAZZI.
Please MEAZZI players: chime in.......informations welcome.......
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 685 Location: Hofors, Sweden
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 10:56 am Post subject:
Actually it's a very nice design, the third slide stop on these models. It's a screw and it's a piece of cork glued to a cork holder that is mounted on the tubing leading the tuning slide into the valve block.
1. A screw in the middle of the third slide:
2. The other side, the threaded end of the screw and further down the piece of cork on the cork holder:
The serial number is 7215
Last week I contacted ORSI, Milano to get further details: no answer up to this day........I need a 3rd valve finger button, it's not original!
”This is legendary horn MEAZZI SPECTRO SAUND which Woody Shaw had been played this horn regularly.
It is extremely small production volume. meazzi is italian instrumental maker.arround the valve is almost conn connstellation. ”
What I bought this time is a bit different.
but My meazzi has not arrived yet, reach within a few days.
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