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Brassnose Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 2099 Location: Germany
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 2:20 am Post subject: Anyone ever take two Bb trumpets to a gig? |
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Background: I play first (and only) trumpet in our local community orchestra since 2018 and over the years the repertoire has evolved quite a bit from classical and baroque to film scores, computer game music, Balkan and Eastern European folk music, jazz, pop, whatever. We have a wide range of players from a pro tuba player to not quite so pro strings and a lot of solid amateurs in between.
Now, in the last rehearsals the diversity of the program made me think about using two Bb for different pieces. Some pieces are quite powerful while some others are more elegant and don’t require as much “Schmackes” as we say in German.
Specifically I will explore using my (heavy-ish) Bach for the power and louder music where I need projection and a rather dense sound, while I’d use the lightweight rotary for the lighter stuff.
(Yes I KNOW I could do everything with one horn, but there is no fun in owning multiple trumpets and not using them ).
Anyone doing a thing like this? _________________ 2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Klier, (Frate or Curry) |
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jkarnes0661 Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 258 Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 3:19 am Post subject: |
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I take 2 Bb's to almost every theater gig I play so I don't think there's anything wrong with that! I find most theater shows being performed today have a mix of orchestral-style writing and lead/commercial writing in them so I take my classical Bb and my medium-bore lead/commercial equipment for most shows. Playing a 1 month run of "Beautiful" in June and I'll be using both Bb's (and flugel) for that show. Did the same thing for a run of "Spongebob" and "Something Rotten" in the last year and it definitely made the shows easier for me.
Gotta credit Tim Wendt for the idea, started doing it after he made a post on TH saying that he had brought 2 Bb's from time-to-time to get the correct sound for shows. I've also found it helpful for back-to-back passages where I would normally have wanted to switch between a lead and legit mouthpiece. Much easier to switch if they're in different horns and it's just matter of throwing one on the stand and picking up the other. _________________ Jonathan Karnes
Grand Rapids, MI
jonathankarnes.com |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2355 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 4:15 am Post subject: |
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If you have two that have leanings toward different aspects, and you can benefit from that, why not?
I have and do on occasion..
Back when I was enlisted.. USAF Band Concert Band concerts were often heavily legit in the first half and commercial / jazz heavy after intermission; an obvious time for different Bb's.
Occasionally for musicals, it was an obvious choice.
For quintet concerts and the occasional recital I'll bring all the toys - if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with B.S. _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2200 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 5:15 am Post subject: |
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i usually take three Bbs to my theater gigs but ultimately end
up using my 1968 LB Bach
i have a wonderful yellow brass LA Ambassador with unsoldered valve block braces that is just a flame thrower that did 3 of the shows on my last run of 'the Music Man' in March _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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Brassnose Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 2099 Location: Germany
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks all for the quick replies. I’m not playing at the level of any of you but I have found that some horns work better for some things. As I have those different horns I may as well use them
Flugel parts are usually covered by our recent addition to the orchestra - someone who plays flugel exclusively and takes care of that sound color, if required. _________________ 2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Klier, (Frate or Curry) |
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trickg Heavyweight Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2002 Posts: 5698 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 7:03 am Post subject: |
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My dilemma has always been that I get used to a particular horn, and each trumpet tends to be a compromise - if a trumpet has a wonderful sound for classical, it might not be a great choice for commercial/lead work. If it's an awesome lead horn, it might not be great for classical work.
I don't tend to take 2 Bb trumpets to gigs - I just deal with whatever compromises are there - but I know a lot of folks who do. _________________ Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler
"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP |
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Brassnose Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 2099 Location: Germany
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 7:27 am Post subject: |
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I only use one single gigbag for everything, a Fusion Urban Triple, so I definitely have the space for two horns.
But I agree: I need to practice on the horns I play. If I plan on playing two horns at a gig I (obviously) need to practice the respective piece with the respective horn. _________________ 2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Klier, (Frate or Curry) |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9100 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 8:54 am Post subject: |
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Well, I've been at it for half a century and have never known any one to do that (excepting other-pitched instruments). Most of my colleagues have played from ensemble classical groups to big band and pop on one horn. Different mouthpieces, maybe.
I'm sure there are those who do. I've just never known any. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9383 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 11:42 am Post subject: |
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I’ve taken a Bb trumpet and a Bb cornet to rehearsals/gigs many times, but if I know the cornet isn’t needed, I generally just take my old ML Bach 43 and a couple different mouthpieces to fit the requirements of different styles of music we’re playing. _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham |
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Man Of Constant Sorrow Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2023 Posts: 490
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2024 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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Naaah .... _________________ Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz |
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etc-etc Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6201
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2024 12:13 am Post subject: |
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Why stop at two? |
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patdublc Heavyweight Member
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1057 Location: Salisbury, MD
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2024 2:53 am Post subject: |
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All. The. Time. _________________ Pat Shaner
Play Wedge Mouthpieces by Dr. Dave exclusively.
Experiment with LOTS of horn makes and models. |
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dstpt Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 1289
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2024 4:11 am Post subject: |
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jkarnes0661 wrote: | I take 2 Bb's to almost every theater gig I play so I don't think there's anything wrong with that!...
Gotta credit Tim Wendt for the idea, started doing it after he made a post on TH saying that he had brought 2 Bb's from time-to-time to get the correct sound for shows.... |
In 2007 I subbed for the (local) 2nd player on a Nat'l Tour of Sweet Charity. The (touring) lead player was from NYC and used two Bb tpts. I remember one of them was a Scodwell, which was the first time I heard of them. (I own one now! Great horns!) He used each Bb tpt consistently for certain passages in the show, but I can't recall which for what. That was the first time I sat in a brass section where someone played two diff. Bb tpts on the same show, but it seemed to make sense at the time, and I've done that occasionally since. Some just change mpcs to get the tone color they want, and I've done that, too, but it doesn't seem unreasonable for a player to change to a diff. Bb on the same gig. Maybe this is something some do at times on Broadway? Tim Wendt and this touring lead player have both played in the NYC area for years. |
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Riojazz Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 1021 Location: Mid-Hudson Valley, NY
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2024 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Sure. For reasons given above, but also just to have a spare in case of mechanical problems.
In my chamber orchestra, I am not only the sole trumpet player, but the only brass. I might play trumpet, flugel, cornet, picc, alto horn, or rotary Bb (plus some woodwinds). All are on the stand. _________________ Matt Finley https://mattfinley.bandcamp.com/releases
Kanstul 1525 w/french, Shires Bb Destino Med & C trumpets, Schilke XA1 cornet, Schilke P5-4 picc, Yamaha soprano sax, Powell flute. Sanborn GR66MS, GR 66CT-Z, & Touvron-D. |
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Brassnose Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 2099 Location: Germany
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2024 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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OK, terms of material that’s being moved, this seems to get out of hand now I come from a commercial/big band/pop background and in that realm I’ve always been on Bb and flugel (never even thought of taking a backup horn to a gig, but I’m only an amateur). With the orchestra (currently) there is no need for flugel because we have a separate flugel player and I can be the only trumpet.
Looking at the gear some of you shlep to a gig is quite impressive. _________________ 2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Klier, (Frate or Curry) |
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tptptp Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Oct 2001 Posts: 1410 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 1:40 am Post subject: |
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When I switch horns, it takes a few minutes to get used to the differences in how they play, and my confidence suffers a bit.
However, this may not be an issue for great players like y'all. _________________ Craig Mitchell |
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Trumpjerele Veteran Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2019 Posts: 182 Location: Spain
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 2:13 am Post subject: |
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This conversation reminds me so much of my guitarist friends! At least one guitar for every style of music! _________________ Notice!!! Amateur musician without formal studies
Trumpet: Yamaha 8310Z
Mouthpiece: the great Yamaha11b4
Sax tenor: Yamaha YTS 23
Mouthpiece: Otto link tone edge |
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Subtropical and Subpar Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2020 Posts: 645 Location: Here and there
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 7:51 am Post subject: |
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In a small combo band that plays a variety of 20th century music I take my Kanstul (small bore horn for maximum efficiency on long gigs, also a really easy upper register), my flugel for ballads and such, and also my King Liberty when the piece called for that BRIGHT swing band sound. Now that I picked up a King Silvertone cornet, I gotta find a role for it somewhere. Maybe I'll ask the group to do some trad jazz? _________________ 1932 King Silvertone cornet
1936 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
1958 Reynolds Contempora 44-M "Renascence" C
1962 Reynolds Argenta LB trumpet
1965 Conn 38A
1995 Bach LR18072
2003 Kanstul 991
2011 Schilke P5-4 B/G
2021 Manchester Brass flugel |
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EdMann Heavyweight Member
Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 2483 Location: The Big Valley
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 10:31 am Post subject: |
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Everytime. You never know when a valve or cork will hang you up. |
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Manuel de los Campos Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 666 Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Anyone ever take two Bb trumpets to a gig? |
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Brassnose wrote: |
Anyone doing a thing like this? |
Hell no!!! One Bb to me is allready a challange _________________ Technology alone is a poor substitute for experience. (Richard Sachs) |
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