A commercial C trumpet?!

[O00Joe]

I know what I'm proposing is taboo, but personally, particular with amplified guitar, bass, etc. being a common venue and keys like E, A, D, G being ubiquitous, why not use a C Trumpet for these engagements?

For exmple, I was thinking that something like a C Bach Stradivarius ML 236 or 229 bell with a 43C leadpipe. I've used C trumpet in commercial gigs when my Bb was being seviced and I thought it worked really well.

EDIT: fixed this post, I'm posting from a cellphone so that may have been why there was a lot of weird junk in the post.
_________________
1981 Bb Bach Stradivarius 37/25 ML raw - Laskey 60C
2003 C Bach Stradivarius 239/25A L silver - Stork Vacchiano 4C25C
2006 Bb/A Schilke Piccolo P5-4 silver - Reeves A adaptor - Stork SM SP6
Akai MPC Live II
Roland JD-Xi
Casio MT-68

[Danbassin]

I’ve used C trumpets on both musicals and the occasional rock show in the past. Keep in mind that the configuration you suggested, with a ML bore Bach and the cut-down C Trumpet length 43 pipe, may prove to be a whole different world, from an intonation standpoint, though.

I currently have a pops C with a Sterling Silver 229 bell, that can get quite zippy, as is often required. I have a MK sterling silver rounded Bb-crook large bore slide and a 1980s Monette pipe (frankenhorn, not an original Monette conversion) on the horn, all on a Bach large bore body. At least in my experience, Bach CMLs play well for chamber music and not much else - if you’re on mic, that may not be an issue.

My experience w rock and pop acts on a c involved a Chicago STC-4 Monette, so it’s likely to be a different sound concept than what you were going after.

Schilkes, such as a C7 might fit the bill for what you’re goung after...

Interesting topic!

-DB
_________________
Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Piccolo;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD

[LittleRusty]

We had a pro who was hired for our church orchestra on lead who liked to play everything on his borrowed Monette C. (At least until he sat on it. But that is another story)

We never had any blending issues.

That said, after playing in the group for years I don't have any issues playing in any of the keys.

[giakara]

Getzen eterna C .

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

[LSOfanboy]

Hi,

An interesting topic!

One school of thought says that if its 'your gig' (i.e. you're the only trumpet or you are playing lead trumpet in a section) you should have the power to choose whatever makes the job easiest. If this means playing certain parts on C or Eb or Picc, then some people would call that smart.

However, in my not-insignificant experience of professional commercial playing the idea of using a trumpet in anything other than Bb is going to be met with a great deal of resistance. More often than not I think you'll be told quite bluntly to put it away and get out your Bb trumpet, I speak from experience here.

Whilst it can seem (and in some cases, is) smart, I would not advise any experimentation with the smaller trumpets on commercial gigs (unless you are playing a specific part for 'piccolo' or I guess something that was entitled 'classical trumpet' (even then I'd be slow to move off Bb)). It is a very easy way to lose the gig, irritate the section (if there is one) and draw attention to yourself (which you don't want to do, unless its with your exceptional playing). Maybe you'll get a gig with nice players, who (and this is the best you can hope for) TOLERATE it, but I really don't think there is anyone who will be impressed by it, and for all the hassle it brings- surely it is worth just sticking to the Bb trumpet, like 99.9% of other commercial players do?

I hope this can add to the discussion!

[Sharkbaitboi]

I played a jazz gig on c trumpet once. Was pretty hilarious

[rockford]

There's a guy here in DC that exclusively plays C trumpet in his jazz quintet or anywhere else for that matter. He's one of those guys that has another career but plays as well as most pros. While its not the norm, his playing is so good that no one cares what horn he's holding.
_________________
Bill Siegfried
NY/Mt. Vernon Bach trumpets. Yamaha flugelhorn and piccolo A/Bb, Monette and Hammond mouthpieces. Fender and Peavey Cirrus Bass Guitars. Ampeg and Genz-Benz amps. Embraer 170/175/190.

[AJCarter]

[bike&ed]

I use C on professional “non-legit” jobs all the time, BUT ONLY IF I’m the sole trumpet/cornet/flugel (which I usually am in the bands I work with). Just did it this weekend for a very expensive (and very well-paying) wedding, using a “fluffy” mpc to do soft ceremonial music with a flautist and oboist. It worked extremely well. I’ll also use my regular tpt mpcs for certain things as well. I’m lousy at transposing exposed or technical lines, with a mild case of dyslexia (both musical and written) if I have too many ‘thinking factors’ having to be engaged simultaneously; so it certainly is a crutch, but it just works.

[*LukeTrpt*]

Bach Strad 239 with Harrelson heavy trim kit and Monette mouthpiece

[Didymus]

[giakara]

Lite horn with huge bell fast response and big fat sound plus the best valves , what else you need ; 😉

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

[bike&ed]

[John Mohan]

I would think the Bach Chicago model C trumpet with its lightweight bell and good intonation would be just the ticket for this sort of thing.

[Tpt_Guy]

[bike&ed]

Just for another reference, my C is a 1960s or 70s vintage Schilke C5L. I’ve never gotten along well with Schilkes, but this one plays much like a really great Bach, but with mostly excellent intonation. I use it for orchestral and commercial jobs, and it works equally well for both.

[dr_trumpet]

My Schilke C1L fits the bill, especially with the sound post installed. I found it to be plenty zippy when I needed it to be. A recent Bach purchase has filled the need, so I have the Schilke for sale. Not cheap, but a great horn that would meet your needs (ML bore, large bell).
_________________
Dr. Albert L. Lilly, III DM
Artist/Clinician for Vincent Bach Trumpets (Conn-Selmer)
Principal Trumpet, Hendricks Symphony (Avon, IN)
Arranger/Composer; Lilly Music

[shofarguy]

I wonder if playing C trumpet would allow the upper register flexibility of a Bb? Anyway, there are a couple of choices that might fit that bill really well.

The Kanstul 1510 uses the same Bb bell as their 1500. Most think it's an Olds bell, but in-house it's called the "Hal bell," in honor of Hal Oringer who commissioned the first 1500 to be built. The 1510 has very good Bb-like intonation and a Bb sound.

The other choice is the Flip Oakes C trumpet, which has the same bell as the Wild Thing, great intonation and both a square tuning slide for legit work and a round slide for smoother response.

These are not typically thought of as orchestral C trumpets (except by those who play them!), but they are both really good horns in C.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[Didymus]

[giakara]

Bigger than 5 inches same as my Getzen CB Bb about 5.5 or something like that.

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs