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Steve A Heavyweight Member

Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 1454 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:07 am Post subject: Backup Horn? |
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Hi all,
I'm thinking about buying a backup Bb trumpet to keep that my mother's house for the times that I go to visit her, but don't want to pack instruments, etc. I'd probably be playing it every month or so, and would just be looking for an instrument to keep muscle memory and conditioning in good shape - I'd never be looking to perform on it.
Are there any instruments that don't cost an arm and a leg that could be left for 4-6 weeks without being played, or valves oiled, etc., and that would be ready to go when I want them? (And are reasonably in tune, etc.) |
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JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 558 Location: Endwell NY USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:40 am Post subject: |
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For storage like that, I recommend using 'drug store' mineral oil on the slides and valves. It won't get hard or gummy/gooey like slide grease, or dry-out like regular valve oil. Just put a few drops of regular petroleum-based valve oil on the valves and it should be ready to go.
Jay _________________ King Super 20 (S2 1048, HN White)
Bach 7
The 'next note' is the most important one.
Don't take a '20 minute mouthpiece' to a 1 hour session. |
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Manuel de los Campos Veteran Member

Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 324 Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Backup Horn? |
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Steve A wrote: | Hi all,
Are there any instruments that don't cost an arm and a leg that could be left for 4-6 weeks without being played, or valves oiled, etc., and that would be ready to go when I want them? (And are reasonably in tune, etc.) |
Yes there are
My mother in law lives in the Swiss and every Christmas I go there to celebrate. I left there a Bb trumpet, a very old one named 'Melody Maker Foreign Made' I think it's a B&F make from the 50's or 60's
I play her once a year, I leave her with the valves oiled and slides greased in a closed. When I practice there I use a practice mute
The Melody Maker is a cheap instrument, nothing special but she playes in tune, she playes easy. I found her once in the fruit basked of a friend, he uses her as a trumpet shaped object  _________________ Technology alone is a poor substitute for experience. (Richard Sachs) |
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Pete Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2001 Posts: 1676 Location: Western Massachusetts
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Olds Amassador. Excellent low end horn for that purpose.
Pete |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member

Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 3982 Location: Texas, by way of Germany and Hawai'i
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 7:41 am Post subject: |
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I would get a Getzen Capri. _________________ If you haven't lived it, you can't blow it.
"Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis." Chet Baker
Adams A1
Yamaha YTR-8310 Z, "Bobby Shew"
Martin Committee
Conn 80A, "New Wonder", Cornet |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 2666
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Any functional name brand student horn. Use a long-lasting non-volatile valve oil. I like Hetman. Or. do as some of my band directors do over the summer. Pull all the slides and valves and leave the horn apart when it is going to sit for a long time. |
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HERMOKIWI Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 1853
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Another vote for the Olds Ambassador. A quality instrument built like a tank and they're plentiful (which means it's easy to find one at a low price). _________________ HERMOKIWI |
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shofarguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 6414 Location: AZ
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Sandovalves!
https://sandovalves.com _________________ 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. |
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Andy Del Heavyweight Member

Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2255 Location: sunny Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:59 am Post subject: |
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ANY reasonable instrument can cope with not being played for a few weeks, so this is not a concern. just blow excess moisture out and oil after playing.
As to what brand? Whatever you like. A connoisseur will want the same as their everyday horn. If you have 2 of your go-top axe, leave one at Mom's. I have an Olds recording cornet at my beach house, and will ply on that if I am there and not taking a playing break. It's also useful for sitting in with the local brass band!
If you are on a real budget, then a cheap instrument can do. On a REAL budget, you pack your main horn and take that with you.
Really, this is a first world problem...
cheers
Andy _________________ so many horns, so few good notes... |
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brassmusician Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2016 Posts: 270
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Never mind having the backup horn at your beach house or your mum's. Have it on the gig! Different situation I know, but this made me think of gig last Sunday when in the middle of the concert a colleague's third valve slide slid out onto the concrete floor, bent it and so horn was unplayable. Fortunately the 2nd trumpet player had a spare horn with her so a quick switch was made. Who takes a spare horn to a gig? - made me think twice - plenty of gigs where it could save a lot of trouble, even if the chances of it being needed are pretty low. _________________ Cannonball 789RL
Yamaha 635ST
Yamaha 16C4
Wick 2BFL |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 6350 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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Pete wrote: | Olds Amassador. Excellent low end horn for that purpose.
Pete |
Ditto, I have one, very good horn especially for the cost you can find them for. Plus built like the proverbial tank.
Brad _________________ "I always try but, not always, because the horn is mercy-less, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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Crazy Finn Heavyweight Member

Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 7161 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Backup horn? More like Backup horns... Even my backup horns have backup horns.
Might be time to cull the herd, soon. _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn |
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BGinNJ Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 324
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Holton T602 is a sleeper backup horn that's newer and cheaper than an ambassador. The newer, UMI version of the king silver Flair is more expensive, but underrated as a near-pro horn. |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 2666
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a brass reparteur. I have several school band directors who routinely, at the end of the school year, have the kids take the horns apart, all slides and valves, wrap them in a cloth and leave them in the case like that until school resumes in the fall. It costs me money because they NEVER need to have me pull stuck slides and valves, and valve caps. I recommend this for any hiatus where the horn is going to sit dormant for a time.
BTW considering suitable backup horns? Just about any name brand student, intermediate, or beat-up but playable pro horn (Getzen Severinson?) you can find should float your boat. |
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cgaiii Veteran Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2017 Posts: 282 Location: Virginia USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I keep two backup horns, both old horns I used to play. I have an Olds Ambassador that I got new after a rent to own period in the 1960s when i was in grade school. I also have a Yamaha YTR-4335 that I played after the Olds. They are quite different from my main horn, but they certainly can be used in a pinch. If it looks like rain and I have to play outside, one of them comes out. _________________ Bb: 1995 Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Kanstul 1510-2 (SP) (circa 2000)
Picc: 2001 Kanstul 920 (SP)
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Natural/Baroque Tr: Altenburg (raw brass)
Bass Tr: Mack Brass stencil (Jin Bao) (SP) |
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