Benge or Conn Artist?

[Leeway]

I've played a .468 bore Committee for a long time and also had a long break from playing until the last few months.

The Committee is notorious for 'squirrily' slotting and I get the feeling I'm working harder than I would be on a smaller bore trumpet.

My big influence is, you guessed it, Lee Morgan, so I like the idea of a Benge 3X, being the closest thing to a French Besson out there - I've heard that Lee played a Chicago Benge at times too.

I'm looking for a brighter jazz horn to give me a choice of sound and an easier horn to play up high....

So given all that, a Conn 8B Artist, like he played later in his solo carrer is also an option.

The Benge is a .458 and the Conn is a .438.

I can get hold of either horn and wondering which one is going to be best?

I havent played a small/medium bore trumpet for years and not too sure what to expect and the problem is, I wont get a chance to try before buy as I live in an isolated part of Australia..

Whos played both a 3X and an 8B? I'd be I interested to hear comparisons.

[HERMOKIWI]

I have a Burbank Benge 3X and a Martin Committee Large Bore. Both require the same effort but, of course, play differently. The 3X produces a brighter sound than the Committee. Also, FYI, the Benge 3X is a .460 bore.

I've never played a Conn 8B Artist.
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HERMOKIWI

[Leeway]

[jazz_trpt]

[OldSchoolEuph]

The Conn will slot tighter than a second generation Committee, but so will a handcraft Committee. If you are really looking to pick your brightness, and have tight slotting, I think you should be looking at a Bach. It's not the first thing that come to mind for most people, but with the right options, you can really pick a Bach that will fit what you are seeking a bit better than a semi-loose vintage Conn, or Benge.

In the New York years when Bach centering/slotting was looser, the 7-10 bell Bach was a candidate for the brighter Jazz application. The 7-10-62 became the L bore 25, but the wrap morphed into the tight centering Bach of today.

With the right mouthpiece, a 25 might be right up your alley, as the 7 part of its bell's original designation 7-10 was French inspired. It's an oft-overlooked horn for your choice of usage as most I have known in the genre have preferred flexible to loose, but in tone and response its heading in the right direction (mouthpiece is critical to degree of brightness however).
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Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com

2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
1954 Holton 49 Stratodyne
1927 Conn 22B
1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20