The Ultimate Eb Trumpet Thread

O00Joe · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 2:21 pm Post subject:

It was years ago but in university I had access to a Stomvi Elite Eb/D and a custom converted Bach

Stomvi Elite Eb/D
Very easy to play, nimble, somewhat of a lighter sound, few intonation issues but are easily compensated for, perfect amount of resistance, highly recommended

Converted Bach (not sure of specifics but it was older and a popular conversion)
A relatively heavy feel, quite a few bad intonation issues, took a lot of time to get used to, many pitches were hard to center, a lot of resistance, I avoided it if possible

If i ever get around to buying an Eb/D I'll be going for a Stomvi Elite or a Shire 6MS8 (simply because I'm a Shires fanboy)
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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
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Casio MT-68

dershem · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 5:57 pm Post subject:

B&S Challenger II Eb/D.

Got it a couple of years ago, new.

I was/am astonished at how nicely it plays.

My old Eb was an old Holton, which was... functional. Worked for chamber orchestras and the like. Got the B&S In, and pulled out the Holton for comparison. The Holton played ... like a middle of the road Bach. Adequate, but no more. Warmed up on that just to get the feel and sound firmly in my head. Then put the same mouthpiece in the B&S and it was like night and day. Effortless play, great valves, rich sound. I've played a couple of Schilkes and Yamahas and they were good (Better than the Holton), but I like the Challenger a LOT.
YMMV
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chrisroyal · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:56 pm Post subject:

I just received the Thein rotary E/Eb/D (4 valve) in silver. I had some initial reluctance in purchasing without ever playing one; but trusted their reputation...

So,

This is absolutely the best E/Eb/D I have ever played! Maybe the best trumpet as well. Incredibly well crafted. Very rich sound and even character, even when using the 4th valve. Upper register speaks very easily and pitch is spot on (alternate fingerings for Eb and E top staff are actually noticeably sharp and "normal" fingerings are spot on. G above the staff is not sharp at all. It does not play like a smaller (than Bb or C) chamber instrument. Imagine a realistic substitute for Bb and C when needed in terms of timbre and range (because of the 4th valve).

It has a pitch finder trigger and has a heavy bell. The instrument itself is heavy- as in substantial, not just heavy valve caps or rings.

I got it with their recommended Thein 1.5CF mouthpiece. I tried using Breslmair rotary pieces and it sounded very good but darker. Using the Thein mouthpiece (which is more bowl sharped) makes it ring the best. Highly, highly recommended.
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Bach Bb and C trumpets
Schilke Bb, C, Eb, E, F , G and Picc
Schilke Bb, C, Eb cornets
Schagerl Bb, C and Picc rotors
Yamaha and Schilke Flugels

dstpt · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 1283

GordonH · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:22 am Post subject:

Perhaps a bit left field but the easiest one I have played is a Yamaha 6610S. Someone brought it for me to check out to make sure it was working OK. Either I was having a very good day, or it was really easy to play.

Of instruments I have owned, the Schilke E3L-4 was the best. I think the extra weight of the fourth valve made it sound more robust than the three valve version. You would probably need to order a smaller bell though. I had the D bell and slides also.
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Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.

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jimspeedjae · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 165

A shout-out to a couple of Ebs that I have right now.

Firstly, a Selmer Radial, probably 70s-ish. I've owned three of these over the years and always regretted getting rid of them. Light sound, plays great and in tune. They are really great little trumpets.

For whatever reason, I also have a Voight leadpipe and tuning slide, which are the same bore and fit for this trumpet (I have a Voight bell, too, shame I don't have the valve block! It's the trumpet that was sometimes sold as the John Wallace 4 valve Eb). I haven't permanently mounted the leadpipe yet, but I might - it does open the horn up a little. Or I might send all the bits back to Voight to finish off.

The other, more recent acquisition is a Melk Bach Eb/D conversion with the 239L bell in Eb (229 for D) and an MLV525 leadpipe. That is an excellent trumpet - far bigger sound than you would expect for an Eb (but maybe not with that bell), and it plays like a bigger trumpet too. Described as a "dandy" in a post by fleming earlier in this thread...I concur!

Great to have choices!

In the past, I've had Shilkes - E2D, E3L, E3L4, those tiny old English Besson Imperial/ New Standards, Stomvi Elites, Yamahas - 6610, 9635. I like swapping too much for my own good.

Interested in the Adams, Carol and Shires...but I think that Thein might be on the list for ordering at some point now.

LaTrompeta · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 11:01 am Post subject:

Yep. Thein is, without a doubt, the most underrated make out there. It's amazing that it *only* costs what it does, even thought it's not "cheap" by any standard.
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trumpetchops · Heavyweight Member Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 2644