Spontaneous purchase. Hopefully not a mistake.

heavyharmonies · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:06 pm Post subject:

First post here. Good to be aboard. After 17 years "away from the sport" I've got the urge to start playing again. I've been doing reading here, at the TPO forum, and rec.music.makers.trumpet, for the last 2 weeks, as well as spending entirely too much time on Ebay perusing the current and completed trumpet auctions.

I'm self-taught, although this time I hope to undo some of my bad playing habits by actually taking a few lessons. I know, for example, that I never learned true air control; when I played notes above a high C back in the day, it was primarily by increasing embrechure pressure rather than by air control. I was able to get up to a solid and consistent F, but that's about it. Never did learn how to double- or triple-tongue properly. Anyway, I digress...

Since I don't currently have a horn, I obviously need one (not too much call for a "mouthpiece player" in most concert/jazz bands these days).
In the 8 years I played in my younger days, I never owned a quality horn (Your average Kings, Conns, etc.). I'd been somewhat leaning toward a vintage horn from a bang-for-the-buck perspective (plus I'm a sucker for the intricate engravings on many pieces from the 30s and before), but the valve wear on the older horns can be a crapshoot. The local music stores are less than useless; very disinterested and patronizing attitude once they found out I didn't want to spend $1K+ on a horn. Also, we won't talk about how overpriced they were. *grumble*

I'd always wanted a Bach Strad back in the day, but couldn't come close to affording one. Same thing now. People here seem to extol the Conn Vintage 1, Eclipse, Lawler, and ZeuS horns, but all are out of my price range even used.

So I set my sights lower. I was watching the following on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2544140542&category=16214&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2544630968&category=16214&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2544810955&category=16214&rd=1

Assuming that they'd probably end up in the $300-400 range.

Then the auction below appeared. I did about 15 minutes of quick searching here and on usenet, and the feedback on this horn seems to be quite positive. If the horn is as nice as it appears in the auction pics, even the BIN price seems to be quite good (most online prices put the horn at $1,000-$1,300 new). From the serial number it appears to be a fairly new horn (I've emailed UMI to get the exact dating).

My gut reaction is that I've done pretty good. No way I'd get a strad at that price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2545317451&category=16214&rd=1

-Dan

[ This Message was edited by: heavyharmonies on 2003-07-13 16:07 ]

[ This Message was edited by: heavyharmonies on 2003-07-13 16:08 ]

fuzzyjon79 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:13 pm Post subject:

Those are some good horns. I'd probably go with either the Getzen or the Benge as my first choice.
_________________
J. Fowler
"It takes a big ole' sack of flour, to make a big ole' pan of biscuits!"

Martin · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Dan,

welcome to the TH!
I think you got a good deal.
While Benge enthusiasts will argue that this is not one of Benge´s original designs but a horn "inspired" by the Bach Stradivarius, it certainly is a good, pro quality trumpet at a very reasonable price.
I played a Benge 65B (the model one step below the 90B) for a year or so, and it was a mighty fine horn with a beautiful sound and great valves. Actually, I should not have sold that one...

Enjoy your new horn and good luck fighting those old bad habits!
_________________
All the best

Martin
_____________________________________________________________________
"I have found that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played." - Arvo Pärt

Castle Bravo · Heavyweight Member Joined: 13 Apr 2003 Posts: 542

Not bad at all. Doing your homework pays off, eh?

Enjoy!

jazzsolotrumpet · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 5:05 pm Post subject:

Those were some purty horns..

-Matt

plp · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 6:00 pm Post subject:

Great purchase! I did the same thing on a Yamaha flugel, just couldn't stand to wait and possibly miss it. I think you got a great deal, although I probably would've gone for the Olds just for the novelty factor.

Welcome to TH, LOTS of great stuff here and some really good folks too. I also am a comeback player, although I spend waay too much time here and on ebay...check out the link below and hope this helps you get kicked off....on playing...not off the website...anyhoo....

http://abel.hive.no/ctg/

ARB · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 6:06 pm Post subject:

I'll tell ya, if it plays anywhere near as good as my old LA Benge you'll love it. I have a Schilke yet I'm always drawn back to my Benge when it's time to blow. Enjoy it and welcome back.

PS I'm also a comeback player, and it's a joy to be back.
_________________
Allen - 'Chops-in-Hotlanta'

00 Schilke S22
77 LA Benge 5X
63 Burbank Benge C

"It's what we think we know that keeps us from knowing"

LFRoberts5 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 7:11 pm Post subject:

I got a great Olds Ambassador on ebay for $165. I would put it up against any pro horn.
Look at these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2544119773&category=16214
This looks even better.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2543797300&category=16214

plankowner110 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3620

To Heavyharmonies:
The Benge 90B is an excellent trumpet, heavy and very solidly built like a Bach, and you got it at a fantastic price. I played one throughout grad school. Good luck to you.
_________________
C. G. Conn 60B Super Connstellation
Getzen 800S Eterna cornet
Bach 5C (Jens Lindemann is right)
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26763

oneeyedhobbit · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 4:51 pm Post subject:

This is right off the topic of this post, so accept my apolgies in advance-but did anyone else notice an inconsistency in that "only brass" auction for the Conn 26B? I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I'm a stickler for detail-but if you look at the dent removal before and afters, the 2nd valve slides are obviously different. Careful inspection shows that the little nub (not sure of technical term) is different between the two, and the slide itself is silver in one pic and gold in the other. I wondered about the valve and slide pics too, but couldn't tell-the slide could be, but since it was rotated (which draws some suspicions) I can draw no concrete conclusions, and the same goes for the valve.

i'm sure only brass still does quality work, so I don't know why they'd show differnt slides in the pictures. It made me pause and wonder.

benge78 · Regular Member Joined: 27 Dec 2002 Posts: 42

Dan,

Excellent choice, although you can tell from my username that I might be a l-i-t-t-l-e biased in my opinion. My LA Benge is still a joy to play, with a wonderful sound. Good luck with it, from one "comeback player" to another!

S.S. · Veteran Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 316

I have a Benge 3x+. It was made during the UMI period BUT...It was a special custom order and was built with leftover L.A. Benge parts. For a Benge purchase in the 80s BBBBBOOOY did I luck out. Many fellow Benge enthusiasts look at the benn and say "ahh UMI Huh?". I just grin.

[ This Message was edited by: S.S. on 2004-05-31 13:41 ]

Tootsall · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 2952

Like Benges, do ya? Check out these two!

http://www.brassandwoodwind.ca/trumpets.html

I don't have any affiliation with the seller but I happened to see them on his shop wall when I was visiting in that town at Easter.

plp · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject:

Now there's a blast from the past....how many brass instruments do you have now, Dan?

heavyharmonies · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:29 pm Post subject:

Oy.

Well, that Benge has since been sold, as have several horns I've acquired since then.

Lessee... currently the stable consists of:

Trumpets:

French Besson Meha (postwar; definite keeper)
York Bb/A with gold & silver engraving ca. 1915 (may sell this one)
York "USA" (satin silver stencil from the 1930s) (may sell this one)
Boland & Fuchs Rotary (silver, ca. 1920) (may sell this one)
Gautrot with shepherd's crook (silver, 1920s?) (may sell this one)
1933 Olds Special (to be overhauled; keeping)

Piccolo:

Couesnon, 3-valve with oddball trigger mechanism (to be overhauled; keeping)

Pocket:

Mirage pocket trumpet (may sell this one)

Cornets:

1972 Connstellation with copper bell (to be overhauled; definitely keeping)
1950s Besson Brevete (may sell)
1914 Buescher (.485 bore) (may sell)
19?? Crown small bore cornet (may sell)
1946 King Master (being overhauled; keeping)
1959 Olds Studio (to be overhauled; keeping)
19?? Conn Victor (beat up, probably won't overhaul, may sell)
1964 Reynolds Contempora (en route)

Not a bad li'l collection...

-Dan

heavyharmonies · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:35 pm Post subject:

Oh, one other thing I forgot: A "Walter A. French" mellophone from the 20s or 30s. Quite beat up, needs valve work, but I just loved the engraving.

It was fairly cheap, so why not?

-Dan

S.S. · Veteran Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 316

S.S. · Veteran Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 316

Never mind, they sold it. BUT HEY!!!! I just got a new Bach 37 yesterday. So I'm content!!!!!