Osmun blue printing service

[James Becker]

After posting this on another thread I thought it was worthy of it's own.

This from Mike Myers.

Hello Bob, Jim, and Tim,

I will definitely be keeping the stock Bach 229H C trumpet with your blueprinting service that you mailed me last week. I used it on two programs at Grant Park in Chicago last week and just finished rehearsing our 3rd different program at our hall in Atlanta this week. Right out of the box, I was excited after playing the first scale on it and now have the confirmation needed after putting it through its paces on a wide variety of rep in familiar acoustics. Playability exceeds my expectations and the sound is exactly what I want and more importantly THOUGHT I had to give up.

I still can't believe someone didn't snatch this up at ITG. Current trends and all the chatter on Trumpet Herald must have people afraid of H pipes.

Thanks again for the trial, and I will spread the word on your blueprinting service.

Cheers!

Mike Myers

Atlanta Symphony

Grant Park Orchestra



We couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. A new C18022925H has just arrived from the Bach factory and is scheduled for our blue printing next week. Once completed this new Bach C will be available for trial and purchase. With every passing week we get more requests for our blue printing services. Call the shop 978-823-0580 or email jbecker@osmun.com to book your appointment.

_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store http://go.mappoint.net/ups/PrxInput.aspx

[AJCarter]

I recently had my Bach 239/25H blue printed. When I got it back myself and my prof played it and were ecstatic with the results.

The horn plays with far more clarity and core to the sound than it ever has and I definitely feel like I don't have to work near as hard. This is something I have already shared and encouraged others to do to their horns before they decide to sell and just buy a new one.

Thanks again for all of your help Jim!

Alex Carter

[Paul Tomashefsky]

What exactly is "Blue Printing" on a Trumpet?

P.
_________________
"Life Beats down and CRUSHES the soul, and Art reminds you that you have one" Stella Adler

"Music washes away the Dust of Everyday Life"
Art Blakey

"If you practice...It will come" Field of Trumpet Dreams

[ProAm]

I believe that blueprinting means adjusting the horn so that it matches the intended specifications (such as on a V. Bach blueprint for the model) instead of what you get right off the assembly line.

Assembly line usually just gets close, at best, and can be way off, at worst. A bit of hands-on adjustment (like when they were all handmade in the old days) can make the horn play like Bach designed it to play.

[jhatpro]

What does it cost?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[LittleRusty]

From another thread:

[jhatpro]

I'm sure the service is worth every penny but, still, it seems wrong that it could take ten percent or more of the cost of a new horn to get it to play to its potential. What if you were to buy a new car for $30,000 and the dealer said, "For another $3,000 or so we can make it run really good"?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Geodude]

I don't know that it is really that different from cars. Most folks are perfectly content with what comes stock from the dealer. There are others who are looking for a higher level of performance and making sure that everything is "as spec'd" can make a discernible difference in performance for them.

Could car or horn manufacturers do this in house? Yes, but I cannot imaging the kind of work that is required is really suited for a production setting. Regardless of how it is accomplished, it couldn't happen for free. The skilled tech's required to do this sort of thing need to be paid for their time.

The bottom line is, if you like how your horn plays and sounds, just keep practicing and enjoy it. If that is not the case, someone like Mr. Becker might be able to make some adjustments and modifications that result in something you like more.

[zaferis]

actually, Jim, you can buy a new can and have it worked on to improve its performance.. most new cars are setup to be.. well.. "middle of the road"
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[James Becker]

The great majority of manufactures simply do not have the time or inclination to perform valve alignments on every trumpet they build, though some may be better than others. Let me point out that any deviation greater than .005" will impact the play ability of any trumpet and our PVA is but one of the things we address when we blue print a trumpet.

As for automobiles I know a number of owners that the first thing they do with a new car purchase is take off the stock tires and install better ones at significant expense.

Now ask yourself how many trumpets and mouthpieces have you gone through in order to find the one that meets your requirements of sound quality and easy of playing?

I can't make up these testimonies from out clients, so you'll have to try it for yourself.

As that old saying goes "All the proofe of a pudding, is in the eating", per Rogers' Dictionary of Cliche and the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

[bwoodard]

It's called production tolerances. Have you ever heard of having an engine "blueprinted"? It's no different. Things can be within a designed build range and operate just fine. They can also be tweaked to operate a fuzz better without changing parts.
_________________
Veteran comebacker!
Bob

2015 Harrelson Summit 4/10
2014 Getzen 4895 Flugelhorn
2014 Getzen 3850
2010 Callet Sima Bb
2010 Callet Sima C
73 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
48 Conn 80A Victor Cornet

[James Becker]

For more about our trumpet blue printing service you can read about it here:

http://www.osmun.com/blueprint

I hope this is helpful.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

[chuck in ny]

getting the receiver and bell crook tweaked, valve alignment, solder blobs, that is easily worth the price asked. they are not going to work to a high custom standard at the factory that's all there is to it. they work to an acceptable production standard.
i take it the bach C trumpets particularly benefit from this although it sounds like something that would be good for the Bb. ?

[ghelbig]

[loudog]

This is nothing new to players of other instruments...

My wife is a clarinet player. Immediately following her purchase of her Buffet R-13 when she was in college, she put a several hundred dollar overhaul into it. Saxophonists do things like this too.

Bravo to Jim Becker for providing this service...sometimes these little tweaks can make the biggest difference in horns, without having to put $1000+ into conversions.

Louie
_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Louie Eckhardt, trumpeter
http://www.LouieEckhardt.com
Associate Professor of Music
Hastings College

[crzytptman]

I agree with both points of view expressed in this thread.I don't have any experience with Osmun, but I do have with that type of process.

Of course, my Wild Thing comes from the designer having been through the process. In addition, Flip Oakes has performed his Total Enhancement (or close, depending on bore size and tooling) on some of my other horns:

35 year old Bach 72*
Pocket Max
Kanstul flugel 1525 prototype
Getzen Eterna 4V flugel (sold to get the Kanstul)

Also, for my students:

Kanstul 700
Getzen 900
Bach Strad 37 (multiple)

In all cases, the performance of the instrument was dramatically improved. Low through high registers became homogenous in tone and resonance without having to favor certain valve combinations, and with a natural progression of effort.

I have no doubt that honorable and experienced craftsmen at Osmun would produce the same results.

But I also question the assembly process. Why isn't the same honor, experience and diligence applied to soldering tubes and assembling valves? If the design calls for holes and tubes to line up without obstruction, why not just assemble it that way? Especially with "artist quality" instruments?

Not all players are discerning. Not many have played a "blueprinted" horn to even know the difference. My students trusted my advise and were rewarded. Now it's hard to go back and play a horn that has stacking tolerances and bore obstructions.

The final piece is of course mpc gap. How many fine trumpets or mpcs have been rejected because of improper gap?
_________________
Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld)

[homebilly]

my horn just wants a guaranteed happy ending!


_________________
ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com

[Daniel Barenboim]

None of the players that audition for me play Wild Things.

In truth,

DB

[VetPsychWars]

This is why I've had every horn I plan to play restored. Charlie takes it apart, makes whatever corrections are needed, and solders it back together in the best way possible. If the bell bow is flattened, it gets rounded out. Same for any other crook. Once it's together, I know it's right.

[shofarguy]