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Winghorn
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
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Location: Olympia, Washington
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 Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 10:08 pm Post subject: Blessing Super Artist Trumpet |
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Hello fellow trumpet lovers-
I just located a Blessing Super Artist trumpet for sale. I have not yet played the horn, or even seen it, but I understand some of these horns play quite well.
I need another horn like a hole in the head, but thought a fellow poster(s) might be interested. Would anyone be potentially interested in this trumpet? It is located a couple of hours from my house, but I am curious about this model, never having played one, and could possibly make the trip.
I probably won't bother, if no one is interested. I may be able to get the seller on the phone and, if so, what is a fair price for the instrument?
Please let me know if you would like me to check out this Super Artist on your behalf.
Regards
Steve |
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bach_again
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Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 2481
Location: Northern Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 12:28 am Post subject: |
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I had a Blessing Masterpiece high was a lovely horn. The Super Artist is meant to be very similar in tone and response. The Masterpiece was the tightest 0.470" I've ever played!
No idea what is a fair price, sorry. I'm marginally interested, but like you, don't need more horns!
Mike
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Comeback
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Joined: 22 Jun 2011
Posts: 1143
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 3:38 am Post subject: Super Artist |
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I had a 1952 Super Artist with the third slide ring on top of the slide. It was a fine trumpet and I sometimes miss it. I, too, am marginally interested. Condition of the horn is a big deal concerning value, of course. Its age is also a factor for value. If the horn is from the late 1940s with under-slung third valve tuning ring and is in good shape, my interest would be heightened. I have seen them trade from a couple hundred dollars for a poorer specimen to around a thousand dollars for one in great shape.
Jim |
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yourbrass
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Joined: 12 Jun 2011
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Location: Pacifica, CA, USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Blessings can have a G above the staff that's incredibly sharp - unusable. Try before you buy.
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Winghorn
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Joined: 07 Apr 2006
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Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, everyone.
I am working on getting a phone number. Hopefully, I can find out the approximate age, condition and price being asked for the Super Artist.
I don't know if the owner is a player or not.
I will post what I find out.
Steve |
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Winghorn
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Joined: 07 Apr 2006
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Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:11 am Post subject: |
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AARRGGHH !!!!
The horn is not stamped as a Blessing, only as a "Super Artist". The owner speculates that it might be Chinese.
You win some, you lose some, I guess.
Sorry if anyone's hopes were raised.
Steve |
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Crazy Finn
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Joined: 27 Dec 2001
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Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| Winghorn wrote: | You win some, you lose some, I guess.
Sorry if anyone's hopes were raised. |
It's not really a loss unless you spent money on it.
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Winghorn
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Joined: 07 Apr 2006
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Location: Olympia, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Good point!
Steve |
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bach_again
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jrpbrass
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Joined: 08 Apr 2016
Posts: 111
Location: North Ft Myers, Florida
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| Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:52 am Post subject: Super Artist Tuning |
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I recently bought a Blessing Super Artist trumpet that was labeled Silvertone model 200 which was sold by Sears in 1964. Looks really nice has a nice tone but the tuning is terrible. Anything played with the second valve is flat and the E above middle C is so flat that it's almost off the meter and I have to use 1-2 alternate fingering just to be close.
I agree with the comment below to test before buying.
Perhaps Sears got the rejects. Has anyone else encountered this?
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Hrossey
Regular Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2015
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney, UK
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Blessing Super Artist Trumpet |
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| Winghorn wrote: | Hello fellow trumpet lovers-
I just located a Blessing Super Artist trumpet for sale. I have not yet played the horn, or even seen it, but I understand some of these horns play quite well.
I need another horn like a hole in the head, but thought a fellow poster(s) might be interested. Would anyone be potentially interested in this trumpet? It is located a couple of hours from my house, but I am curious about this model, never having played one, and could possibly make the trip.
I probably won't bother, if no one is interested. I may be able to get the seller on the phone and, if so, what is a fair price for the instrument?
Please let me know if you would like me to check out this Super Artist on your behalf.
Regards
Steve |
You always need another horn  |
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yourbrass
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2011
Posts: 3635
Location: Pacifica, CA, USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Super Artist Tuning |
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| jrpbrass wrote: | I recently bought a Blessing Super Artist trumpet that was labeled Silvertone model 200 which was sold by Sears in 1964. Looks really nice has a nice tone but the tuning is terrible. Anything played with the second valve is flat and the E above middle C is so flat that it's almost off the meter and I have to use 1-2 alternate fingering just to be close.
I agree with the comment below to test before buying.
Perhaps Sears got the rejects. Has anyone else encountered this? |
Yes, the G above the staff can be way sharp on this model.
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Edwards X-13
ACB MV3C /ACB A1/26 backbore
https://yourbrass.com/ |
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James Becker
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: Super Artist Tuning |
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| yourbrass wrote: | | Yes, the G above the staff can be way sharp on this model. |
I'd say the G above the staff is likely to play sharp on nearly ALL Blessing Bb trumpet models since they share the same bell shape across the range. The exception is their LT-ML1 which has a Benge #2 bell shape.
During my time at Sonare Winds we had the E.K. Blessing 1100/1200 series trumpet bell changed over to the LT-ML1 bell shape. It produced a much better scale, particularly the G above the staff.
I hope this is helpful.
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Evinerate
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Joined: 15 Nov 2016
Posts: 154
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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I've had several Blessing SAs, 3 different examples from 1930s and 2 (one excellent original shape 97 percent lacquer) from the 1940s. Overall, very fine horns, like the Martin Committees, this model takes some time to get used to. They're .468 bores with a unique small bell with sharp American bell bead. The bells are exceptionally heavy, probably with more added brass or more copper content.
They have a distinctive feel in the blow, personally for me, a very comfortable resistance and plays loud (I would call it loud and dark). These horns have a gapless reciever and most Mouthpieces won't seat down the reciever very far. I tend to use vintage Blessing Mouthpieces with the enlarged cup size. I also stick in vintage Bach NY Mouthpieces too which the horn likes.
This is true of course for the vintage Blessings pre 1961 before the SA line changed and RMC was created. |
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jrpbrass
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Joined: 08 Apr 2016
Posts: 111
Location: North Ft Myers, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:33 am Post subject: Blessing SA |
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Thanks for the input on the Super Artist. I do love the sound of this and will experiment with different mouthpieces and perhaps try to pick up the correct period one. Did the SA use a specific size or model number?
At first glance this trumpet looked near mint but with closer inspection I can see that the bell has been off and the rear bell brace is a replacement so who knows what this has been through. I may end up shortening slides 1 & 2 to eliminate the flat notes. If it came from the factory like this then it doesn't speak well for quality control back in 1964.
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yourbrass
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2011
Posts: 3635
Location: Pacifica, CA, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Super Artist Tuning |
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| James Becker wrote: | | yourbrass wrote: | | Yes, the G above the staff can be way sharp on this model. |
I'd say the G above the staff is likely to play sharp on nearly ALL Blessing Bb trumpet models since they share the same bell shape across the range. The exception is their LT-ML1 which has a Benge #2 bell shape.
During my time at Sonare Winds we had the E.K. Blessing 1100/1200 series trumpet bell changed over to the LT-ML1 bell shape. It produced a much better scale, particularly the G above the staff.
I hope this is helpful. |
As always, you're helpful, Jim.
The Super Artist I got from ebay years ago was from the 40's. I was excited as I'd always wanted one, but after cleaning and valve porting, the intonation proved atrocious. In those days bidders could email one another, and I sold it for my cost to the second-highest bidder who had sentimental value attached to it.
I have a Blessing Standard from that era that plays pretty well, and I use it as a loaner to people while repairing their horns.
-Lionel
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Evinerate
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Joined: 15 Nov 2016
Posts: 154
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Blessing SA |
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| jrpbrass wrote: | Thanks for the input on the Super Artist. I do love the sound of this and will experiment with different mouthpieces and perhaps try to pick up the correct period one. Did the SA use a specific size or model number?
At first glance this trumpet looked near mint but with closer inspection I can see that the bell has been off and the rear bell brace is a replacement so who knows what this has been through. I may end up shortening slides 1 & 2 to eliminate the flat notes. If it came from the factory like this then it doesn't speak well for quality control back in 1964. |
Use the stock Blessing mouthpieces that came with an enlarged cup size, those fit the Blessings the best. You mentioned yours is a 1964 model??? Then yours is not the same as the older Super Artists in terms of intonation. The RMC era changed the Super Artist just like it changed the Martin Committees. I'm guessing your horn will play nicely too but yours is not the same horn as the older Super Artists. The overall design of the Super Artists changed in 1961 with the forming of the RMC instruments. Blessing, Martin, Reynolds and others were all merged(?) in the new company. |
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