Monette and Pickett Short Shank Backbore

[Trumpetingbynurture]

Hey, has anyone tried the Pickett short shank backbores? What was your experience with them on your C trumpet?

The reason I ask is I have a large bore C trumpet and I'm having that compressed octaves issue with pretty much every mouthpiece with a few exceptions. The lower register is only going a smidge sharp, but the upper register gets seriously flat with all but two mouthpieces that I've tried. Have tried large throats and large backbores and both combined, and nothing quite seems to properly resolve the issue.

However, I plugged in a Kanstul copy of the old Monette C2 and - presto! - no more problem. I can play pianissimo scales up to high C and the slots are spot on with no lipping. Even the Eb/E at the top of the staff are in tune without alternate fingering. It's actually pretty remarkable how much difference it makes. And the Monette diehards all say that the Kanstuls don't have 'constant pitch centre' or whatever, so the real thing will probably be even better.

The only problem hitch is that it's not the diameter I play.
So, you say, buy a Monette in my diameter, right? Well, for the classic resonances models they don't have an in my size ready to go, wait time could be 6 months apparently.
They do have the prana configuration in stock in my size. But I'm hesitant to get a prana as I've heard a number of people around here say they find Prana configurations can wear you out when playing on conventional trumpets.
My inclination is to just order the Classic Resonance and wait it out.
Or I can get the classic it in the old STC blank which they have in stock. But I am resistant to spending $250 bucks on an old model. hahah

So if you have any advice about all of that, please let me know.

I thought it might also be worth trying the Pickett short shank backbores in addition to the Monette, as I have a bunch of tops in my size, and it would be nice to be able to actually have the option of using them if I wanted.

So if anyone has played the Pickett Short Shanks let me know what your thoughts were. Also, if you've played a Monette C trumpet piece and can compare, that'd be handy info as well.

Thanks for reading!

[TKSop]

I can't say I've tried the short-shank Pickett's, so I'm going on a tangent from word one...


Your Kanstul copy isn't "exactly" the same as the Monette, but it sounds like it's fair to say that you like that piece...

So why not contact Jim New (who almost certainly made your Kanstul) and have a chat with him about what you're after - odds are, he'll still have the file your piece was made from and can produce a modified version of that piece to your specifications.

[Trumpetingbynurture]

Hi TK,

Good suggestion. James New does have all the monette scans that Kanstul have available as their M series. They're all a bit outdated now, and I'm assuming that the newer monette models (Slap cups and Resonance blanks) will be an improvement on the old models.

That said, I actually have James New currently making me a CG Personal (in my diameter) with the CG personal rim and cup, but with an STC1 blank and prana backbore and throat.
No idea if it'll actually play well or not. I'll have to wait and find out.

I do be feel somewhat ethically obligated to at least try a genuine monette seeing as the copy works so well.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion, I'll keep it in mind as an option

[steevo]

Have you looked for a used mouthpiece in your size? As I live in Portland, I usually buy my mouthpieces directly from the Monette shop, but last year I needed a C trumpet mouthpiece and didn't have the cash to pay the freight for a new one. I purchased an old C2 (my size) from Thompson Music for less than $100, and had it in a few days.

[DH]

[Trumpetingbynurture]

DH - Thanks for that information. That's helpful to know!

[Trumpetingbynurture]

[DH]

[jaysonr]

I believe the main difference between the OS and CS is that the OS is bigger (size/shape).
_________________
Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

[Trumpetingbynurture]

[jaysonr]

I know that this is often the stock answer, but have you checked with Peter or Eric at the Pickett shop? They've always been super helpful to me.
_________________
Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

[DH]

[kevin_soda]

That's a pretty crap response from a manufacturer. We can get away with that on the forums but I expect more information from the people making the stuff...
_________________
Kevin

[trumpetera]

Maybe not what you asked for, but I had my trumpet tech and life saver shorten an exact copy (cup and throat) of my mpc, and then shave the shank off to make i shorter and go further into the reciever.

Due to the alteration of the throat, my octaves had become compressed and hard to push in tune.

This altersation solved this, and as an added bonus opened upp the sound and projection dramatically.

Well worth a try![/img]
_________________
Principal trumpet Gothenburg Opera Orchestra
Bach LT 37 Bb (Mr. Findleys old)
Bach Mt Vernon 1957 Bb
Bach NY ML 1943 vintage Bb
Very old YTR-6335
Bach/Malone/Lechner C
Malone-Bach 229 C
H.Ganter Bb
Schagerl Wienna (older model) C
Parker Natural

[jaysonr]

[Trumpetingbynurture]

[jaysonr]

I think it's a system where each component plays a role, so what I was saying is taking a 'regular' mouthpiece and making it shorter doesn't have the same effect.

I do know that the throat plays a role in the Monette system though. For example, you can special-order Monette Prana's with a smaller throat, and it will have a much lower pitch center in the upper register (I've had a few that were set up this way in the past, as well as some custom "Half-Pranas" which also had a backbore in between the classic and prana. [These are usually only made for Monette instrument clients] One of these was the best C trumpet mouthpiece I ever played, but the piece was too big for me over all as it was a C15DS1)
_________________
Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

[jaysonr]

I've thought of another factor Monette sparked by the other discussion near the top of this sub-forum. I do believe the gap of Monettes make a difference, and I also believe the very thin walls of the shank play a role when Prana configurations are brought into play.
_________________
Isaiah 40:8
3 John 2

[Trumpetingbynurture]

Well i have tried a GW on it which has a.very sharp/thin shank end it works really well on my Bb but my C doesn't like it, so I can rule that out.

I've also tried a couple of pieces with drilled out #22 throats. r
They're possibly worse than stock.

My Marcink CG personal is pretty close . That has a normal length and a #20

But then, I have a Kanstul CG Personal just with a different rim and slightly larger diameter. That's really flat.

So I'm totally baffled.

Short shank will hopefully help.

If not, I'll talk to Osmun about doing their short-shank process to something and or buy a Monette. If that doesn't fix it, I'm not sure what I'll do. Find someone who can make me a custom leadpipe or something. Unfortunately there's no one in my country that does any of that sort of stuff, so I'll have to ship overseas and back baby blah and it's all goinG to get expensive sigh.

[kevin_soda]

If you have a short shank mouthpiece that you mostly like, you should consider getting it cut for sleeves. Adjusting the gap might take you the rest of the way.
_________________
Kevin