Easy playing medium bore horns

[Vin DiBona]

FYI, the great Malcolm McNab used a Bach 38 medium bore for years. His new Exquisite model is also a medium bore. Malcolm, as does Bobby Shew, state you must be efficient to make the best use of a medium bore horn. Overblowers need not apply.
Gerard Schwarz used a medium bore Bach 37 Bb and a 239 bell medium large bore C in his symphonic days in the NY Philharmonic. He only concern about horns was the sound he got from them.
R. Tomasek

[halfgreek12]

Martin Handcraft Imperials are really nice I think-- versatile and easy to play. The 37 bells play a little more focused (ie legit/lead) and the lion/m bell ones are more committee like.

[deleted_user_19c01b1]

Thanks to everyone for listing their toys Seriously, thank you for the many comments, we made it to page #2!

So there was a lot of talk about Martin Committees, which is great because people here seem to have a preference for either the #2 or #3 bore version. Some said the #2 (medium?) is easy to play, and some mentioned that the #3 (large?) has that amazing tone.

Is that the difference? How do the tones produced compare?

[matthes93401]

The leadpipe to the rotors is shorter in length ( in a rotary) than the tubing to the Pistons in a piston trumpet. You may not find the same feel in piston trumpets in same key of any valve bore size. But I think I get what you're saying about the quicker response you enjoy on the rotary trumpet. For me, playing a D piston trumpet, with its shorter length, feels quick and resposive. Same thing with a piccolo trumpet.

[shofarguy]

My theory on bore and its effect and purpose is as follows:

The bore size is relative to how much energy is required to sustain a fully resonant sound. The smaller bore horns "light up" earlier in the dynamic range compared to large bore horns. Small bore horns generally work well for venues that want the full trumpet voice at low dynamics, such as recording studios where signal bleed needs to be controlled.

Large bore horns are great for open spaces like live theater venues, arenas and stadiums. They take a higher volume of energy and fill up larger spaces with sound.

As was said before, the bell and lead pipe shift the balance of playing characteristics. For instance the A-6 Constellation clone uses a large bell and open lead pipe to achieve a bigger, bolder sound, overall. But, it still plays with rich resonance at low volumes. Even its open wrap relieves some of the restrictive feel of the medium bore size and delays the high brilliance that comes with tighter radii.

At the other end of the spectrum lies the Holton ST 301-MF. It has a .468" bore and open lead pipe, but a very tight bell taper with a very fast flare. That supports the upper register more than a standard rate taper would give such a big bore. Just the thing a company might spec for an upper register specialist that also likes a "romantic" sound and phrasing.

The ML bore range fits very well in most sectional ensembles where the sound of the whole must fit in with the rest of the band or orchestra. The MLP range is great for stage bands where the volume needs to be up to match amplified instruments, but doesn't need to do so all by itself.

The big boys, like the Wild Thing, X-4, Meha and CG are there to dominate big spaces and ensembles.
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Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[HERMOKIWI]

I have several small bore horns (Schilke, King Silvertone, Martin Committee, various Conn horns, etc.). I don't know that they are easier to play per se. I think the main difference between a large bore and a small bore is that it's easier to play the large bore louder without overblowing the horn.

So, if you're going to play at less than insane volume levels a small bore horn will work great. Whether it takes less effort to play at any given volume level on a small bore compared to a large bore is a matter of opinion/personal perception and would vary from horn to horn (some "small bores" are small at the second valve slide but large everywhere else - there's no guaranteed consistency to what a "small bore" actually is throughout the entire horn).
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HERMOKIWI

[Seymor B Fudd]

[deleted_user_19c01b1]

Thanks for clarifying that Seymor.

And thanks again everybody for the comments.