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Steve A Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 1808 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:07 am Post subject: Backup Horn? |
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Hi all,
I'm thinking about buying a backup Bb trumpet to keep that my mother's house for the times that I go to visit her, but don't want to pack instruments, etc. I'd probably be playing it every month or so, and would just be looking for an instrument to keep muscle memory and conditioning in good shape - I'd never be looking to perform on it.
Are there any instruments that don't cost an arm and a leg that could be left for 4-6 weeks without being played, or valves oiled, etc., and that would be ready to go when I want them? (And are reasonably in tune, etc.) |
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JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3308 Location: Endwell NY USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:40 am Post subject: |
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For storage like that, I recommend using 'drug store' mineral oil on the slides and valves. It won't get hard or gummy/gooey like slide grease, or dry-out like regular valve oil. Just put a few drops of regular petroleum-based valve oil on the valves and it should be ready to go.
Jay _________________ Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'. |
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Manuel de los Campos Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 654 Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Backup Horn? |
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Steve A wrote: | Hi all,
Are there any instruments that don't cost an arm and a leg that could be left for 4-6 weeks without being played, or valves oiled, etc., and that would be ready to go when I want them? (And are reasonably in tune, etc.) |
Yes there are
My mother in law lives in the Swiss and every Christmas I go there to celebrate. I left there a Bb trumpet, a very old one named 'Melody Maker Foreign Made' I think it's a B&F make from the 50's or 60's
I play her once a year, I leave her with the valves oiled and slides greased in a closed. When I practice there I use a practice mute
The Melody Maker is a cheap instrument, nothing special but she playes in tune, she playes easy. I found her once in the fruit basked of a friend, he uses her as a trumpet shaped object _________________ Technology alone is a poor substitute for experience. (Richard Sachs) |
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Pete Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2001 Posts: 1739 Location: Western Massachusetts
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Olds Amassador. Excellent low end horn for that purpose.
Pete |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9032 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 7:41 am Post subject: |
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I would get a Getzen Capri. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Any functional name brand student horn. Use a long-lasting non-volatile valve oil. I like Hetman. Or. do as some of my band directors do over the summer. Pull all the slides and valves and leave the horn apart when it is going to sit for a long time. |
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HERMOKIWI Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Another vote for the Olds Ambassador. A quality instrument built like a tank and they're plentiful (which means it's easy to find one at a low price). _________________ HERMOKIWI |
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shofarguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 7013 Location: AZ
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Sandovalves!
https://sandovalves.com _________________ 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. |
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Andy Del Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2665 Location: sunny Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:59 am Post subject: |
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ANY reasonable instrument can cope with not being played for a few weeks, so this is not a concern. just blow excess moisture out and oil after playing.
As to what brand? Whatever you like. A connoisseur will want the same as their everyday horn. If you have 2 of your go-top axe, leave one at Mom's. I have an Olds recording cornet at my beach house, and will ply on that if I am there and not taking a playing break. It's also useful for sitting in with the local brass band!
If you are on a real budget, then a cheap instrument can do. On a REAL budget, you pack your main horn and take that with you.
Really, this is a first world problem...
cheers
Andy _________________ so many horns, so few good notes... |
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brassmusician Veteran Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2016 Posts: 273
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Never mind having the backup horn at your beach house or your mum's. Have it on the gig! Different situation I know, but this made me think of gig last Sunday when in the middle of the concert a colleague's third valve slide slid out onto the concrete floor, bent it and so horn was unplayable. Fortunately the 2nd trumpet player had a spare horn with her so a quick switch was made. Who takes a spare horn to a gig? - made me think twice - plenty of gigs where it could save a lot of trouble, even if the chances of it being needed are pretty low. _________________ Cannonball 789RL
Yamaha 635ST
Yamaha 16C4
Wick 2BFL |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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Pete wrote: | Olds Amassador. Excellent low end horn for that purpose.
Pete |
Ditto, I have one, very good horn especially for the cost you can find them for. Plus built like the proverbial tank.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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Crazy Finn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8335 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Backup horn? More like Backup horns... Even my backup horns have backup horns.
Might be time to cull the herd, soon. _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn |
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BGinNJ Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 380
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Holton T602 is a sleeper backup horn that's newer and cheaper than an ambassador. The newer, UMI version of the king silver Flair is more expensive, but underrated as a near-pro horn. |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a brass reparteur. I have several school band directors who routinely, at the end of the school year, have the kids take the horns apart, all slides and valves, wrap them in a cloth and leave them in the case like that until school resumes in the fall. It costs me money because they NEVER need to have me pull stuck slides and valves, and valve caps. I recommend this for any hiatus where the horn is going to sit dormant for a time.
BTW considering suitable backup horns? Just about any name brand student, intermediate, or beat-up but playable pro horn (Getzen Severinson?) you can find should float your boat. |
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cgaiii Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2017 Posts: 1550 Location: Virginia USA
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I keep two backup horns, both old horns I used to play. I have an Olds Ambassador that I got new after a rent to own period in the 1960s when i was in grade school. I also have a Yamaha YTR-4335 that I played after the Olds. They are quite different from my main horn, but they certainly can be used in a pinch. If it looks like rain and I have to play outside, one of them comes out. _________________ Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales |
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