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jhatpro
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Joined: 17 Mar 2002
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Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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 Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:32 pm Post subject: Vintage Vega |
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Just picked up a Goodwill treasure, a 1926 Vega SB-3 trumpet that plays surprisingly well and is relatively dent-free. Came with what looks to be a Shostock solotone-style mute that the owner covered with house paint. It's on my bench now slathered in stripper.
But back to the horn. My modern mouthpieces don't fit well. They seem toto long for the receiver. Any clues to what brand might fit better. Haven't been able to locate a Vega.
Thanks!
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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 |
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EdMann
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Location: The Big Valley
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Jim. I've had a Standard for years, and use a standard shank mpc, my Curry mostly, and it's fine. The Heim 2 might be a good fit with its shorter shank, and a fine mpc to boot.
ed |
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jhatpro
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Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, Ed! Good tip. I just tried a Curry-made 3C I bought from Steve Dillard (one of his Sandoval-inspired Signature pieces) and it works great, possibly do its shorter shank. I'll see if I can find a Heim 2 as well.
The horn is really interesting. I did some polishing and found "Charles E. George Model" on the bell. Info on the Web reveals he was a Boston music teacher, orchestra player, and VP of the Vega Co.
The horn plays really well which surprises me because valves are very worn and the bore is only .434. But it's a really tight horn. Gonna have fun with it!
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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 |
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James Becker
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Joined: 02 Sep 2005
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Location: Littleton, MA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I have several narrow shank Vega trumpet mouthpieces we could use to reference in order to alter your mouthpiece, or make threaded 3/8”-40 Warburton style threaded backbore for you.
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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
Last edited by James Becker on Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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That's excellent! Please do and PM me the charges! Thanks, James.
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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 |
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James Becker
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Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 2827
Location: Littleton, MA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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Let me check back with you next Monday when I return to the shop. Bob Osmun does all alterations and custom components. Until then, Merry Christmas 🎄 Everyone!
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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 |
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krax
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 683
Location: Hofors, Sweden
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:08 am Post subject: |
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I really like old Vega trumpets too. I've used some on and off as practice horns at work and really dig the sound. I've only one left, a SB 4, which has a really soft sound. If I remember it right, the SB 3 has more edge to the sound (due to a much more narrow bell profile), but I liked them as much.
Some flugelhorn mouthpieces actually work well (Bach taper). I have a small cup Marcienkiewicz flugel mouthpiece that I use with good results. The biggest difference using them or original Vega mouthpieces instead of modern trumpet mouthpieces, is that the blow isn't as tight any longer. Still tight, just not that tight. |
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OldSchoolEuph
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| jhatpro wrote: | Thanks, Ed! Good tip. I just tried a Curry-made 3C I bought from Steve Dillard (one of his Sandoval-inspired Signature pieces) and it works great, possibly do its shorter shank. I'll see if I can find a Heim 2 as well.
The horn is really interesting. I did some polishing and found "Charles E. George Model" on the bell. Info on the Web reveals he was a Boston music teacher, orchestra player, and VP of the Vega Co.
The horn plays really well which surprises me because valves are very worn and the bore is only .434. But it's a really tight horn. Gonna have fun with it! |
There were two versions of the Vega Chas E George model. Yours is the later version (the first coming out pre-1910, very early for a modern trumpet). These were classic dance hall trumpets and on the leading edge of that wave in pop-culture that pushed aside cornets and brought trumpets to the forefront. The later version you have was a refreshing of the design to better compete first with Harry Jay's Columba trumpet and some Buescher models, and then the more successful Martin Dansant and Holton Revelation trumpets in that dance hall market.
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Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com
2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Great intel - thanks, Ron!
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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 |
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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: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:30 am Post subject: Vega Mouthpieces |
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There are usually Vega mouthpieces available on ebay but you often have to wait for one that doesn't have a silly price on it like most things there. Some early trumpets that I have from the 1920s (Besson New Creation & Buescher 9) sound better with their original mouthpiece and they do fit the receiver better.
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks! I found one at a reasonable price. The narrow shank is just right for the Vega.
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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 |
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bg
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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The George Model mouthpieces insert anywhere from .93 in to 1.05 in.
Also, the George model mouthpieces do not seem to have consistent backbore lengths.
I'm just using a modern mouthpiece, which inserts to .58 in. I like the gap.
Hope that helps!
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Brad Goode
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, Brad. The horn is being rehabbed by TH Member Lionel Emde at his YourBrass shop in California. I’m looking forward to getting it back and putting it to the test.
I think I’ll start with that warmup you wrote out for me when you were teaching at DePaul!
_________________
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 |
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VetPsychWars
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Location: Greenfield WI
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| Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Trent Austin makes a backbore with the smaller shank size for older trumpets.
Tom
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1950 Buescher Lightweight 400 Trumpet
1949 Buescher 400 Trumpet
1939 Buescher 400 Cornet
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Just received my Vega from Dan Oberloh who replated the valves. His work, combined with the restoration of everything but the valves by Lionel Emde of Yourbrass.com, have turned a charming antique into a gorgeous instrument that plays as well as any of the 50-plus trumpets I've owned.
Thanks, guys!
_________________
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 |
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