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JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1518
Location: Vancouver, BC
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 Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:35 pm Post subject: The Brasspire Unicorn 900H. Your impressions? |
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ACB said they sell a lot of "entry-level professional Brasspire horns". There aren't many reviews of them though. Even on here.
Would anyone like to contribute their impressions of the 900H Unicorn trumpet?
Thanks so much.
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece
I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com |
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dstpt
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: The Brasspire Unicorn 900H. Your impressions? |
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| JetJaguar wrote: | ACB said they sell a lot of "entry-level professional Brasspire horns". There aren't many reviews of them though. Even on here.
Would anyone like to contribute their impressions of the 900H Unicorn trumpet?
Thanks so much. |
I had a used one for a year or so but sold it two years ago. This was my write-up in some TH thread about my TH ad:
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I'm presently selling an early Brasspire Unicorn 900 series model in the Marketplace...having to thin the herd. I think they are great horns. The valves are buttery smooth and lightning fast, even after me letting the horn sit for months without playing. Same with the slides.
I got this horn from a collector, who had over 70 horns a few years ago, but has now sold most all of them to clean house and make his wife happy. He told me that this was "the best in-tune trumpet" he had ever played! Every time I blow on it, I have to agree with that statement. The pitch centering is absolutely incredible...in all registers...and with shallow to deep mouthpieces. It's kind of freaky, actually. You play, say, a leap from one note into a normally problematic note, and you auto-adjust to where you anticipate, and it turns out that you can relax and not make those little tweaks that you normally have to do. The tonal profile is a little darker when played softly than my need in the pit, which is where I mainly play Bb tpt (musicals). If I was a jazz soloist or playing in a combo, I would not hesitate to use it. It sounds just as brilliant as any other commercial tpt when played forte and louder. The response is also freaky impeccable. It responds with the slightest puff of air...for me, anyway.
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I just googled this...
"brasspire site:trumpetherald.com"
...and found this TH thread:
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1437418
It makes me wish they were still making an LT version, but maybe they could make one upon request. |
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JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1518
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: The Brasspire Unicorn 900H. Your impressions? |
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| dstpt wrote: |
It makes me wish they were still making an LT version, but maybe they could make one upon request. |
https://shop.brasspire.com/923LT.html
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece
I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com |
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JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1518
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks DS. Here's a link to the 923. https://shop.brasspire.com/923LT.html . It looks like Brasspire sells it still.
As for the 900H, I read everything you said, and I appreciate the information. Sorry if your description already answers this, but do you feel the sound is rich, rewarding, nice? You've said it's responsive, centers well, in tune, and maybe that's the answer.
I realize it's a budget horn that probably lacks certain refinements and tempering that go into the upper line, but I'm considering this as a backup for both me and my daughter. I like the aesthetics of it too. ACB's photography is second to none.
Thanks
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece
I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com |
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dstpt
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 3:28 am Post subject: Re: The Brasspire Unicorn 900H. Your impressions? |
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Wow! How did you navigate and find that LT page from their Home page?
http://shop.brasspire.com/index.html
BTW, I'm seeing fewer models now than when I last spent some time on their site, Fall 2022. I'll respond to your other questions in my next post. |
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dstpt
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 3:36 am Post subject: |
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| JetJaguar wrote: | Thanks DS. Here's a link to the 923. https://shop.brasspire.com/923LT.html . It looks like Brasspire sells it still.
As for the 900H, I read everything you said, and I appreciate the information. Sorry if your description already answers this, but do you feel the sound is rich, rewarding, nice? You've said it's responsive, centers well, in tune, and maybe that's the answer.
I realize it's a budget horn that probably lacks certain refinements and tempering that go into the upper line, but I'm considering this as a backup for both me and my daughter. I like the aesthetics of it too. ACB's photography is second to none.
Thanks |
Yes, I'd say that the tonal profile is definitely rich, rewarding, and nice. I recall that it wasn't "dead" in any way, but that there was a "sparkle" to the tone that was offset to its base character that I'd call "creamy." The creamy element is due in part to the fluidity of sound I experienced particularly while moving from one note to another during slurs. Oh, and the tone was extremely even from bottom to top and at all dynamics. Some horns, to me, have a "dissociative identity disorder." At certain dynamics, or in certain registers, the tonal character is completely different from the way the horn "normally sounds" to my ear. I guess some people want this in a horn, but in most of my playing situations, I need a horn that maintains "core with sparkle" throughout and at all times. Some don't want that, and I get that. Nevertheless, these are my wishes in an instrument, and of course, a lot of that has to do with mouthpiece, blow, and mental picture for the player before even playing a note.
I state all of this to point out that the Brasspire 900 that I had was very much in line with what I like in a good horn as far as evenness of tone. Also, using the term "budget horn" to pigeonhole the Brasspire line may seem fair in terms of pricepoint, but I could easily remove that from the equation in contrasting and comparing the 900 to other makes. To me it had every bit of character and playability as my $4K Eclipse Bb trumpets and a gently-used, gold plated Van Laar Oiram that I ended up trading to Trent Austin four years ago (and regret not keeping!). So, I wouldn't hesitate recommending the Brasspire 900H at all, especially as a backup horn, trusting that they are consistently built. |
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dstpt
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:35 am Post subject: |
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I'd encourage anyone interested to do a google search as mentioned above...
brasspire site:trumpetherald.com
One of the results is the following thread in 2016 with only a single post from the OP and no response:
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140495&view=next&sid=68ce78ae76bd0811537cd8dc61f7d0c8
This is about the 923LT, but this sentence he wrote...
"The tone and intonation are ridiculous along with the build quality and valve section!"
...could easily be said about the 900H.
I do now remember there being a little more resistance to the blow than what I initially expected from the 900 model that I had. I would qualify it as a "healthy resistance" and seemed reminiscent of some of the Yamaha tpts I've played. It wasn't restrictive, but it gave me a distinct "something to push against," which required a little time acclimating, since I'm used to a more open blow. But, again, it wasn't restrictive in any way.
I also just used the Wayback Machine and found other models they were selling in Feb. 2018, including the 923LT. I'm guessing they narrowed their line over time based on sales. (Duh! How did I ever figure that out?!) I'm thinking Trent could order a 923LT, though. It'd just be really cool to playtest that light model against, say, a Calicchio or other commercial/lead horn. |
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fredo
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 589
Location: France
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 6:04 am Post subject: |
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Hi all, i had a 923 LT silver plated,bought used, but as new.
It has a distinctive sound, on the bright side as you can expect for à 1S2 inspired horn.
But it is not as light as a Calicchio and the diameter of the bell end is bigger.
Made in Japan, with a Carol Brass valve block.
I played it during 2 years and sold it because it was too open for me ( i sold a Yamaha LA and a Bach 7/7 for the same reason)
The 8335 Xeno II offer me the resistance that i need.
My buddy who plays first in our big band and in symphonic still plays it and has a very good sound either with a standard c cup or a shallow one ( he play it in symphonic orchestra with a 11 B4 and in the big band with the shallow piece)
Fred
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Frederic FELTZ
Yamaha XENO 2 8335 S
Lotus 3L brass |
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JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1518
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:28 am Post subject: Re: The Brasspire Unicorn 900H. Your impressions? |
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I googled it only. So maybe they have removed the link from their home page for a reason.
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece
I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com |
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JetJaguar
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1518
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the info, especially DSTPT. Very helpful.
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece
I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com |
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dstpt
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| JetJaguar wrote: | | Thanks for all the info, especially DSTPT. Very helpful. |
You're welcome Let us know if you go the Brasspire route and what you discover. Responding to a thread like this gets me to reminiscing former horns and the possibilities of buying another Brasspire, but then I thought to get out some of my other Eclipse leadpipes and put them in my Enigma and switch up mouthpieces for fun this morning. All the sudden, I discovered a whole new world right in my own house!...and I'm saving a lot of money in the process!...at least for now.  |
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