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bach_again
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Joined: 03 Apr 2005
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Location: Northern Ireland
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 Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2017 1:46 pm Post subject: Dear Martin Handcraft Imperial players! |
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I thought it would be neat to hear some experiences from you guys playing these horns. Quirks/tweaks etc?
I bought a 1936 (or 37 depending on the serial list) HCI from Chris at SVT Vintage Horns (https://www.facebook.com/ManWithTheHorns/). I am really digging this horn!
It has the 37 bell and the #2 bore, meaning a 0.438/0.453 dual bore. I have replaced the finger rings with something a little more comfortable for my hands! It was stripped by Chris, so I am waiting for a nice patina to form.
Alignment is quite good - I may tweak this as the 1st valve adds a resistance and I haven't checked it's down stroke alignment yet (only the upstroke which is pretty close). Could be a quirk. I will learn to deal because this horn sounds so great!!
Interested in your horns, folks!!
Best,
Mike
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Grits Burgh
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Joined: 04 Oct 2015
Posts: 805
Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2017 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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Nice horn, huh?
Rats. Now I have to have one.
I bought a Schilke HC1 because it was supposed to be basically an updated version of the old Martins. But people keep talking about the old Martins and, well, I want one.
This trumpet business is going to be the ruin of my finances and marriage. You know, I could almost justify this hobby if a) I were any good and b) I actually made some money playing. Sadly, neither condition applies.
Glad you are enjoying your new (old) horn.
Regards,
Grits
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy. |
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bach_again
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Joined: 03 Apr 2005
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Location: Northern Ireland
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 1:58 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, man, they are lovely horns!! I might even play it for some of my function gig tonight. It isn't the right horn for that job, but why ever not!?
Oh man, I get a bit of flak from the missus about how many horns I have bought/had. I try to keep a 1 in 1 out rule these days... but recently I had 3 in and only 1 out... though one was a D so that doesn't count  Still 1 heavy.
I always wondered what those Schilkes were like! I always found Schilke to be built very well and to resonate very nicely. I can't keep up with the blow of some of those horns tho, the X3 is ridiculous!!
Best,
Mike
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Maestro Arturo Sandoval on Barkley Microphones!
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The best movie trumpet solo?
https://youtu.be/OnCnTA6toMU |
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scipioap
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Joined: 08 Aug 2012
Posts: 368
Location: Waltham, MA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 2:52 am Post subject: |
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I hear you both about keeping the Martin obsession/addiction in check!
One minor thing I dislike about the HCIs is the antiquated thick-profile finger buttons, along with the accommodating top caps. It seems that's the first thing Schilke wanted to update across the board with the HC Committees, both trumpet and cornet. That's one reason I decided to hunt down one each of the latter, and of course pay a little extra. The more modern finger buttons, and valve blocks in general, lighter weight, more refined bracing, etc., feel like a huge Schilke improvement in my comparison.
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1963 Martin Committee #3
1962 Martin Committee Cornet #3
1961 Martin Custom Committee C
1941 Martin HC Committee #2
1945 Martin Committee #2
1942 Martin HC Committee Cornet
1941 Martin IBICO Indiana
2012 Kanstul 1525 SLB
1977 Olds CT Flugel |
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Hugh Anderson
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Joined: 22 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| Mike, my rule is I get as many horns as she gets pairs of shoes. My wife has more red shoes than I have trumpets. |
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bach_again
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Location: Northern Ireland
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LittleRusty
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Joined: 11 Aug 2004
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Location: Gardena, Ca
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| bach_again wrote: | | Hugh Anderson wrote: | | Mike, my rule is I get as many horns as she gets pairs of shoes. My wife has more red shoes than I have trumpets. |
Brilliant!!! Also; no comment If she reads this, I'm toast!!! |
If one pair of shoes costs as much as one trumpet then she is buying too expensive shoes or you are buying junk trumpets. |
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F.E. Olds Nut
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Location: Detroit
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| scipioap wrote: | I hear you both about keeping the Martin obsession/addiction in check!
One minor thing I dislike about the HCIs is the antiquated thick-profile finger buttons, along with the accommodating top caps. It seems that's the first thing Schilke wanted to update across the board with the HC Committees, both trumpet and cornet. That's one reason I decided to hunt down one each of the latter, and of course pay a little extra. The more modern finger buttons, and valve blocks in general, lighter weight, more refined bracing, etc., feel like a huge Schilke improvement in my comparison. |
Agreed. Does anyone know if a later Martin trim kit will fit on a Handcraft Imperial? Those buttons and caps were one of the things which made me think twice when I had the opportunity to purchase one last year
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RandyTX
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Joined: 25 Mar 2010
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Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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| LittleRusty wrote: | | If one pair of shoes costs as much as one trumpet then she is buying too expensive shoes or you are buying junk trumpets. |
Pro tip: If your wife complains about owning too many trumpets, just start talking about her shoe collection. <crickets>
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away." |
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Grits Burgh
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Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | bach_again posted:
I always wondered what those Schilkes were like! |
I am afraid that I cannot convey in words what the Schilke HC1 is like to play - I haven't played enough different trumpets to provide a meaningful comparison to anything other than a Bach Strad. I will say this. The horn is better than I am. My meager abilities certainly deserve nothing better. To the extent that I can manage to infuse a ballad with a mellow, jazzy tone, the trumpet cooperates. I am still working on my ability to shape notes, but the horn poses no limitations. It is fun to play; it is a lot of fun to play.
I don't think that this particular trumpet was designed with lead playing in mind, but I can squeak out a double high C on it - sometimes, anyway. My most "commercial" mouthpiece is a Curry 3C. I am just beginning to learn how to tell the difference between solid and slippery slots in the upper register. I'm not sure whether this horn would be considered slippery or not. It is on my to do list to explore commercial mouthpieces, experiment with gap, etc. Does it light up when pushed in the upper register? Beats me. I can't light up or push in the upper register. However, as soon as I figure out how to do it, I'll let you know how the trumpet performs.
Warm regards,
Grits
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy. |
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bach_again
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Joined: 03 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Well the HCI isn't a lead horn either, Grits. So maybe they are quite similar. You could do it for sure - but it doesn't invite you to do that! My Stomvi S3 does, but the HCI wants me to play "nice". Some pretty surprising double Ds came out all the same... the #2 bore is special. It is really really easy to play!!
Mike
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https://youtu.be/iLVMRvw5RRk
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The best movie trumpet solo?
https://youtu.be/OnCnTA6toMU |
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halfgreek12
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Joined: 21 Aug 2008
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Location: Albany, NY
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| Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:51 am Post subject: |
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What mpc are you using to play lead on it? I love mine as it is very versatile-- I feel like I can get the right sound to play a Charlier etude then a Freddie type fat sound for playing jazz with a yamaha 13c4. When I put in a Marc. Ingram it's easy to play lead on as it's a pretty small horn. I remember reading a thread on here where Trent Austin said this was one of the few horns he really regretted selling and I think that says a lot. Brad Goode was also really into these horns.
Steve |
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Grits Burgh
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Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | bach_again posted:
Well the HCI isn't a lead horn either, Grits. So maybe they are quite similar. You could do it for sure - but it doesn't invite you to do that! My Stomvi S3 does, but the HCI wants me to play "nice". |
Mike, you must have kissed the Blarney stone; your description was not just accurate, but eloquent as well. I have to think that if you like the Martin, you would like the Schilke HC1.
The Schilke HCI loves to play ballads. Since that is exactly the kind of music I enjoy playing, the Schilke and I are natural partners.
Actually, I did have the opportunity to test a Martin Committee with the number 2 bore. It was a very nice trumpet, but honestly, I would not have traded my Schilke for it (I had to opportunity to buy the Martin and sell the Schilke; I declined).
Warm regards,
Grits
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy. |
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bach_again
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Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 2481
Location: Northern Ireland
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| halfgreek12 wrote: | What mpc are you using to play lead on it? I love mine as it is very versatile-- I feel like I can get the right sound to play a Charlier etude then a Freddie type fat sound for playing jazz with a yamaha 13c4. When I put in a Marc. Ingram it's easy to play lead on as it's a pretty small horn. I remember reading a thread on here where Trent Austin said this was one of the few horns he really regretted selling and I think that says a lot. Brad Goode was also really into these horns.
Steve |
Yeah man, Brad and Trent both like these horns from what I read!
I have played the upper register on this but not on a gig. I think it would work well as a lead horn with the right approach - it is dead easy up top. I would use my Warb 7ESV/2. It screams with that! But truth be told I would use my S3 for lead. It would likely blend better and is probably a bit more projecting.
Cheers!
Mike
_________________
Maestro Arturo Sandoval on Barkley Microphones!
https://youtu.be/iLVMRvw5RRk
Michael Barkley Quartet - Portals:
https://michaelbarkley.bandcamp.com/album/portals
The best movie trumpet solo?
https://youtu.be/OnCnTA6toMU |
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bach_again
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Location: Northern Ireland
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| Grits Burgh wrote: | | Quote: | bach_again posted:
Well the HCI isn't a lead horn either, Grits. So maybe they are quite similar. You could do it for sure - but it doesn't invite you to do that! My Stomvi S3 does, but the HCI wants me to play "nice". |
Mike, you must have kissed the Blarney stone; your description was not just accurate, but eloquent as well. I have to think that if you like the Martin, you would like the Schilke HC1.
The Schilke HCI loves to play ballads. Since that is exactly the kind of music I enjoy playing, the Schilke and I are natural partners.
Actually, I did have the opportunity to test a Martin Committee with the number 2 bore. It was a very nice trumpet, but honestly, I would not have traded my Schilke for it (I had to opportunity to buy the Martin and sell the Schilke; I declined).
Warm regards,
Grits |
Accurate AND eloquent, me?! How DARE you 
I like Schilke horns, from what little time I have played them. I am trying to match a mouthpiece to this Martin. So far I have come up with a pre-fire 8SV but the 2 backbore isn't quite right. I have a 3 in the post. (I like tighter backbores).
The Martin would make a wonderful classical solo instrument as it has a very refined rich tone when played with a medium/deep C cup. But it was born to play jazz!
I have a couple minor niggles with this horn, which I am gradually working through. I am going to try heavier oil because these valves although about 75% compression, I feel would be better sealing better. Though you all know Mendez when presented with his new Olds Mendez model, complained the valves were too tight a tolerance/good compression and he wouldn't sign off on the horn until the tech honed the valves and made them a little less good!! Sometimes it is the quirk that makes the horn the way it is - imperfection isn't always a bad thing. That's what I tell people when I play
Cheers!
Mike
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Maestro Arturo Sandoval on Barkley Microphones!
https://youtu.be/iLVMRvw5RRk
Michael Barkley Quartet - Portals:
https://michaelbarkley.bandcamp.com/album/portals
The best movie trumpet solo?
https://youtu.be/OnCnTA6toMU |
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trumpetplanet
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Joined: 05 Feb 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| bach_again wrote: | | Though you all know Mendez when presented with his new Olds Mendez model, complained the valves were too tight a tolerance/good compression and he wouldn't sign off on the horn until the tech honed the valves and made them a little less good!! |
I heard this same story, but that it was a Schilke trumpet. The point being that R. Schilke was obsessed with making valves as tight as they would function.
I could be wrong though... ageing memory.
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trumpetplanet
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bach_again
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jojocat
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Location: Baie St-Paul, Quebec, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| scipioap wrote: | I hear you both about keeping the Martin obsession/addiction in check!
One minor thing I dislike about the HCIs is the antiquated thick-profile finger buttons, along with the accommodating top caps. It seems that's the first thing Schilke wanted to update across the board with the HC Committees, both trumpet and cornet. That's one reason I decided to hunt down one each of the latter, and of course pay a little extra. The more modern finger buttons, and valve blocks in general, lighter weight, more refined bracing, etc., feel like a huge Schilke improvement in my comparison. |
Same thing for me. I have a wonderful 1936 horn and the only thing I hate on that horn are the small finger buttons. Several horns of that era had small finger buttons, like old Conns. So checked in my buttons stock and found a larger set that fits and looks nice with the horn and made pretty inlays from a coffe brown slab. Look at it here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zz6tjw1gxmxy5y6/coffee%20stone.jpg?dl=0
The horn is now perfect. I love my HI. The sound is gorgeous, lot darker than the Committee and it plays well in tune. But I love my large bore Indiana even more. This horn is more open than the HI, I can push it much more and the sound of it would fool anyone in a blindtest side to side to a Committee. Intonation is not as good as the Imperial, but I can deal with it.
I recently collected parts to assemble a whole Committee. Waiting for the last parts to arrive to begin the endeavor. Wow! Lot of fun to come...
Martin horns are a class apart. Not that they are the best horns ever made, but the feel and warmth of the sound is unique; for me that's the perfect vehicle to player's feelings.
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Martin Committee trumpet
Yamaha 6335H
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jojocat
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Mike, I have the exact same model than yours.
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The least we can do is wave to each other
Martin Committee trumpet
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