Ask away - trumpet & sax doublers...

jazzychaz · 10-10-2006, 06:58 PM

Ok, I've been a trumpet player for 24 years now, and a sax player for 8 years. I play both rather proficiently now, and have recorded sessions on both, gigged live on both, and continue to do so. I'm a very strong trumpet player with a double 'C' range, and my horns are Rampone & Cazzani (large bore), and I have a blast with them all! I use Brancer 'J' and 'B' mouthpieces on tenor, alto & bari, and a newer *7 Otto Link on soprano (of which I've gotten some very nice compliments from other pro players.) My reed sizes usually stay in the area of #3, even though I'm playing on some rather open tipped mouthpieces. (Must have been all those years playing lead trumpet in college jazz band & blowing my guts out in marching band!)

Anyway, I'm just making myself available to anyone who wants to chat and discuss issues at hand. My trumpets are a King Silver Sonic anniversary model, and Olds pro flugel, and my trumpet mouthpieces range from a Schilke 24 all the way down to a Schilke 6A4a.

I love my Rampone & Cazzani tenor! A very sweeeet horn. My best combination with it is the Brancher 'J' mouthpiece, 31 opening, and a #3 med reed. The 'B' mouthpiece is nice too, for cutting thru a rock band.

I also perform on keys, as well. I have a Roland Fantom X7, a Korg Karma, a Nord Electro 2, and am probably selling my Yamaha Motif ES 8. I have a couple of guitars & bass, but I don't have time to devote to learning them. It's a drag having to work a day job, but it helps pay for the toys! My home studio consists of a Macintosh G5, Pro Tools LE 6.9.2 software / rack, and lots of toys to go along.

Hit me up if anyone wants to discuss recording, live gigging, switching on the fly, technique, etc.

Al Stevens · 10-10-2006, 08:32 PM

I don't have anything to ask. Welcome to the board.

There are several brass and reed doublers here; they will chime in if they wish.

I play an old King Silver Flair trumpet, an old King Super 20 cornet, an old Couesnon flugelhorn. an old King 2B valve trombone, a very old Buescher alto, an old Selmer tenor, an old Kay acoustic bass, and any old piano they put in front of me. Being old, I like old stuff.

Actually, I like good stuff, and stuff that's old and has lasted and is still useable is usually good.

I don't much like electronic keyboards, but I have one in my studio and another that I used to use for gigs. I don't take it out anymore. It is connected to my Finale computer now.

jaysne · 11-10-2006, 02:28 AM

Okay, I'll take the plunge...

I've heard of a trumpet book called "Sail the Seven C's" which teaches you how to play the note C in seven different octaves. After doing a graduate sax recital I took trumpet lessons for four years. Eventually I was able to hit pedal C (sometimes), regular low C, middle C, and high C (the limit to my upper range was Eb). A total of four Cs.

So I am completely befuddled that it's possible to hit a double-high C and perhaps a double-pedal C? And then find another C somewhere for a total of seven? How can this be?

hgiles · 11-10-2006, 07:41 PM

I've heard that B&S makes some nice trumpets -- have any of you tried a B&S trumpet?

**Martin Williams** · 11-10-2006, 09:25 PM

Ive tried the B&S Challenger, well made student horn thre. I prefer my Shilke B1 though

My trumpets are a Schilke B1, Olds Super Recording, and a Conn 22B, plus Ive got a couesnon flugel and a Yamaha 6310z flugel, plus an ancient King Stencil trombone labeled 'professional', plus more in my office(Im the equipment manager for the Ohio State band, tons of unique brass instruments we dont really use. I play the trumpets with various Schilke mpcs, and the flugels all have GR mouthpieces, that play great

As far as my saxes go, look below to my signature!

Tonehole · 11-11-2006, 02:43 AM

I missed something hgiles what was the segway into B&s Trumpet's?

Tryptykon · 11-13-2006, 11:14 PM

May as well chime-in..

May brasswinds are :

-Jerome Callet silver plated Large bore(.464)
-King Silvertone(SS Bell) cornet(precursor to the Silversonic)
-Conn Constellation nickel plate w/large bell flare(nice Mariachi trumpet)
-Eb King 'peck' horn w/ detachable bell section

**gary** · 11-13-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tryptykon

-Conn Constellation nickel plate w/large bell flare(nice Mariachi trumpet)

...and more. I played that instrument in HS and part of college and had a very nice dark sound. Don Jacoby played in in a more commercial way and had a great, almost cornet sound at times. My teacher played his as principal trumpet in the Honolulu Symphony.

Me? I play a 1957 med-bore Martin Committee with a Gustat mpc.

Tryptykon · 11-18-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary

...and more. I played that instrument in HS and part of college and had a very nice dark sound. Don Jacoby played in in a more commercial way and had a great, almost cornet sound at times. My teacher played his as principal trumpet in the Honolulu Symphony.

Me? I play a 1957 med-bore Martin Committee with a Gustat mpc.

I want to get a Martin, sometime; maybe next year .

Never tried one.

At one point I was considering buying a Blessing Super Artist-- a'la Clifford Brown,
but I don't think that's going to give me Brownie chops in a box; hardly ..

I forgot to mention I have another Conn trumpet w/ a Copper bell section;
made in 1940; according the Sax and Brass Book

Yeah, that Constellation is dark; almost constricted, in the upper register.
You just have to meet it on it's own terms, and "go, with it" .

**JimMetcalf** · 11-18-2006, 06:05 PM

Welcome! I also play saxs (A-T-B-S) and trumpets/flugelhorn. Been playing since 1955-
Trumpets: Selmer 20, Yamaha 6335HGS with Yamaha 14A4a-GP or Monette B6L,Flugel: Conn Vintage One with Yamaha 14F4-GP

Tenor: Yamaha 875s (Silverplate) with GoldPlate Lawton Icon 7*BB with Bari* Soft reed, Alto: Selmer Serie III silverplate with Goldplate Lawton 7*B,Bari* Soft reed Bari:-Yamaha 52 with Lawton Stainless 6*BB, Sop: Selmer Super 80 with Goldplate Lawton 7* or Lawton Stainless 9B Bari* Hard reed
Clarinets: LeBlanc Esprit with John Pierce Jazz mouthpiece-Bari* Soft reed-Bass Clarinet: Bundy 1430-with Pomarico Jazz XX mouthpiece with Bari* soft reeds.

I feel trumpet and sax are a natural duo-- right hand fingerings are very similar - both require air support!

Lost_in_Music13 · 03-20-2007, 04:23 AM

Quote:

I've heard of a trumpet book called "Sail the Seven C's" which teaches you how to play the note C in seven different octaves.

I would like to know more about this book... does it actually work?

brutlix · 03-30-2007, 11:43 AM

Im a tenor, alto and flute player. I'd like to start playing trumpet too, but im kind of worried about all these different embouchures. Will playing the trumpet hurt my saxophone embouchure?

Al Stevens · 03-30-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brutlix

Im a tenor, alto and flute player. I'd like to start playing trumpet too, but im kind of worried about all these different embouchures. Will playing the trumpet hurt my saxophone embouchure?

Playing trumpet hurts. Playing saxophone doesn't hurt. (Unless you're playing a low A bari without a harness.) As near as I can tell, playing one instrument does not hurt one's playing of the other. There are many players who double. Ira Sullivan is a notable example. Bill Prince is another. Bill also plays piano, bass, clarinet, flute, trombone, and anything else you can get a note out of.

RCNELSON · 03-30-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brutlix

Im a tenor, alto and flute player. I'd like to start playing trumpet too, but im kind of worried about all these different embouchures. Will playing the trumpet hurt my saxophone embouchure?

Trumpet may or may not affect your sax embouchure, but your flute embouchure will definitely suffer as it will have yet one more horn to compete with.

Read what flute expert/teacher Larry Krantz has to say at http://www.larrykrantz.com/doubling.htm.

And7barton · 03-31-2007, 12:55 AM

I've played mainly tenor sax, but also trumpet, for over 30 years. I had formal trumpet lessons from the conductor of the Ford Motor Campany's brass band, which may or may not still exist...... then got a "C" Melody sax for £ 9 from a junk shop, which was held together by sticky tape. Half the pads were made from scrap cardboard and old handkerchief material, and many of the springs were substituted by rubber bands ! -Despite this, I learned to play a reasonable tune, a year or two later getting a tenor sax. I could never play very high on the trumpet..... perhaps two-and-a-bit octaves. No problems with the sax though. I used to hang around in Selmer's shop in Tottenham Court Road, trying out both saxes and trumpets and being a thorough nuisance. They got to know me, and one of the store staff used to say - "Here comes the trumpet-playing tenor-player" as I walked into the store on yet another time-wasting exercise. If he's still alive after all this time, he'll remember me possibly.
Richard

The Saxonator · 06-23-2007, 03:21 AM

Hi, Jazzychaz, I'm going to try the trumpet, as well as play my sax, and I was wondering if there was anything I needed know: What are the best brands, are there different sized mouthpieces and if so which is the best for a beginner, are there certain specialties on trumpet like the high F# key on saxophone, and anything els important? Thanx.

- The Saxonator

**Martin Williams** · 06-23-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saxonator

Hi, Jazzychaz, I'm going to try the trumpet, as well as play my sax, and I was wondering if there was anything I needed know: What are the best brands, are there different sized mouthpieces and if so which is the best for a beginner, are there certain specialties on trumpet like the high F# key on saxophone, and anything els important? Thanx.

- The Saxonator

General need to know: Stick to a reputable, name brand thats been played and reviewed by players, just like saxes. Find yourself a 7C or similar for begining, get a teacher to prevent bad habits, and head over to the tpt forum at www.trumpetherald.com

jaysne · 10-10-2007, 11:45 PM

He posted his offer to discuss horns exactly a year ago, and has not been back since!

brutlix · 10-26-2007, 02:53 PM

Today is my fourth day of playing trumpet - i got an old
Amati, which is quite beat up, but im loving it nonetheless.
My range is from low F# to second D - almost two octaves, with
a relatively pleasing tone, although I cannot hit D from scratch, only by slurrin' up from C.

Since I live in an apartment I don't want to irritate neighbours
and I tend to practice as quiet as I can - is that in any way harmful?

How about practicing with a mute from day one? I heard it is
not recommended...

Can my lips get injured if I practice too much?

Thanks...

**Martin Williams** · 10-26-2007, 03:02 PM

1) Quiet practice is not harmful. But you do need to practice at reg volumes as well in order to build strong playing skills

2) Look into the silent brass mute, amazing quality and you almost dont feel it there when you blow. But you still need to practice w/o to ensure proper development

3) You need to play ALOT for that to happen. Ive only had a few times that I actually hurt something, but Id been playing for a extremely extended period of time, and extremely high.

I march Solo first in the Ohio State marching band(which is all brass so I cant play my sax) and on one game I did about 7 hrs of playing before, during and after the game, my lips got sunburned, and Bruised doing horn flashes on our turn(where we take our horns from perfectly horizontal to entirely vertical in less than a count during a turn)

Enjoy trumpet!

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