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Post by tomturner on Oct 12, 2003 23:23:35 GMT -5
Hi, and WELCOME!!!
I'm so excited to have a place on the web to discuss these unique and varied instruments that shaped the horns we play today . . . and I am so pleased to be asked to be your moderator of the Vintage Cornet/Trumpets Forum.
I guess I'm a "dinosaur" to many of you . . . born in 1951 and coming up in the school systems where virtually everyone played cornet. The top horns of Olds, Reynolds, Conn and King were the ones that we all dreamed about . . . and the handcrafted superhorns like the Chicago Benge and Mt. Vernon Bachs were special order only instruments handcrafted at the rate of just a few a week!
One time, all these horns were cutting edge instruments of sometimes breathtaking workmanship. Today, many are coming out of the attics for the first time in fifty years or more . . . to be acquired and lovingly played by a new generation!
I'm hoping to draw many renowned experts on vintage high brass instruments to "drop in" and visit us at times.
Vintage horns can be a fun hobby . . . and you might just find one that will lay to shame the modern axe you currently play too! Hopefully this site can give you guidance so you get the right horn(s) for you!
Please join in and make this spot a favorite on the Master's Forum!
At your service,
Tom Turner
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Post by Trptmaster on Oct 12, 2003 23:33:39 GMT -5
WOW! Sounds great Tom.
TM
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Post by Tootsall on Oct 13, 2003 17:19:38 GMT -5
Young punk! I'm 4 years older. ;D Mind yer elders, y'hear?
Hope we can talk about newer cornets in here too. (anything older 'n me is 'vintage', anything newer is "new").
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Post by tomturner on Oct 13, 2003 17:57:46 GMT -5
Hi yew old man, you make me feel YOUNG!
Talk all the cornets you want!
That fair-haired stepchild of the trumpet is being rediscovered . . . and new ways to play it will spring forth too, I hope!
Sincerely,
Tom
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Post by jettoneman on Oct 21, 2003 6:55:52 GMT -5
Hey kids. I'm just kidding, I'm actually the whippersnapper here. I love the way old horns play, they seem to have a kinder, gentler sound than most horns made these days. I played Conns most of the time I was on the Miller band, 22B, 6B and Connstellation, now that I'm doing some more classical things I switched back to the Bachs, and a Benge for playing lead, I think the 3X is one of the most underappreciated horns out there, it has a great warm sound for classical music as well. Thanks for letting me intrude.
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Post by tomturner on Oct 21, 2003 12:54:26 GMT -5
Hi Jet tone man, and welcome aboard!
Man, you've got quite a fine "arsenal" of fine ol' "working" horns!
I still remember with great fondness my own Benge 3x, a new '72 horn (#9727) I bought back in my Army bandsman days.
It was an early LA horn but, doing a joint gig with Woody Herman's band in early '74, all the trumpeters wanted me to hang around until after they completed the gig to try out my new LA 3X vs. their Burbank Benges. They were soooo relieved that the quality hadn't slipped at all after moving to LA.
Darn, that 3X sounded as good in the studio as it did live . . . both as a lead horn AND as a solo horn. Sadly, one of the greatest trumpets ever made succumbed to mass marketing and by '75 things had begun to really slip. Today mostly only us "old farts" remember once what was . . .
Gosh, some fine trumpets came out of that slow, perfectionistic Benge factory in the 60's! What was their average production. Wasn't it only TWO horns a week?
Eldon was picky and fought following the trend to mass-produce as long as he lived . . . and Donald and company sure held on for as long as they could after Eldon's death in 1960.
The original Benge company under Eldon never made a student trumpet . . . never stopped insisting on making the absolute BEST trumpet they could make . . . one at a time!!!
Youngsters today aren't aware that sooooo many of those players "in the know" back in the 60's gigged and recorded on Benge Bb AND C trumpets!
BTW, what years were you with the Miller organization? They are still goin' strong today, with both East and West Coast bands the last I heard. Which group were you with?
Again, WELCOME ABOARD. Please contribute often. We'll all love your insight!
Sincerely,
Tom Turner
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Post by jettoneman on Oct 22, 2003 6:57:11 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I played with the Miller band from '99-'00, it was a good band, good times were had by all. When I left the band 3 of the 4 of us were playing Conns, I had my 38B, the split lead player had his 36B and the jazz player played an 8B, you don't see a section like that everyday.
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Post by tomturner on Oct 22, 2003 21:08:23 GMT -5
Hi,
Were you in the band when Michael McKenzie was on the 2nd book?
He's a friend of mine and a wonderful player! He was on the band fronted by the bone player who has been a Miller leader for years!
One of the veteran bone players in that Miller group also went to FSU way back when I was knocking around down there too.
Sadly, in one of my "senior moments," I can't recall either of those bone player's names!!!
Tom
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Post by PhilPicc on Nov 3, 2003 15:08:45 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I just found this forum today and am looking forward to visiting it more often for your knowledge and thoughtful comments. Regards as always, Phil P.S. Born 1942 and still playing  |
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Post by Trptmaster on Nov 3, 2003 15:09:31 GMT -5
Has anyone seen Tom around. Hope he is ok.
TM
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Post by tomturner on Nov 4, 2003 0:54:08 GMT -5
Hi all,
I'm around, but mainly just lurking simply because of my very busy work schedule.
However, I try to make time to reply when I feel I should and look forward to the time when I have more free time to devote to new threads, etc.
Sincerely,
Tom Turner
PS: Welcome Phil! I'm glad to see you post here!!!
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Post by Trptmaster on Nov 4, 2003 1:00:16 GMT -5
No problem Tom. Just hadn't seen you around. Post when you can. We understand you are busy. Thanks for moderating!
TM
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