My story on the piccolo trumpet is a complicated one. I love playing pic and I bought a Yamaha Custom YTR-9830 my sophomore year in college. When I went to Chicago, I was encouraged by Mr. Hagstrom to get a Schilke. At the same time, he tried mine several times and was always pleased with my sound on it. Low and behold, after winter break, I walked into my lesson and he had bought one himself. Of course, he still had his Schilke, but found good uses for the Yamaha as well. Years later as I prepared to play Brandenburg 2, I tried all of my students’ pics. I found one in particular that it worked great on. I traded him horns. Then, he sold it to one of my other students. When he went to grad school at Florida State, he asked if I might sell it back to him. I did and picked up another one used. THEN . . . a friend came to my house and we played some pic duets. He thought I sounded better on his, than on mine. And agreed, his played a little easier. We traded instruments and he went on to sell mine at a profit, and I am sitting happy with the best P5-4 I’ve played. It has been tweaked with two different Blackburn pipes, and Blackburn also did a valve alignment on it. So, I am actually on my third P5-4.
When I played Brandenburg the first time, I looked for a Brandenburg bell. My understanding was that Gerald Endsley would make them. However, at the time, he was retooling and unable to make one. I just went ahead and made it happen without. It went great. However, a few years later I found this gem on the herald. The seller was uncertain who made it. It works great and I look forward to playing Brandenburg with colleagues again next year. It doesn’t give you the high A (concert G), but it does make it more secure.
When I played Brandenburg the first time, I looked for a Brandenburg bell. My understanding was that Gerald Endsley would make them. However, at the time, he was retooling and unable to make one. I just went ahead and made it happen without. It went great. However, a few years later I found this gem on the herald. The seller was uncertain who made it. It works great and I look forward to playing Brandenburg with colleagues again next year. It doesn’t give you the high A (concert G), but it does make it more secure.
Blackburn Prototype
Here is my new favorite. It is a Blackburn prototype piccolo trumpet that didn't quite make the cut. It has a Buaerfeind valve section which is standard on many European horns. The rest of the instrument is complete Blackburn. Ultimately, he went another direction with the valve clusters, but he kept this instrument intact. The bell flair gives this instrument a little more warmth. It has an outstanding high range. Brandenburg doesn't play itself, but it works beautifully. I have managed to get through Michael Haydn; it is extreme and not quite ready for "public consumption". Additionally, the low range is among the best of any piccolo trumpets I have played.
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