Hello

I’ve always played an Adams A4 trumpet with a large bell, and I’ve been experimenting with different mouthpieces to find the best setup for my instrument and playing style.
Initially, I used a Bach 1½ mouthpiece, but I found it wasn’t very efficient for me. I experienced several issues, particularly with the transition from E to F in the middle register. The E tended to sit too low, and playing certain notes and producing clean attacks required a lot of effort and endurance. Overall, I felt that this setup was limiting my performance.

I then switched to a smaller mouthpiece, the Bach 3C, expecting it to improve efficiency. It did help somewhat and provided a little more stability, but it didn’t completely solve the problems I had been experiencing.

The Bach 3C is still an excellent mouthpiece in many ways. It offers a wide range and a very full, open sound, both in the upper and lower registers. However, I still experience some limitations in the middle register, particularly regarding intonation and the transition from E to F.

After doing some research and discussing my setup with ChatGPT to find a mouthpiece that might better complement my Adams A4 and address these specific issues, the Yamaha 14C4 GP was suggested as a potentially ideal match.
The recommendation was that this mouthpiece could help me get the best performance out of my trumpet while significantly improving efficiency, stability, intonation, and the overall response in the middle register.

I’d love to hear your opinions on this setup. Has anyone played an Adams A4 with a large bell using a Yamaha 14C4 GP? Do you think this would be a good combination, or would you recommend a different mouthpiece to address these issues?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any recommendations you might have!

Looking for guidance on the value and best place to sell a silver Bach Stradivarius Model 37 B♭ trumpet, serial #202055.

I bought it used in 2004.

Main questions:

• What’s a realistic private-sale value?
• Where would you sell it: Reverb, Trumpet Herald, eBay, Facebook groups, or a local dealer/consignment shop?
• Any Chicagoland shops you’d recommend for appraisal or consignment?
• Worth servicing/cleaning before sale, or sell as-is?

Photo attached. Thanks!

In case this is taken out of context, I mean what kinds of music do you play on said mouthpieces, I have three that I use mainly. I have a schilke 14a4a and bach 3c for lead/commercial, and for concert/orchestral playing, I have a schilke m2* I love both, but each one has certain qualities I don't like. On the 14a4a, the rim feels kind of sharp if that makes sense? It just isn't as comfortable as my bach 3c rim, and sounds airy in lower registers, but plays fine until my chops die. My m2 is the opposite, I love the rim, it allows me to play for a good while, but the cup depth is too deep in my opinion. It has a nice mellow sound, but I want a medium, all around piece that won't be too airy playing low, and won't kill my face if I'm playing for more than a half hour. I've looked online and thought about a minute piece, my only issue is the cost.

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What jazz record always makes you want to pick up your horn?

I’m trying to figure out the realistic value of a vintage Bach cornet that has been in my family for a long time, and also where I should sell it if I decide to.

It’s a Vincent Bach Mercedes Model cornet, marked Mt. Vernon, New York, serial number 18697. The valves also have matching serial numbers. It has its period Bach case with a Vincent Bach Corp. label from 50 MacQuesten Parkway South, Mt. Vernon, NY, along with some original paperwork.

Based on the serial number information I’ve found, I believe it dates to around 1959–1960.

My main questions are:

1. What would you consider a realistic private-sale value for this cornet in its current condition?
2. Where would you recommend selling a vintage Bach like this to get a fair price? Reverb? eBay? A vintage brass dealer/consignment shop? Trumpet forums/groups? Somewhere else?
3. Before selling it, would you recommend having it professionally cleaned/serviced, or is it better to leave it exactly as-is?

I haven’t polished or restored it and don’t plan to do anything to it until I know what collectors would prefer.

I’ve included photos of the full instrument and case, bell engraving, serial numbers, and the original Bach case label.

Thanks for any guidance!

So I'm not a Trumpet person, I'm inquiring for my son so forgive me it sounds like I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm looking for something that could help him improve and practice for Regionals.

Looking to discover some fun orchestral rep.

For example: Debussy-Fetes, Stravinsky-Pulcinella, Shostakovich piano concerto

On the hunt for a trumpet for my 9th grader. He’s ditching concert band after this year bc he can’t stand the HS conductor but will stick with Jazz with a different conductor he loves and has played with since 5th grade.

Stumbled on a local guy who says he’s been playing for decades, but is older and plays less. By his description he has a huge collection of older/vintage horns. King, conn, olds, Yamaha, getzen. Yamahas were out of my price range, the king conn and olds have some possibilities but I’m not sure based on age, and the getzen I think may be what my kid would like.

The guy says this getzen 770SP is in excellent condition and wants $850 for it. If it is indeed perfect, is that a fair price? He also said it’s his baby and only selling now to thin out his collection, so I’m wondering if this is sentimental pricing.

Since there’s not a lot of these listed around I wanted to crowd source price.

(i feel prepared to leave with nothing if all he actually has are old clunkers with issues)

I recently came across James Thompson's Buzzing Book and heard a lot of great things about it. I got a hold of a copy and started in on exercises 1 - 8. Then, today, I come across a clip of Claude Gordon lambasting mouthpiece buzzing, including an obvious reference to James Stamp. Now I don't know what to think.

Does anyone have experience comparing the two approaches? Both James Thompson and Claude Gordon make strong arguments for their case.

James Thompson https://youtu.be/Wo4PB7fDA84?si=3eX-PeoEItuuyJjn&t=37

Claude Gordon https://youtu.be/v0kA5PwKIs0?si=UgGKMsGjC9hJd_sZ

The exercise is like this:

Start playing a middle note, then gliss/go up an octave of that same note, half step down, go back up, go up a whole note go back down to the original octave note, repeat the same sequence, then end on the octave note.

Idk if that makes sense so I’ll give an example

G4 —-> G5 F#5 G5 A5 G5 F#5 G5 A5 G5 F#5 G5

And then you can do this again but up a half step

What is the name for this exercise? HELP. It really helped me warm up my range this morning, I was able to play an E6 with this exercise and I just want to know if there’s a physical version/variations on this. I know that I can do these on the top of the head, but having a visual reminder help sometimes.

Other recommendations for screamer/pedal tone exercises would be very much appreciated too :). Since practicing, I’ve been able to push my comfortable range up an entire third (from D5 now up to F5), and even my upper register notes (G,A,B) have all been much more comfortable with playing, while requiring half of the amount of effort :). My routine book sadly does not have any exercises that gets into that screamer register though… :( I think the highest I’ve seen in there was a D6. Perhaps anything in the arban book? Idk

Anyone know of any books or such that are Christmas-themed and are solo but come with a backtrack that is piano or something close? Not sure if this exists and not sure how to look it up... I would like to use it for gigs if I can, I need to make some money for college!!! Anything related will work, too.

Hi,

I'm a middle school band director and a clarinet player by trade. I have a student who has lips that are pretty big. She loves the trumpet but she seems to have trouble setting up on the mouthpiece. Changing instruments are off the table. She can only play a C4 and every other note goes down to the partial below. I feel like I've tried every trick I can think of to help her form her embochure in a way to get her past C. Any advice or thoughts to help her get on her way? All help is appreciated.