Brass Musicians on B&B?

[JCalkin]

Just curious: how many brass musicians do we have on B&B? Care to share your shaving+embouchure stories, good or bad?

I'm a tubist, and when I was using a cartridge+goo system I often had to retouch my embouchure contact points in the afternoon if I had an evening gig/rehearsal, which meant keeping an electric in my office and being irritated all night.

DE wetshaving has allowed me to shave only ONCE a day, and I'm still smooth in the evening, enough that playing the tuba is as comfortable as in the morning.

Anyone else have similar experience? Anyone get a nasty nick right on their embouchure contact point yet (me either, I'm just asking)?

[Bobtrumpet]

Trumpet player here (although I haven't played much in the last couple years).

When I was playing heavily in college (late 1970s), I had a moustache and a "soul patch" - just like Doc! When I started up again in 1995, I was clean shaven (sometimes electric, sometimes multiblade disposables). I haven't had any shaving problems around the chops (but I don't try for ATG on the moustache area), and I can play comfortably on up to one day's growth.

Maybe we need to get a B&B brass quintet together?!

Oh, and Welcome to B&B!

P.S. Josh, you got any tips for a comeback player to get his chops back? PM me!

[ouch]

You guys have already cost me a Yamaha Xeno for my daughter. What's in store next?

[kolinpl]

I'm a euphonium player. Sadly, I haven't played seriously in nearly 10 years.

I know many brassists who have played with facial hair - especially trumpet players with little silly moustaches made small specifically to accomodate a mouthpiece.

I have had beards on and off over the years, but picking up my horn again has always inspired me to go for a clean shave. However, I really don't mind playing on a few days growth. Any more than that and things get a little annoying, especially because my embouchure seems to be a little higher on the upper lip than your classic low brassist.

Regards,

K

[jadam318]

I'm another trumpet player, although I played my share of euphonium in high school. (We had a very stout high brass section, and I wanted to try something new and fill some gaps in the low brass.) Anyway, I haven't played for anyone other than myself in nearly 10 years. As long as I could keep facial hair away from my lips, I had no problem with the trumpet mouthpiece. The feeling of hair between the metal and my mouth was quite unpleasant, though, and the larger diameter of the euphonium piece always inspired a clean shave.

Trumpet player here (although I haven't played much in the last couple years).

When I was playing heavily in college (late 1970s), I had a moustache and a "soul patch" - just like Doc! When I started up again in 1995, I was clean shaven (sometimes electric, sometimes multiblade disposables). I haven't had any shaving problems around the chops (but I don't try for ATG on the moustache area), and I can play comfortably on up to one day's growth.

Maybe we need to get a B&B brass quintet together?!

Oh, and Welcome to B&B!

A B&B brass ensemble would be great!.....well....as soon as they figure out how to teleport cheaply. I have a feeling there aren't enough of us in any one place for practice to be feasible. I would LOVE to have an excuse to dust off the old horn, though.

You guys have already cost me a Yamaha Xeno for my daughter. What's in store next?

A flugel horn is the natural next step in the progression.

[Bobtrumpet]

You guys have already cost me a Yamaha Xeno for my daughter. What's in store next?

A flugel horn is the natural next step in the progression.

Actually a nice vintage cornet (or two or three - they are like vintage DEs) would be nice. C(ornet)AD, anyone.

Ouch, just be glad she doesn't play tuba. The OP can tell you how much one of those goes for. You got off cheap with the Xeno in comparison.

Just make sure she never visits http://www.monette.net! I don't think you can get one of Dave's horns for under at least $5k.

[jadam318]

Actually a nice vintage cornet (or two or three - they are like vintage DEs) would be nice. C(ornet)AD, anyone.

Ouch, just be glad she doesn't play tuba. The OP can tell you how much one of those goes for. You got off cheap with the Xeno in comparison.

Just make sure she never visits http://www.monette.net! I don't think you can get one of Dave's horns for under at least $5k.

Oh, for the love of all that is holy! I have drooled over Monettes for years now!

[timsackbutt]

Trombonist here. Never cut my lip shaving with a DE but I used to have more problems with cartridges for some reason. Maybe I'm more careful now and take my time. I'm also playing for a living so it's worth keeping the ol' pucker well spruced up eh...

[JCalkin]

Actually a nice vintage cornet (or two or three - they are like vintage DEs) would be nice. C(ornet)AD, anyone.

Ouch, just be glad she doesn't play tuba. The OP can tell you how much one of those goes for. You got off cheap with the Xeno in comparison.

Just make sure she never visits http://www.monette.net! I don't think you can get one of Dave's horns for under at least $5k.

As trumpets go, the Xeno is not a cheap beast.

Still you can just get INTO a passable decent tuba for a bit under $5K, and there are pro horns now retailing for $20K, give or take.

Still, compared to bassoonists, pianists or string players, we're lucky (financially speaking only, of course).

[drewmac]

Trumpet player ('56 Benge Burbank). I had a trumpet instructor in high school that had his mustache cut out for his mouthpiece. Looked ridiculous!

[Bobtrumpet]

Trumpet player ('56 Benge Anaheim). I had a trumpet instructor in high school that had his mustache cut out for his mouthpiece. Looked ridiculous!

I also play a Benge, 6X large bore, 1974 Anaheim, built by Zig Kanstul. Are you sure yours isn't a Burbank? Great horns.

Mine needs enough R&R that I went looking for another horn for everyday playing until I can get the $ to get the Benge overhauled. I bought a practically brand new Yamaha student horn for $200 at a pawn shop on Valentine's Day - they were having a half-off sale.

[drewmac]

I also play a Benge, 6X large bore, 1974 Anaheim, built by Zig Kanstul. Are you sure yours isn't a Burbank? Great horns.

Mine needs enough R&R that I went looking for another horn for everyday playing until I can get the $ to get the Benge overhauled. I bought a practically brand new Yamaha student horn for $200 at a pawn shop on Valentine's Day - they were having a half-off sale.

Yeah, it's a Burbank...my bad.

[jadam318]

As trumpets go, the Xeno is not a cheap beast.

Still you can just get INTO a passable decent tuba for a bit under $5K, and there are pro horns now retailing for $20K, give or take.

Still, compared to bassoonists, pianists or string players, we're lucky (financially speaking only, of course).

Oi! I can't say I envy you tuba players. My little, old Yamaha trumpet will suffice until I either get payed to play it or get the unshakable case of TAD, the latter being quite probable should I find a suitable excuse to perform on a semi-regular basis.

[Bayamontate]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk04PC73UIE

Of the three trumpeters, I'm on one on the left (yes, the one with one arm.) Started playing professionally at age 13. I attended music school at the intermediate, high school and college level, graduating in 1987.

As far as gear, I mostly play a Mount Vernon Bach Strad from 1957 and an early 1990's Schilke S32 with tunable bell. Mouthpieces are Bob Reeves Custom, Monette B6 and Bach Custom 3Cish invention of mine.

I have no str8 horror stories because I started using a str8 from day one at around age 16.

[DougK]

I played trumpet many moons ago when I was in school (jazz band and orchestra), a pretty decent King student model. I toy with the idea of picking up another horn sometime but I've never gotten around to it. If I do, I'd love to find a vintage cornet or maybe give an alto horn a go.

[jadam318]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk04PC73UIE

Of the three trumpeters, I'm on one on the left (yes, the one with one arm.) Started playing professionally at age 13. I attended music school at the intermediate, high school and college level, graduating in 1987.

As far as gear, I mostly play a Mount Vernon Bach Strad from 1957 and an early 1990's Schilke S32 with tunable bell. Mouthpieces are Bob Reeves Custom, Monette B6 and Bach Custom 3Cish invention of mine.

I have no str8 horror stories because I started using a str8 from day one at around age 16.

How does that Monette mouthpiece stack up against anything else you've used?

[**Bingo_Bob**]

I have a snare drum made out of brass

[JCalkin]

I have a snare drum made out of brass

And does wetshaving help with your embouchure?

My wife is a percussionist. Now THOSE people are equipment junkies. Puts all of our ADs to shame.

[rgarofalo]

Trumpet player here
Playing on a bach strad 37 as my main horn
other horns in the arsenal are
Conn Vintage one flugel
Shilke P 5-4
Shilke E3L
Bach 229GB bell 24H C trumpet
And i will soon have a Ganter rotaty Bb

[Bayamontate]

How does that Monette mouthpiece stack up against anything else you've used?

My first Monette B6 had a 24 throat which was too open for the sort of work I do, the sound was too dark and it really made me work in the upper register (E to high G and G#.) It was sort of difficult to blend in the section due to its sound characteristic until the others switched to Monette as well.

The B6L is, IMO, bigger than the B6 and the inner rim is a lot sharper as well, so I had a B6 made with a 18 throat that works great live and records well too.

I tried the Prana version but like the original more.

As far as how they stack up against other mouthpieces, I would say that they are not better or worse, but different, and extremely useful in certain situations.