Eleonoras Holiday
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4/30/2007 5:49:01 AM
---- Updated 4/30/2007 5:57:29 AM
Alphonso's Story: My Horns
The Bb trumpet
I bought my second trumpet together with London professional Clive Baker back in the ‘80s in London when Clive was playing for the Musical Cats in the New London Theatre. We went to a big music store in the centre of London and tried out about 13 horns from Selmer, King, Schilke and Conn but I fell almost straight in love with the Benge after hearing the clear sound and projection. By the way, Clive bought one himself too. After almost 25 years I have not changed to another instrument (yet).
The Bb trumpet is a so called Claude Gordon custom built by E. Benge, a 6X Large Bore resno tempered bell with the following modifications:
1) 464" bell tube, where it attaches to the stud off the first valve casing (this is often referred to as a "choke"), the lead pipe that was an exact copy of Claude's pre-WW2 French Besson Meha on which he did all his studio playing.
2) Bell buffed down to be extremely thin so as to give the horn's sound a good "sizzle" (many of the players back then were having this done to their horns on a custom basis).
3) Silver finish.
4) Mouthpieces are Antoine Courtois Paris D2 or Vincent Bach 11/4 C
My first (and only) Flügelhorn was built in 1978:
- E. Benge, resno tempered bell no# 5, custom built by E-Benge Los Angeles Calif.
- Resno tempered Bell no# 5.
- Gold lacquered finish.
- Mouthpiece: Vincent Bach 11/2 CFL.
In winter I can be found in the Alps covered with snow around Innsbruck Austria or in France (Haute Savoie) as a snow sports instructor (Dutch winters can be so grey and humid…).
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