GEAR and PRACTICE AIDES Here you can read about and purchase gear used and recommended by the Synergy Brass members. With the concert schedule that Synergy has, they have to have great gear that is reliable. All comments are by Bobby Thorp as he gives you an insiders view on the gear that he uses in teaching and performance. If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, click the picture of the item. If you want to add to your shopping cart, just use the back arrow on your browser.
PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENTS
(These are some of the instruments that I perform on)
Bach Model 180S37 "Stradivarius" Bb Trumpet
"Stradivarius" - .459" Medium-large bore, standard weight body, standard weight yellow brass one-piece hand-hammered #37 bell, standard construction #25 mouthpipe, monel pistons, silver-plate finish. Comes with Bach 7C mouthpiece and a zippered Cordura covered wood shell case.

COMMENTS:
This is a great horn all around. It has a beautiful "classic" Bach tone that has been the standard for professional players for many years. I use this instrument for both Classical and Jazz playing. It has a rich dark texture in the low register that carries through to the upper register. The intonation is even throughout but like all instruments, each one is unique and has its own character. If you are looking for a great all around horn that is professional grade, this is a great option.
Bach Chicago C Trumpet
"Stradivarius" - Chicago C Trumpet. This model is based on Vincent Bach's 1955 "C" trumpet design as played by the world famous trumpet section of the Chicago Symphony during that era. This model is only available in a large bore and in silver plate.In April of 1955, Vincent Bach completed and delivered six C trumpets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Four were selected by individual members of the trumpet section and purchased by the Orchestra. The remaining two were sold to a music store for individual customers. Now, almost fifty years later, these trumpets are still revered, still in use, and still the property of the Chicago Symphony. Each instrument is assigned to a specific section member.Today, however, other trumpet players are in for a treat, as Conn-Selmer has introduced the 'new' Bach Stradivarius "Chicago" C trumpet, an instrument closely based on these original designs. The model (specifically model C180SL229CC) features a #229 bell and a #25 leadpipe, but this instrument design is faithful to the original blueprints in many other details, as well.Based on Vincent Bach's 1955 "C" trumpet designs, this new instrument features:Large-bore (.462"") for the power needed in an orchestral section#229 lightweight yellow brass one-piece hand-hammered bell with classic French bead flat rimFlat brass rim wire soldered in bellSpecial #25 leadpipe based on 1947 designWidefoot bell to leadpipe bracesNarrower braces at bell to valve casing and valve casing to leadpipeThumb ring on first valveNarrow tuning slide....1947 design. Single brace on tuning slide, Bead rings on all slides, Hexagon shaped pull knobs, Special Edition double trumpet case, Available in silver plate only.


COMMENTS:
I use this instrument in all my Classical playing. I use it as my primary instrument in the Synergy Brass Quintet. You can hear me playing this instrument on our last album "CHRISTMAS" as I used it on every track. This instrument has a fantastic orchestral sound and blends well woodwinds and strings. It cuts while maintaining a beautiful full sound, rich with overtones that ring clearly with other instruments. Of all the instruments I play this is by far my favorite.
Bach Piccolo Trumpet
VBS196 Vincent Bach Series Professional Piccolo Trumpet (Key of Bb/A) This instrument is the answer to the requests of hundreds of professionals looking for a quality piccolo worthy of the Bach name. The VBS196 has a tremendous response and its intonation is superb. It incorporates a long bell design and features the highly refined valve alignment patented and performed by respected trumpet technician, Bob Reeves. The design and construction, along with this valve alignment allows full ease of response without distortion at all volumes. Unlike many piccolo models, this instrument performs with a very open and full sound. Its tone projects over a large orchestra, but also performs well in small settings.One-piece, hand-hammered, yellow brass bell; .401" small bore, Mouthpipes for Bb & A4 valves with Bob Reeves valve alignment, Monel pistons, Genuine Vincent Bach 7C Mouthpiece, Bach Valve Oil

COMMENTS:
This is an excellent piccolo trumpet. The intonation on this instrument is one of it's key selling features. It comes with an extra set of slides and tubes that tune to either Bb or A. The crafting on this instrument is some of the best I have ever seen. And the playability is amazing. I switch back and forth with this instrument often, during pieces while playing in the Synergy Brass Quintet. Usually, piccolos feel "stuffy" or "tight" but this piccolo blows free and is a blessing when you are having a tough night. After weeks on tour your chops can get really ragged and I used to cringe when thinking about going to the the "piccolo" pieces. Ever since I started using this instrument, my live has been a lot easier, and I now look forward to those pieces. The tone of this instrument blends really well with strings and pipe organ. If you are playing small chamber group pieces you will find that you don't have to work very hard to play in a dynamic range that blends well with other "non-brass" instruments. I have pretty big hands and usually have a difficult using the third valve slide on the smaller instruments. However, this one just works. The tone of this piccolo is rich, dark and brilliant.
ACCESSORIES:



BEGINNING METHOD BOOKS:


ESSENTIAL METHOD BOOKS:
ESSENTIAL ETUDE BOOKS:
ESSENTIAL TRUMPET LITERATURE:
TRUMPET DUET BOOKS:
PLAY ALONG BOOKS WITH CD:




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