Top of the trumpet shopping list is the Taylor Chicago VR. This is easily our most popular pro-model right now, surprising considering its hand made in Norwich and costs £1999. But it’s so good it’s blowing the competition from the world’s larger manufacturers out of the water. Andy Taylor has been making and selling quality hand made trumpet for years but mainly to the Jazz side of the business. Much along the lines of Monet, it relies on high quality engineering and heavy weight build to carry the vibrations from the chops to the back of the hall with a power and resonance that feels and sounds great. The VR is based on his very successful Chicago Custom model. However, for the main stream classical/commercial players Andy has lightened up a little!! With standard weight stays and bell this instrument really goes. 

It’s free-blowing, easy to play with no vices and plenty of power, it can be subtle, it can cut and it can blend in a section. Featuring an ML (.460”) Bore; it’ll feel familiar to most players very quickly. The VR is finished beautifully in high quality silver plate with gold plate trim. It has got the same fast, quiet, silky valve section as all the other Chicago models" AT

This horn was developed to use a reversed lead pipe. The apparent advantages are well documented. However the flaw in the concept is that it can leave this area of the trumpet structurally weak. The trumpet is less rigid around the top leg of the tuning slide area and prone to damage easily. The Taylor Chicago ‘VR’ fixes this by careful engineering. It uses the inherent strength of the one-piece double thickness machined lead pipe, strategically positioned bracing and a strong high temperature solder joint at the vulnerable point. The result is a reverse lead pipe that is as strong as most non-reversed systems.

The result of all these features is a truly versatile free blowing trumpet with plenty of sizzle and perfect intonation. Equally at home in the big band or symphony orchestra, the VR gives today’s pro the versatility he/she requires.

ALSO AVAILABLE ARE!!!

Super light trombone

Bass Trombone

The options for trumpeters are also good. The two most popular designs are a triple and a quad case. The back pack system is really comfy and the quad is the most compact we have seen. What with airline problems and generally more high-end trumpets being used, pros are moving away from the traditional gig bag in favour of better protection for the instruments. The triple costs £195 and the Quad is £225. Again not cheap but money well spent when you take into account the quality of build and protection provided. The triple can be adapted to take 1 trumpet + flugel and the quad will take 2 trumpets and flugel. 

Triple Trumpet or trumpet and flugel
  

Trumpet Quad

BEST BRASS WARM UP MUTES

Also appealing to both trumpet and trombone payers alike are Best Brass warm up mutes. Designed by the same chap responsible for the Yamaha silent brass system, I have no idea how these work! They are extremely small, fitting entirely inside the bell and therefore fitting in and taking no room in any case. They are whisper quiet and ideal for warming up on stage or in the pit. First championed by trombonists, trumpeters have now caught on and they are seriously popular. The tenor and bass trombone mutes are £42.50 and the trumpet version is £38.50. Well worth it.
                                                                      
      
Best Brass warm up mutes trumpet, tenor and bass trombone.

Anyhow, I hope that keeps you all interested for now. If anyone has come across anything they think we should know about send me an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll look into stocking it. I’ll be back next month with what ever is new an exciting!! Happy blowing.
 

Will Watson
prozonemusic.com