Hope you all enjoyed this ‘peashooter primer!’ I’m very excited to hopefully show off the Cavalier semi-soon on the channel, along with plenty more vintage brass goodness!
Dude you sound SO good!! I mentioned a bit ago I've been watching stuff from you for a long time back in high school - just got back to watching your content, and MAN what a progression!
Conn also made a rimless bell (Vocabell) peashooter called the 40B. It's the most art-deco trumpet I've ever seen, with octagonal valve casings and bold engraving. It's become my white whale because I keep getting sniped on Ebay.
Yep, the 40B is really something alright. Forgot to mention it in this video but honestly it’s in a completely different class of manufacturing (as you alluded) from the very idea of the peashooter. EDIT: Didn't actually clarify what I meant here. Peashooters were a fad and were usually manufactured as cheaply and en masse as possible due to the timing of their inception colliding with the Great Depression. The Vocabell is the antithesis of this... probably a good player, equal to the 58B if I had to guess, but needlessly gaudy and over-engineered. Don't get me wrong, I love its unusual look, but it's just so different from other peashooters that it's pretty much a different category of its own in peashooter history. I tend to forget even that it is a peashooter.
you gotta do the sniping my friend… I always think of the max i would pay and bid ONCE in the last 10 or 15 seconds. if you are at work or asleep when the listing ends, there are apps and websites that can proxy bid for you. just set it and forget it. any other bidding method is just setting yourself up to fail
This is the main trumpet I use! My grandfather played it when he was young but switched to saxophone shortly after. Was interesting to get some insight into this horn. I'm not as well versed in brass as I like to be but these videos are really helping to expand my understanding!
That's awesome! You know, in a world where basically all student trumpets (and let's face it, 90%+ of intermediate/professional trumpets too) are gravitating towards the exact same set of specs and general experience, it's all the more hip to have a cool, unusual horn like a Troubadour that stands out from the herd. Thanks for watching and glad I could help!
Awesome topic! I have a Conn 58b, and actually like it. The third valve is impossibly awkward to use, but using a tuner I have proven I am able to lip it into tune. Might have to take it to practice next Monday for giggles.
Conn had an instrument for almost any budget. The woodwind cheaper version of Conn instruments were under the Pan-American line. The thing is though, is that these 'cheaper' vintage instruments are sometimes better than new ones sold as professional level instruments.
Yes indeed-Pan American and Cavalier branded brass also flooded the student market, likely because Conn didn’t want their esteemed brand name on them. I’m surprised you’ve had such good experiences with Pan American woodwinds though! My impression of their brass was that were distinctly student instruments. Although the Pan American cornet I cut down to C a couple years ago has one of the most perfect harmonic series of any brass instrument I’ve played! No idea how the partials happened to line up so nicely. Much more in tune than any Bach Strad C.
@ Pan-American clarinets from the 1940s and early 1950s are sought after by jazz enthusiasts of the big band era. Saxophones are also worthy from the time as well. Heavy and solid!
Conn priced their New Era professional pea-shooters at $110 when most trumpets sold for $90 +/-5. The Cavalier was practically the same, and really only lacked a third valve slide throw. Given the price difference, and the realities of the depression, almost everyone bought Cavaliers and learned to bend better. For those with the money (not many) The Martin then was an obvious choice as its quality of construction was the best of the era.
After you mentioned the cavalier in the last video, I went looking for more about that particular model. I ended up finding a weird little cavalier long cornet for sale that had a trumpet mouthpiece receiver/leadpipe instead of the standard one on any other example.
Interesting! I think I know the general wrap of cornet you’re talking about, which was copied by several makers. Is it the one with an extra little pigtail of tubing after the valve block and before the bell bow? Anyhow, the trumpet leadpipe is an interesting choice. I feel like if anything that already “meh” horn would play even worse post leadpipe transplant, but who knows?
@@SamuelPlaysBrass yeah that's the one, it's on reverb right now if you want to take a look. The mouthpiece looks like it fits in pretty shallow but its definitely a trumpet receiver. I also asked the seller and the mouthpiece that comes with it is a (looks like) late 30s very cruddy Bach 7
@@Wanielyo Well, not really in terms of uses or playing characteristics, but that’s not a bad parallel to draw, actually. I think a 4” bell is pretty commonplace for both peashooters and pocket trumpets.
Good question. I unfortunately can't even compare in the case of the Troubadour, because the compression of the valve block was so bad. In general, as far as fully-functional instruments go, I think you'll find that it's not so simple as "tighter wrap + smaller bore = more air resistance." Maybe slightly, but there are a lot more influential factors. For me, I don't tend to notice much a difference in resistance between my Cavalier and my modern Yamahas, but if I play extremely loudly, that's where a difference starts to occur. The same was true of my 1923 Boston 3-Star and 1924 King Liberty, neither of which I have anymore. Those were not 'peashooters,' but even with the more open wrap, and the Liberty having a somewhat larger .450" bore, each stuffed up when trying to play too loud specifically, but had no issues with stuffiness or resistance up to that point. Modern instruments do of course project better on the top end, but again, not that much difference in the lower dynamics. Truthfully, while differently-shaped bends in the tubing being either sharper/quicker or gentler/more gradual can fine-tune the resistance in different ranges and dynamics, these factors don't change as much of the player-feel experience as the shape of the cup and throat of the mouthpiece. Between mouthpiece and trumpet, the throat of the mouthpiece is the biggest regulator of how much air can be used on the apparatus, so small differences in bore or bend radius become rather moot.
Great video as always sam! Does this instrument have a cylindrical leadpipe? Was it Vincent bach that created the tapered lead-pipe or did he simply popularise it?
Thanks James! It certainly looks like the leadpipe on this horn still has some taper… at least for the seven or eight inches it has until you hit the quick-change slide, which is obviously cylindrical. I doubt VB was the first, but maybe he did indeed make it more mainstream for trumpets to have tapered leadpipes.
Yeah, it certainly doesn’t have the loftiest reputation-the Conn company wouldn’t even put their own branding on the bell and instead opted for a subsidiary-but honestly, mine plays at a pretty decent standard and looks cool doing it, so I’m fine with it.
Do you really want to base your choices on forums? Sam has a lot more knowledge than anyone you will find typing to see themselves talk on those sites.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Hope you all enjoyed this ‘peashooter primer!’ I’m very excited to hopefully show off the Cavalier semi-soon on the channel, along with plenty more vintage brass goodness!
Dude you sound SO good!! I mentioned a bit ago I've been watching stuff from you for a long time back in high school - just got back to watching your content, and MAN what a progression!
Hey again, thanks so much!! I appreciate you tuning back in!
Conn also made a rimless bell (Vocabell) peashooter called the 40B. It's the most art-deco trumpet I've ever seen, with octagonal valve casings and bold engraving. It's become my white whale because I keep getting sniped on Ebay.
Yep, the 40B is really something alright. Forgot to mention it in this video but honestly it’s in a completely different class of manufacturing (as you alluded) from the very idea of the peashooter.
EDIT: Didn't actually clarify what I meant here. Peashooters were a fad and were usually manufactured as cheaply and en masse as possible due to the timing of their inception colliding with the Great Depression. The Vocabell is the antithesis of this... probably a good player, equal to the 58B if I had to guess, but needlessly gaudy and over-engineered. Don't get me wrong, I love its unusual look, but it's just so different from other peashooters that it's pretty much a different category of its own in peashooter history. I tend to forget even that it is a peashooter.
you gotta do the sniping my friend… I always think of the max i would pay and bid ONCE in the last 10 or 15 seconds. if you are at work or asleep when the listing ends, there are apps and websites that can proxy bid for you. just set it and forget it.
any other bidding method is just setting yourself up to fail
@@gongcyclist Can confirm. We live in a world of snipers. Snipe or be sniped.
@ Thanks! I'll keep this in mind!
Don't forget the 40a... a cornet that looks the same, but built with conical tubing.
This is the main trumpet I use! My grandfather played it when he was young but switched to saxophone shortly after. Was interesting to get some insight into this horn. I'm not as well versed in brass as I like to be but these videos are really helping to expand my understanding!
That's awesome! You know, in a world where basically all student trumpets (and let's face it, 90%+ of intermediate/professional trumpets too) are gravitating towards the exact same set of specs and general experience, it's all the more hip to have a cool, unusual horn like a Troubadour that stands out from the herd. Thanks for watching and glad I could help!
Yes, it’s fan, to hear a pace of history’s. It speaks.
Great done, enjoyed totally!
Thank you!
Very interesting. I didn’t notice the main and 3rd valve slides were flipped that way until a little before you mentioned it. Weird but cool!
Yep, the valve block symmetry is one of my favorite features of most peashooters! It makes the Martin look a little odd in my opinion.
What a great way to spend a Wednesday afternoon/evening/Thursday crack of dawn
Haha, I hope you're not putting off sleep on account of me, but thanks for tuning in :)
Awesome topic!
I have a Conn 58b, and actually like it.
The third valve is impossibly awkward to use, but using a tuner I have proven I am able to lip it into tune. Might have to take it to practice next Monday for giggles.
I definitely hope to try a 58B someday! Some of Conn’s older stuff *really* impresses me when I play it.
Conn had an instrument for almost any budget.
The woodwind cheaper version of Conn instruments were under the Pan-American line. The thing is though, is that these 'cheaper' vintage instruments are sometimes better than new ones sold as professional level instruments.
Yes indeed-Pan American and Cavalier branded brass also flooded the student market, likely because Conn didn’t want their esteemed brand name on them. I’m surprised you’ve had such good experiences with Pan American woodwinds though! My impression of their brass was that were distinctly student instruments. Although the Pan American cornet I cut down to C a couple years ago has one of the most perfect harmonic series of any brass instrument I’ve played! No idea how the partials happened to line up so nicely. Much more in tune than any Bach Strad C.
@ Pan-American clarinets from the 1940s and early 1950s are sought after by jazz enthusiasts of the big band era. Saxophones are also worthy from the time as well. Heavy and solid!
Conn priced their New Era professional pea-shooters at $110 when most trumpets sold for $90 +/-5. The Cavalier was practically the same, and really only lacked a third valve slide throw. Given the price difference, and the realities of the depression, almost everyone bought Cavaliers and learned to bend better.
For those with the money (not many) The Martin then was an obvious choice as its quality of construction was the best of the era.
Great video as always Samuel!😁👍👍
Thank you Peter!
Good video. Thanks!
@@RobertCardwell Thanks for watching Rob!
I have a Martin Handcraft Dansant model from that era.
@@tomlusty8376 Very nice. Looks to be based on the standard Besson-style dimensions but still a cool horn.
@SamuelPlaysBrass Thanks
After you mentioned the cavalier in the last video, I went looking for more about that particular model. I ended up finding a weird little cavalier long cornet for sale that had a trumpet mouthpiece receiver/leadpipe instead of the standard one on any other example.
Interesting! I think I know the general wrap of cornet you’re talking about, which was copied by several makers. Is it the one with an extra little pigtail of tubing after the valve block and before the bell bow?
Anyhow, the trumpet leadpipe is an interesting choice. I feel like if anything that already “meh” horn would play even worse post leadpipe transplant, but who knows?
@@SamuelPlaysBrass yeah that's the one, it's on reverb right now if you want to take a look. The mouthpiece looks like it fits in pretty shallow but its definitely a trumpet receiver. I also asked the seller and the mouthpiece that comes with it is a (looks like) late 30s very cruddy Bach 7
You mentioned the tight wrap and small bell, made me wonder if it has any similarities to a pocket trumpet?
@@Wanielyo Well, not really in terms of uses or playing characteristics, but that’s not a bad parallel to draw, actually. I think a 4” bell is pretty commonplace for both peashooters and pocket trumpets.
Did you find it harder to play compared to a modern trumpet? How's the air resistance?
Good question. I unfortunately can't even compare in the case of the Troubadour, because the compression of the valve block was so bad. In general, as far as fully-functional instruments go, I think you'll find that it's not so simple as "tighter wrap + smaller bore = more air resistance." Maybe slightly, but there are a lot more influential factors. For me, I don't tend to notice much a difference in resistance between my Cavalier and my modern Yamahas, but if I play extremely loudly, that's where a difference starts to occur. The same was true of my 1923 Boston 3-Star and 1924 King Liberty, neither of which I have anymore. Those were not 'peashooters,' but even with the more open wrap, and the Liberty having a somewhat larger .450" bore, each stuffed up when trying to play too loud specifically, but had no issues with stuffiness or resistance up to that point. Modern instruments do of course project better on the top end, but again, not that much difference in the lower dynamics.
Truthfully, while differently-shaped bends in the tubing being either sharper/quicker or gentler/more gradual can fine-tune the resistance in different ranges and dynamics, these factors don't change as much of the player-feel experience as the shape of the cup and throat of the mouthpiece. Between mouthpiece and trumpet, the throat of the mouthpiece is the biggest regulator of how much air can be used on the apparatus, so small differences in bore or bend radius become rather moot.
Great video as always sam! Does this instrument have a cylindrical leadpipe? Was it Vincent bach that created the tapered lead-pipe or did he simply popularise it?
Thanks James! It certainly looks like the leadpipe on this horn still has some taper… at least for the seven or eight inches it has until you hit the quick-change slide, which is obviously cylindrical. I doubt VB was the first, but maybe he did indeed make it more mainstream for trumpets to have tapered leadpipes.
If memory serves, the Conn Cavalier is not well regarded on trumpet forum.
Yeah, it certainly doesn’t have the loftiest reputation-the Conn company wouldn’t even put their own branding on the bell and instead opted for a subsidiary-but honestly, mine plays at a pretty decent standard and looks cool doing it, so I’m fine with it.
Do you really want to base your choices on forums? Sam has a lot more knowledge than anyone you will find typing to see themselves talk on those sites.
I have a Conn 58b, and certainly respect Sam and his evaluations.
He even referred to it a dime a dozen student horn.