Custom D Trumpet, Blackburn, Shires, Fixed Bell, Tuning Leadpipe, Pro horn, raw
I built this trumpet using a Shires valve block, a. Blackburn C (19-348) leadpipe, made for me by Cliff Blackburn and made to be cylindrical on the outside. I have played this horn in concert many times, including with the Orlando Phil, Bach Festival Orchestra, Alterity Chamber Orchestra, and others.
This is my own little trumpet concerto, performed in my living room. But I played this piece on this horn in large halls.
This trumpet was created because I was looking for a D instrumet that sounded and played like a large horn... Great for all baroque music, I have been told many times I have a great sound on piccolo (that's because I don't own a piccolo, I play everything on the D). I also play some rep normally played on C, but which plays easier on D.
To me, the Eb is good for the two overplayed concertos, and six notes in the orchestra rep. The D is such a more useful horn to have, in my humble opinion. I also have a custom Shires C for sale. You want the horn, or you don't.