"How Does Changing the Bell Make a Difference?"
Schilke B1L × Bach 37GB. An instrument that lets you fully appreciate the joy of tuning bells.
[Overview]
Schilke B♭ Trumpet
Model: B1L-GP / Custom Series
Bell:
・Schilke #1 Taper
127mm single-piece yellow brass
Unsoldered bead
Tuning bell specification
・Vincent Bach #37
123mm single-piece gold brass
soldered bead
Modified to tuning bell specification
Bore: .460" (11.68mm) ML
Specifications: Tuning bell
Finish: Gold-plated
Finger buttons: Lightweight type
Weight: 1043g (measured)
Year of manufacture: 2001
Accessories: None / Instrument Only
*Case not included.
[Condition]
The gold plating has thinned overall, and there are scattered areas where the underlying silver plating is faintly visible. Plating lifting on the valve casings. There are traces of dent repair on the rear curved side of the silky bell and on the bell body. The slide base has been re-soldered. Vincent Back’s bell wasmodified to a tuning bell configuration, so there are traces of an additional joint tube added at the bell’s base, as well as marks where the original slide base was removed and the base position was altered. There are also scattered signs of dent repair. The interior has been cleaned, the soft parts replaced, and the instrument has been fully serviced and adjusted.
[Features]
The Schilke B1 is the B♭ trumpet favored by founder Reynold Schilke himself and served as the foundation for the later B&X series.Featuring a #1-taper, one-piece yellow brass bell and a .460" ML stepped bore, it is characterized by a free and open playing feel. This model allows for a wide range of tonal variations depending on dynamics, from a rich, full-bodied dark tone to the brilliant sound characteristic of Schilke. This B1L model features a tuning bell mechanism that allows the pitch to be adjusted by moving the bell forward or backward.
The tuning bell mechanism is not merely a system for “adjusting pitch with the bell.” For one thing, it allows the standard main tube to remain nearly fully inserted, minimizing steps and gaps within the tube and making it easier to optimize the acoustic flow. Another major highlight is the ability to change the instrument’s character while keeping the same body by swapping out the bell for one with a different taper or material.
In addition to the genuine #1 bell, this instrument comes with a Vincent Bach #37 gold brass bell that has been modified to the tuning bell specification specifically for this particular instrument.Since these two bells differ in taper, material, and design philosophy, the changes extend far beyond just the tone. What makes this particularly interesting is the ability to compare the feel when blowing into the instrument, how the sound comes together, and even the sensation that returns to the player. While professional players sometimes attempt similar bell swaps, even custom-modifying a single bell requires a considerable amount of effort and cost.
With a fixed bell, you’d have to decide which one is “the right one,” but with the B1L, you can swap them out as often as you like—Schilke today, Bach tomorrow—to test them out. Of course, there are signs of use, such as bell machining marks and age-related changes in the gold plating, but the instrument has been cleaned inside, the soft parts replaced, and all components serviced and adjusted.Rather than seeking a single, definitive answer, this instrument is for trumpet enthusiasts who want to enjoy the very process of switching bells back and forth to experience the changes in sound and playing feel. This is the perfect instrument for such enthusiasts. It comes from the collection of a veteran professional musician.
