Carol Brass Custom CTR-5284. 470 Large Bore – Raw Brass. There are a few copies of this horn out there. But they are not this horn. This is my Calicchio killer. After my one-of-one large-bore Calicchio was stolen, I went looking for something that could replace it. That search led me to Carol Brass and ultimately to having this style of horn built for me. 470 bore, there is simply nothing holding you back. This is a lightweight lead horn with tremendous projection and plenty of sizzle without becoming painfully bright. It is a rocket when you want it to be. But that’s only half the story. Put the right mouthpiece in it and this horn can also become smoky, dark and wonderfully rich. Mouthpiece selection really matters with a trumpet like this-you can dramatically change its personality depending upon what you put into it. The distinctive bend in the bell pipe isn’t just visually striking. It also changes the playing position so you don’t have to bring the trumpet all the way up parallel with the floor. It’s a surprisingly comfortable way to play. This particular horn is raw brass -no lacquer or clear coat. Many players specifically seek this out because they like having the unfinished brass directly in their hands and feel more connected to the feedback of the instrument. If you prefer a protected finish, a clear coat can always be added. When my first custom Carol Brass arrived, I loved it. So I had four more made. Once I started playing these horns, I finally got over losing the Calicchio. Of those horns, this is the only one I had made in raw brass. This is my idea of a dream lead trumpet: lightweight, huge bore, free blowing, tremendous projection and enough versatility to go from smoky and dark to absolute fire. This horn has no speed limit.
