Eddie, the LAII seems impressive to me. Is there any weakness you find in the horn at all? Any venues where it isn't the best? I'm always curious. :) By the way - thanks for commenting.
@@JonathanMilam1 since it was my first upgrade after a student model, I quickly learned that adjusting to how open it was with a developing embouchure was pretty tough. It often left me exhausted and relying on bad habits. But now in my 20s I’ve overcome it. In terms of spaces and venues, I’ve notice larger venues or Churches tend to blend in with other timbres but almost to a fault, I still catch myself putting all my air into it and barely getting any edge on the sound. But because of the openness I definitely feel flexible on it and once the sound has that edge it becomes super present in mixes and recordings. Hope this helped! :)
Yes, Eddie; thanks for responding. My preferred mouthpiece is a GR64MB; kind of a hybrid between a Medium Mouthpiece, but the cup is 'bowled out' a little bit like a Bach B. If I were going to keep this LA horn, I'd almost HAVE to go smaller, probably to a Medium Shallow mouthpiece. Still, with the bell I think it would have a pretty big sound.
I’ve heard that Schilke trumpets are exceptionally free-blowing. Have you ever played Schilkes, Jonathan? If so, do you think they’re more free-blowing than most?
I've had a Medium bore Schilke and a Medium-Large bore. The Medium bore, the B6, was extremely efficient. The B1, their large bell, MediumLarge bore, was a fantastic player. They ARE free blowing, but I don't think quite as free blowing as this LA II. :) Great question!
Great horn - for the right player. I'd have to move to my smaller cup mouthpieces and tighter backbore if I were to keep this, I think. Great horn though. Wayne B is a big guy, too; probably 6'3" or so, solidly built. He just MIGHT have a bit more air going than I. :)
That's a very nice horn just by looking at it through the video. Question though, what is the resistance factor on that horn compared to the Bobby Shew horn from your own perspective? I'm asking because I've tried out a shew horn but I've never tried this bergeron LA horn. I'm not the greatest trumpet player in the world, but I have tried out quite a few to know what it is I prefer in a horn.
Good question. Actually, it's a great question. The 8310 is a bit tight for me, but this LAII was too open. Fortunately, I had an regular 8335 between the two - and it was an excellent horn. Just right for resistance, and a tone to die for. The LA is a great horn, and I love the bell of the 8310... But they are kind of 'specialty horns' to my way of thinking, while the 8335 Xeno is more of Yamaha's mainline trumpet. Again - great question.
@@JonathanMilam1 Oh, so you're saying that the 8335LA is actually more free-blowing and more open than the 8310Z? Again, I'm not the greatest trumpet player in the world but in all my years of playing and trying out different trumpets, including a few strads, I have found that I prefer a more free-blowing and open instrument, basically little to no resistance
Yes; the 8310Z is the tightest Yamaha available (smaller leadpipe), the 8335 Xeno's (and older 6335) would be their mainstream, average players, and then the LA 1 (even more than the II) and II are more open blows. Wayne Bergeron, who helped design the LA model, is a BIG guy; probably 6'3" or more; big guy with lots of air to move and his horn is quite open - way too open for me. :) Here's a vid I did on an 8335 recently... ua-cam.com/video/EB7oou57lAA/v-deo.html . This 8335 was an excellent horn. Another option is a CarolBrass trumpet; they are probably patterned quite closely after the Yamaha. Outstanding valves and slides (really nothing better) but likely half price of a Yamaha or Bach Stradivarius. Food for thought. :) Most Carol Brass trumpets will play quite like the Yamaha 8335; a very nice, easy, average blow. Good questions!! :)
Paul, that's a tough question. This LA is an easy blow, almost too open for me. I'd intended to keep it and at least one Strad, but the complete difference in blow makes me feel that idea won't work. My Puje is also easy to play; open and a dream. The Callet Jazz though, that sticks out in my mind as almost the perfect blow; easy but not too open - but so rewarding a sound. I've had two of the Jazz, the first one was near mint, the second was pretty well worn; I think the guy I bought it from had used it in marching band, but here's a link to that vid...ua-cam.com/video/ZVWzQ58t7d0/v-deo.html I've had so many horns, Paul, you are right. I have to really think what are my faves... I had an awesome Benge 3, too. But now I'm really enjoying a few Strads that I have. :)
A 'Doubler's Flugel' is usually a fairly low priced horn, not really intended for those who major on the flugel. Having said this though, I've got a Dillon Doubler's flugel that plays very comparably to several pro flugels that I've had. Few, if any, would be able to tell the difference in tone or playability. Trent Austin uses the term to kind of, maybe, incline people to spend a bit more, perhaps? As in, 'Oh, he's playing a Doubler's Flugel...' :)
This is my daily horn, the silver one to be precise. A loyal, reliable and incredibly versatile horn in most settings
Eddie, the LAII seems impressive to me. Is there any weakness you find in the horn at all? Any venues where it isn't the best? I'm always curious. :) By the way - thanks for commenting.
@@JonathanMilam1 since it was my first upgrade after a student model, I quickly learned that adjusting to how open it was with a developing embouchure was pretty tough. It often left me exhausted and relying on bad habits. But now in my 20s I’ve overcome it. In terms of spaces and venues, I’ve notice larger venues or Churches tend to blend in with other timbres but almost to a fault, I still catch myself putting all my air into it and barely getting any edge on the sound. But because of the openness I definitely feel flexible on it and once the sound has that edge it becomes super present in mixes and recordings. Hope this helped! :)
Yes, Eddie; thanks for responding. My preferred mouthpiece is a GR64MB; kind of a hybrid between a Medium Mouthpiece, but the cup is 'bowled out' a little bit like a Bach B. If I were going to keep this LA horn, I'd almost HAVE to go smaller, probably to a Medium Shallow mouthpiece. Still, with the bell I think it would have a pretty big sound.
Jonathan, wishing you and your family and everyone else here in the U.S. a very happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so very much; very kind of you. :)
Nice axe and your tone was beautifully full and dark. I especially enjoyed mp #2. Wayner approved!
Hey, Blaine; you're too kind. But do go on... :) Happy Holidays! :)
Nice video Jon - from my side you would not know that you were finding the blow big. The horn sounded really nice with ALL mouthpieces used.
Thank you, Heather. Your opinion always means a lot to me. :)
I’ve heard that Schilke trumpets are exceptionally free-blowing. Have you ever played Schilkes, Jonathan? If so, do you think they’re more free-blowing than most?
I've had a Medium bore Schilke and a Medium-Large bore. The Medium bore, the B6, was extremely efficient. The B1, their large bell, MediumLarge bore, was a fantastic player. They ARE free blowing, but I don't think quite as free blowing as this LA II. :) Great question!
I always wonder about a horn being so open I’d not be able to grip my note…..nice playin, very rich sound.
Great horn - for the right player. I'd have to move to my smaller cup mouthpieces and tighter backbore if I were to keep this, I think. Great horn though. Wayne B is a big guy, too; probably 6'3" or so, solidly built. He just MIGHT have a bit more air going than I. :)
That's a very nice horn just by looking at it through the video.
Question though, what is the resistance factor on that horn compared to the Bobby Shew horn from your own perspective? I'm asking because I've tried out a shew horn but I've never tried this bergeron LA horn.
I'm not the greatest trumpet player in the world, but I have tried out quite a few to know what it is I prefer in a horn.
Good question. Actually, it's a great question. The 8310 is a bit tight for me, but this LAII was too open. Fortunately, I had an regular 8335 between the two - and it was an excellent horn. Just right for resistance, and a tone to die for. The LA is a great horn, and I love the bell of the 8310... But they are kind of 'specialty horns' to my way of thinking, while the 8335 Xeno is more of Yamaha's mainline trumpet. Again - great question.
@@JonathanMilam1 Oh, so you're saying that the 8335LA is actually more free-blowing and more open than the 8310Z?
Again, I'm not the greatest trumpet player in the world but in all my years of playing and trying out different trumpets, including a few strads, I have found that I prefer a more free-blowing and open instrument, basically little to no resistance
Yes; the 8310Z is the tightest Yamaha available (smaller leadpipe), the 8335 Xeno's (and older 6335) would be their mainstream, average players, and then the LA 1 (even more than the II) and II are more open blows. Wayne Bergeron, who helped design the LA model, is a BIG guy; probably 6'3" or more; big guy with lots of air to move and his horn is quite open - way too open for me. :) Here's a vid I did on an 8335 recently... ua-cam.com/video/EB7oou57lAA/v-deo.html . This 8335 was an excellent horn. Another option is a CarolBrass trumpet; they are probably patterned quite closely after the Yamaha. Outstanding valves and slides (really nothing better) but likely half price of a Yamaha or Bach Stradivarius. Food for thought. :) Most Carol Brass trumpets will play quite like the Yamaha 8335; a very nice, easy, average blow. Good questions!! :)
Ok John.You’ve tested a lot of horns.What is the easiest horn you’ve ever played?I though your sound was great on that large bore Mt Vernon
Paul, that's a tough question. This LA is an easy blow, almost too open for me. I'd intended to keep it and at least one Strad, but the complete difference in blow makes me feel that idea won't work. My Puje is also easy to play; open and a dream. The Callet Jazz though, that sticks out in my mind as almost the perfect blow; easy but not too open - but so rewarding a sound. I've had two of the Jazz, the first one was near mint, the second was pretty well worn; I think the guy I bought it from had used it in marching band, but here's a link to that vid...ua-cam.com/video/ZVWzQ58t7d0/v-deo.html
I've had so many horns, Paul, you are right. I have to really think what are my faves... I had an awesome Benge 3, too. But now I'm really enjoying a few Strads that I have. :)
@@JonathanMilam1 Keep that Mt Vernon !
I believe early in his career, in the Tijuana Brass days, Herb Alpert played a Benge. No idea what he plays nowadays, though.
@@JonathanMilam1 I hope you kept that Callet Jazz.You sounded really good!
What’s meant by a “doubler’s flugelhorn” and is it any different than a regular flugelhorn?
A 'Doubler's Flugel' is usually a fairly low priced horn, not really intended for those who major on the flugel. Having said this though, I've got a Dillon Doubler's flugel that plays very comparably to several pro flugels that I've had. Few, if any, would be able to tell the difference in tone or playability. Trent Austin uses the term to kind of, maybe, incline people to spend a bit more, perhaps? As in, 'Oh, he's playing a Doubler's Flugel...' :)
Got it. Thanks very much!