Schilke P5-4 Custom Heavyweight Piccolo Trumpet | One-Off Modified | 3 lb 11.9 oz

Schilke P5-4 Custom Heavyweight Piccolo Trumpet | One-Off Modified | 3 lb 11.9 oz

DESCRIPTION

Up for sale is probably one of the most unusual Schilke P5-4 piccolo trumpets you’ll ever see.

This started life as a Schilke P5-4 and was extensively modified many years ago. According to the previous owner, the work was done by a Chicago-area trumpet professor and freelancer who was also a Monette player. Unfortunately, I don’t know his name, so I’m not going to guess who did the work.

The first thing you’ll notice is the bell. A huge amount of additional brass was added around the bell flare and rim, making this an incredibly heavy piccolo at 3 lb 11.9 oz.

It looks wild, but the modifications aren’t just cosmetic. They completely change the character and sound of the horn.

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS

• Schilke P5-4 four-valve piccolo trumpet
• Currently set up in A with the installed leadpipe
• Made in Chicago, USA
• Extensively custom modified
• Massive heavyweight bell and bell rim
• Raw brass with natural patina
• Weight: 3 lb 11.9 oz
• Original Schilke four-valve platform
• Includes original custom heavyweight mouthpiece
• Includes additional leadpipes
• Very unusual one-off configuration

PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP & HISTORY

This horn was previously owned and played by Dr. Matt Leder, a professional trumpet player and college educator.

Matt spent more than 12 years as a U.S. Navy and Air Force musician, performed for five U.S. presidents, earned a doctorate in Music Education and a master’s in Jazz Studies, and has had a long career as both a professional player and educator.

More importantly for this horn, Matt actually used this particular piccolo for both classical and jazz playing.

When Matt previously sold it, he described it as a “Unique Modified Schilke P5-4 Piccolo Trumpet” and said the modifications had been done many years earlier by a respected Chicago-area trumpet professor and freelancer who was also a Monette player.

CONDITION

Good

This is obviously not a stock P5-4 and it’s not a cosmetically perfect horn.

The raw brass has plenty of patina, oxidation, scratches and discoloration. There is also visible solder work from the extensive modifications, especially around that massive bell.

Everything is pictured clearly, so please look closely at the photos. With a horn this unusual, I’d rather show exactly what it is than try to make it sound perfect.

PLAYABILITY

I’ve played a lot of trumpets and piccolos over the years, and this one is definitely different.

With the leadpipe currently installed, the horn plays in A.

With all of the added mass, it doesn’t have the typical bright, lightweight piccolo sound. To my ear it’s darker, broader and sounds more like a conventional trumpet, almost more in the direction of a Taylor or Monette type of sound.

Matt Leder used this horn for both classical and jazz playing, and I can understand why. It can certainly be used for traditional piccolo playing, but I think it gets especially interesting for someone wanting to use piccolo for jazz, contemporary or experimental playing.

Think along the lines of what a player like Peter Evans does with piccolo trumpet. There is no connection between Evans and this particular horn, but that’s the type of playing that comes to mind when I play it.

At 3 lb 11.9 oz, this is definitely not your normal Schilke piccolo.

LEADPIPES & MOUTHPIECE

The horn comes with its original custom heavyweight mouthpiece along with several additional leadpipes.

The installed leadpipe currently puts the horn in A.

The additional leadpipes came with the instrument, but they don’t seem to fit the horn exactly as it is currently configured. I’m not sure what each one was originally intended for, so I’m not going to guess or advertise them as providing a working Bb setup.

They will all be included with the horn.

WHY THIS HORN

If you’re looking for a normal P5-4, this probably isn’t it.

If you’re looking for something completely different, this is about as unique as they come.

You have the proven Schilke P5-4 four-valve platform underneath it, previous ownership and actual use by professional player Dr. Matt Leder, an absolutely crazy heavyweight bell, and a darker sound that you just don’t normally hear from a piccolo trumpet.

It’s weird, it’s incredibly heavy, it sounds different, and that’s exactly what makes it cool.

INCLUDED

• Modified Schilke P5-4 piccolo trumpet
• Original custom heavyweight mouthpiece
• Additional leadpipes

ABOUT ARCH CITY BRASS

Arch City Brass is a veteran-owned small business based in Columbus, Ohio.

As a lifelong trumpet player, I personally inspect and play-test the instruments I sell. My goal is simple: accurately represent each horn, disclose anything a buyer should know, and offer quality instruments that I would be comfortable playing myself.

Exceptional Instruments. Unmatched Value.

MESSAGE ME ANYTIME

Questions about the horn, condition, additional photos, measurements or playing characteristics are always welcome.

Thanks for looking!

SEARCH KEYWORDS

Schilke P5-4, Schilke piccolo trumpet, P5-4, four valve piccolo, A piccolo trumpet, custom Schilke, heavyweight piccolo trumpet, modified Schilke, raw brass piccolo, Matt Leder, jazz piccolo trumpet, Peter Evans, Monette, Taylor trumpet, professional piccolo trumpet