Eclipse - An Introduction

Eclipse trumpets are hand built to the highest standards, using the finest quality component parts and materials.

Eclipse Trumpets are offered either as a fixed leadpipe instrument or as an interchangeable leadpipe instrument.

The weight, balance and comfort of an instrument to the player are also of great importance. With the different sizes and materials of bells available, the Eclipse is a trumpet that will excel in all areas of trumpet playing from orchestral, through commercial to jazz.

We offer the choice of :-

ECLIPSE 'ENIGMA' TRUMPET This instrument is the traditionally tuned model offering the reverse leadpipe main tuning slide.

ECLIPSE TRUMPET This model features a uniquely designed main tuning slide not seen in other trumpets. By moving the tuning slide away from its traditional location as part of the leadpipe, a solution has been found to the disturbance of airflow between mouthpiece and valve section. Much attention and development has gone into this key part of the design.

Eclipse Bells

The variety of bells available make it possible to select an Eclipse trumpet that feels tailor-made to your own playing requirements.

Eclipse trumpet bells are available in 2 different throat styles:-

Medium
The medium throat bell is a standard size bell with a profile designed to provide great versatility available in yellow or red brass, standard (0.5mm) or heavy weight (0.6mm).

Large
The large bell has a more open throat and a slower taper to the flare which makes for a larger sound with less resistance and room for a lot more air, available in standard weight (0.5mm) yellow or red brass, heavy red brass (0.6mm), and copper (0.7mm).

The heavy weight bells have more projection; more stable tone centres and retains a very even tone even when played at very loud volumes. The standard weight bells have a faster response, with more flexible tone centres and a wider spectrum of timbres.

BELL OPTIONS

MY Medium Yellow
Excellent all round instrument, very versatile. The sound is bright and clear, remaining centred and focused at all dynamic levels, with a solid core to each note and great projection. The trumpet speaks very easily and is ideal for lead trumpet, commercial playing and studio work. Also a good choice for principal trumpet players in symphony orchestras or military bands.

MR Medium Red
Like the medium yellow this is a very versatile horn - a near perfect blend of warmth and projection. The red brass brings a depth to the sound which is silky smooth, rich and dark, however it is still a lively and agile trumpet. It responds very quickly and has a sparkling top register with effortless projection. Equally suited to jazz ballads or lyrical chamber music, at home in a big band or an orchestral trumpet section - the medium red could be the ideal choice for a 'crossover player'. Added to the Eclipse line at the request of artist Robert Bauerle.

MS Medium Solar
The SOLAR bell has no bead around the bell edge. The MS bell is slightly brighter than the MY bell, with a larger volume of sound and an extremely solid core that doesn't spread at high volumes. The response is very crisp, even at ppp volumes, and less effort is required to achieve a leading, dominant sound. Perfect for big band lead.

LY Large Yellow
Similar in timbre to the medium yellow, bright and clear, but with less resistance and a more expansive sound. The large yellow has great projection but when you increase the volume of a note the sound just keeps on growing. The slots are firm and true but do not restrict expressive, lyrical playing. This would be an ideal trumpet for symphonic section work, particularly in clear lacquer. The large, bright, projecting sound of a silver plated large yellow would be perfect for concert bands or in military marching bands playing in the open air.

LR Large Red
This bell has proved to be the favourite choice of jazz soloists. It has warm, velvet timbres, within a large, golden sound. The slotting is more flexible than on the medium bells which allows for expressive and personal playing. It is very free blowing, speaks very easily is and responsive over a huge dynamic range. As you put more air through the horn the sound just grows and grows, it retains the rich, dark core to the tone but will also really project and open up when you want a phrase to flare out. At home in a variety of musical settings, the large red has also found favour with European classical players.

Eclipse Finishes

When choosing a finish, bear in mind the impact the finish will have on the sound. Relative to raw brass, lacquer will warm the sound, silver plate will brighten slightly, and gold will leave the sound virtually unchanged.

Eclipse Silver Finish

For the Silver finish, the instrument is buffed and polished to a mirror finish, then plated with bright silver plate.

Eclipse Gold Finish

For the Gold finish, the instrument is buffed and polished to a mirror finish, then plated with 24kt gold plate.

Eclipse Scratched Silver Finish

The Scratch Silver finish features a very finely hand scratched surface with accents such as the inner bell, valve bottoms, button tops and slides buffed to a mirror finish. The instrument is then plated with bright silver plate.

Eclipse Scratched Gold Finish

The Scratch Gold finish features a very finely hand scratched surface with accents such as the inner bell, valve bottoms, button tops and slides buffed to a mirror finish. The instrument is then plated with 24kt gold plate.

Eclipse Scratched Lacquer Finish

The Scratch Lacquer finish features a very finely hand scratched surface with accents such as the inner bell, valve bottoms, button tops and slides buffed to a mirror finish. The instrument is then coated with clear gloss lacquer.

Eclipse Lacquer Finish

For the Lacquer finish, the instrument is buffed and polished to a mirror finish, then coated with clear gloss lacquer.

Eclipse Savannah Finish

For the Savannah finish, the instrument is buffed and polished to a mirror finish, then coated with Savannah gloss lacquer for that unique antique look - available exclusively from Eclipse.

Eclipse Raw Finish

This is an instrument that is unpolished and without a plating or lacquer.

Eclipse Silver/Gold Finish

The Silver & Gold finish features an instrument buffed and polished to a mirror finish; the main instrument body is then plated with bright silver plate while the slides, valve tops, valve bottoms, button tops and traditional water keys are plated with 24kt gold plate.

Eclipse Leadpipes

Eclipse Trumpets use 6 different leadpipes to match the instrument to the player. Once you find the leadpipe that rings true for you, you can have an Eclipse made with a fixed leadpipe, or choose to have an Eclipse made with an interchangeable leadpipe system if you prefer to have the option of using more than one leadpipe.

The changable leadpipe system is without doubt the most versatile set up for a trumpet that Eclipse produce. The system is not of course a new innovation as it has been done before by several companies over the years, but this is the Eclipse specification.

There are 6 different pipe sizes, labelled as follows - from most open to most resistant:

6O 4O 2O O 2T 4T

The O pipe is the middle of the road pipe, comparable to the Bach 25 pipe on a standard Bach 37 trumpet. The T series of pipes are "tighter" or more resistant, and the O series of pipes are more "open" or less resistant.

With a purchase of the changable leadpipe system on an Eclipse Bb or C trumpet, you can choose 2 pipes of your choice out of the range AND still have the option to swap, free of charge, for a different choice of pipes within a 3 month period of receiving the instrument.

As a general rule :-

The O series of pipes will give more warmth and roundness of sound, maybe a little more richness and character as you go up to the most open 6O pipe. Of course as you go up through this series slightly more air is required to drive the horn (but these are slight increments)
The O series is a big hit with both jazzers and those with a lot of air who generally fine standard trumpet leadpipes simply too resistant and feel that they have to move onto a large bore instrument.

The T series is usually favoured by lead/ orchestral players who want a little more edge and response in their play. The T series will make the instrument quicker with smaller volumes of air required to do so.