For over 15 years the Taylor Chicago range of trumpets have been making an enviable reputation as a true players instrument. Now firmly established among the elite of Custom trumpets its time to bring that feel to a wider market.

Introducing the Collaboration Series of instruments. The name alone makes it clear that these instruments are a joint effort. A basic structure that can be made in greater numbers by a manufacturer geared up for this, then sent to us here at Taylor to have the essential Taylor parts fitted and finished off to a level to warrant the Taylor name.

Instantly noticeable is the Taylor styling and substantial feel these instruments possess. The open playing character, the dynamic range, the tonal colours, the power, the flexibility. They have to be mostly hand built and finished to achieve this. It’s the rest where we have collaborated to get the initial manufacturing stages done cost effectively without compromising the finished instruments.

The Pocket Rocket idea came about by chance one day while talking to a couple of gigging trumpet players I know well. They said to me ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be great to have a small travelling trumpet that’s totally gig worthy. ‘Powerful and dynamic enough to use as a real trumpet on proper gigs’. Ok, says I, but why? The answer came back that as travelling musicians we don’t always get ‘nice’ venues, or ‘friendly’ audiences to play to. If your case is over a certain size, your horn gets thrown in the tour bus hold, and with an expensive instrument, that gets very worrying! We play because we need to pay the rent, and that can mean playing gigs that the big hitters can afford turn down but we cant. Plus, we can take it on holiday and practice, jam, or just have some fun.

I thought about this a bit more and the Pocket Rocket design concept was born. Now you can buy a pocket trumpet that’s dynamic enough and loud enough to use as an everyday horn. What I wasn’t quite prepared for is what a great sound this thing has. The softs are warm and mellow and the louds are strong and ‘inyer face’. What’s more is it’s a real good screamer horn to. It has all the playing attributes of a really good regular Bb, only a lot smaller and more portable. No way this won’t get round the hand luggage restrictions of the smaller airlines.

Same thing applies about the Monel valves as with the Focus. The standard Pocket Rocket is supplied as a raw brass horn. Extra finishes can be applied and will be charged according to the specification required.

        
The Retail (List Price) for the Pocket Rocket Pro is:
$1795 US Dollars  or  £925 UK Sterling + Tax

Additions to Pro Custom
We have had many requests to build the Pocket Rocket Custom to buyers personal requirements.  This is great.  Gives us the chance to create some truly unique horns.  So, please don’t feel shy, ask away, as mild or wild as you want.  Only stipulation is that it is actually do-able!

We have done different colours.  We can match most school colours or team colours.  Fancy Candy colours, pinstripes, artwork.  We have done angled up bells, almost dizzy style.  Maybe matched with a downward facing leadpipe (that was one radical Pocket!).  Pretty much anything the Custom Shop has done, or could do can be applied to these little gems as well (except a Vulcan Pocket… well not yet!!)  See the photos for a couple of ideas, and check out the new additional Custom Shop pages for more ideas.

Horns like this can only be priced to specification, but as a guide take the Pocket Rocket Custom price as start guide.  If it’s only a straight colour or two, this will not affect the price. Start re profiling the horn and then things will start to increase.  This will be worked out on an hourly time to make basis.  Got you thinking??  Don’t have nightmares!

Due to trying to give you the best deal possible on these instrument the operating margins are understandably lower than the Chicago models. This means that we cannot offer the same level of trade in allowance shown on the trade up page against these trumpets. Individual trade ins will be considered but will need to be done an instrument to instrument basis.