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.

We start by introducing two new models.

The Taylor Focus shares it design concept with the Chicago VR Model. Its classic look is similar, its designed to do basically the same job and shares some of the important components. It does have one major difference. The valves are of the traditional Monel type as used in most other mainstream trumpets. Bore size (ML) remains the same. Other contributing difference is that the bell is thinner giving the overall sound a bit more zing.

It shares the VR’s reversed leadpipe machined from a solid piece of brass, the same receiver specs and all the same hardware (rings, 3rd stop, waterkeys, etc). The same tough silver plate finish, only minus the gold trim. Comes with a case and a Taylor M Mouthpiece.

This trumpet plays very similar to the VR. So what is the compromise? While Monel valves are fine, you cannot expect them to be as slick and durable as the superb Stainless steel pistons used on the more expensive Chicago range. No point in trying to hide it. These will not feel any different to most other mainstream Monel valved trumpets.

Making these models as a joint effort has allowed us to make a Trumpet worthy of the Taylor name but retail at a substantially lower price. To further help keep the price down these are only available from two official outlets. One for within the USA, and the other for the rest of the world.

The Retail (List price) for the Taylor Focus is:

$1850 US Dollars or £975 Sterling + Tax.

For US Sales contact:
John Ogilbee: 512-906-5348 (Central Time)
or email on johnogilbee@yahoo.com

For all other countries contact:
Andy Taylor at: info@taylortrumpets.com

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 is:

$1645 US Dollars or £825 Sterling + Tax

Same dealer contacts as for the Focus Model.

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.

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