The Schilke Custom Series C Trumpets (also known as the C Series) were designed by Renold O. Schilke and date back his founding of our company. These models feature a lightweight design with minimal bracing, round main tuning slide and reverse leadpipe. Custom Series trumpets are lauded for a natural brilliance, or “shimmer,” to their sound, an ease of playing, consistent “feel” from top to bottom of the horn and superior intonation.
The Custom Series is often viewed as a spectrum of models. With a choice of bell taper and bore size, every musician can find the right “feel” for them. Most Custom Series C Trumpets have a direct equivalent to a Custom Series Bb Trumpet.
Custom Series C Trumpets are covered by the Schilke Limited Lifetime Warranty.
C1
Bore Size: .460″ ML
Bell Taper: #1
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C2
Bore Size: .460″ ML
Bell Taper: #3
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C3
Bore Size: .463″ L
Bell Taper: #3
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C4
Bore Size: .450″ M
Bell Taper: #3
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C5
Bore Size: .463″ L
Bell Taper: #3
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C6
Bore Size: .450″ M
Bell Taper: #2
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
C7
Bore Size: .450″ M
Bell Taper: #1
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
CX
Bore Size: .463″ L
Bell Taper: #1
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
CX4
Bore Size: .468″ XL
Bell Taper: #1
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
CX5
Bore Size: .468″ XL
Bell Taper: #3
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
CX6
Bore Size: .468″ XL
Bell Taper: #2
Bell Material: Yellow Brass
Custom Series C Trumpet Options
- 1st slide ring
- Pinky ring
- 3rd slide waterkey
- Amado waterkey(s)
- Sterling Silver bell
- “Beryllium” bell
- Tuning bell
- Bb Slides
Bell Material
All Custom Series C Trumpets come standard with a yellow brass bell.
Yellow brass bells are more consistent in tonal color regardless of dynamics.
Optional “beryllium” bells are very thin bells, similar to our standard copper bells in playing characteristics, but with a brighter and more resonant dynamic range. These bells are terrific when looking for more “sizzle” in your sound.
Optional sterling silver bells offer a focused, dense sound. Darker in timbre in softer dynamics and brighter in louder dynamics, the sterling silver bells are similar to “beryllium,” but with a more simplified overtone series. These bells “zing” when playing ff.
Tuning Bells
Detachable tuning bells are available by special order on any Custom Series C Trumpet. The advantage of the tuning bell feature is that the tuning slide can be left all the way in or moved only a little, thereby keeping the bore relatively free of gaps that may cause a disturbance in the nodal pattern of the sound wave. Another advantage is that different bells of varying tapers, materials and finishes may be used to change characteristics of the instrument.
Nomenclature
The Custom Series C Trumpets are numbered in the order in which they were developed. The C1 was the first Schilke C Trumpet, followed by the C2, then the C3, etc. When the tenth model was developed, it was decided that an “X” in the model number would denote the 10th model and beyond. As an example, the CX is the 10th Schilke C Trumpet developed in the Custom Series.