Selmer Paris Concept TT Trumpet - Mint Silver by Charlie Melk - PVA by Wayne Tanabe Start Price USD 1,950.00 Current Price USD 1,950.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, September 01, 2008 End Time Monday, September 08, 2008 Location Brooklyn, NY See more about 'Selmer Paris Concept TT Trumpet - Mint' Description Up for auction is a beautiful Selmer Paris Concept TT in bright silver, serial number 89,968.  Out of the box these are some of the best-built and nicest-playing horns on the market, and this one has been ultrasonically cleaned and refinished in silver by Charlie Melk.  This horn also has a valve alignment by Wayne Tanabe (and the valves were quite a bit out of alignment).  The upshot is that this horn plays better than any brand-new TT you’ll find.    Wayne also replaced the standard thumb hook (which has an upright angle like Bach and is uncomfortable for me) with a thumb ring angled as on a Schilke or Yamaha.  Looks better, too, in my opinion.  The original hook is included as well.   This horn began life in the popular scratch-lacquer finish – which started flaking off within six months!  The scratch look is nice but I’m done with lacquered horns and their inevitable finish deterioration.  Maybe it's just my acidic hands.  With Charlie’s refinish job in silver it looks absolutely brand-new and will continue to look that way for years to come.    There’s not a scratch or dent on the horn, and the valves are perfect.  Alongside Schilke, Selmer Paris makes some of the best valves in the business.  Slides move like glass.  Fit and finish on these horns is in Schilke territory; that is, as good as it gets.     The horn is incredibly responsive and even across all registers and dynamics.  You can’t overblow it and it remains open above the staff – not a hint of stuffiness.  From behind the bell you get tons of resonance and feedback and a big lush sound; from the front the sound can be dark or bright depending upon your conception and mouthpiece.  It’s a great horn when you’re under-miked because of how well you can hear yourself.   I’ve used the horn on everything from super-quiet chamber jazz to ear-splitting salsa gigs with excellent results.  The TT is simply one of the finest horns being made right now and this one has been tweaked by two of the best technicians in the US.    Comes with a set of heavy caps (in lacquer – I don’t use them and forgot to send them for plating!).   Includes the original BAM case which has never been out of the house.   With the sad state of the dollar vs. the euro, the best price you’ll find new on a silver-plated Concept TT is $3,149.  This one has a valve alignment and looks and plays absolutely as new for a lot less.    Please ask questions well ahead of auction’s end.  Paypal only for this auction.  Shipping $30 in the US; will ship internationally at actual shipping cost.  Ask me for a international shipping quote.  Bidders with zero feedback or less than 98% positive feedback MUST contact me prior to bidding; I will cancel your bid otherwise.  Thanks for looking!    ----------------------- In response to a comment, let me be more specific about the refinishing, in case anyone else cares:  Charlie Melk received my lacquer-plated horn.  He ultrasonically cleaned it and prepped it for silver plating; this involved removing the lacquer and buffing the horn.  Then he sent the horn to Anderson Plating (who plates for Schilke and others), who silver-plated the horn.  Then Anderson sent the horn back to Charlie, who then returned it to me.  "Silver by Charlie Melk" in the subtitle is shorthand for saying that I had him refinish my horn in silver - the prep work he did, and the actual plating he contracted out to one of the best in the business.  Hope this clarifies things. Place a Bid!