The Schilke Custom Series Bb Trumpets (also known as the B & X 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. Designed with versatility in mind, these models are great for classical, chamber, solo, jazz or commercial music. Custom Series Bb Trumpets have been played by the world’s great musicians for 60+ years.
The X5 is one of the biggest Schilke Bb Trumpets. Featuring a .468″ XL bore, this model is balanced by the #3 bell taper, functioning as “powering steering” for the large feeling body. The X5 is an incredibly versatile and free blowing instrument.
Features
One-piece Yellow Brass Bell
Unsoldered Bead
#3 Bell Taper
.468″ XL Bore
Reverse Leadpipe
Round Main Tuning Slide
Lightweight Design
1st slide saddle & 3rd slide ring
*Additional Customization Options*
(Call to place custom order)
Gold plate
Sterling Silver bell
"Beryllium" bell
Tuning bell
1st slide ring
Pinky ring
3rd slide waterkey
Amado waterkey(s)
Bell Material
All Custom Series Bb Trumpets come standard with a yellow brass bell, with the exception of the B5 and B6, which have a pure copper bell. These materials were chosen by Renold O. Schilke to have playing characteristics that best compliment each individual model.
Yellow brass bells are more consistent in tonal color regardless of dynamics. Whereas copper bells offer a more progressive tonality that is responsive to dynamic, with a darker sound when playing pp and brighter when playing ff.
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 Bb 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 Bb Trumpets are numbered in the order in which they were developed. The B1 was the first Schilke Bb Trumpet, followed by the B2, then the B3, 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 X3 is the 13th Schilke Bb Trumpet developed in the Custom Series.
Custom Series Bb Trumpets are covered by the Schilke Limited Lifetime Warranty.