Schilke Bb S32 Trumpet 1980s

The S Series

Schilke makes three "S" Series B flat trumpets. All three S series B flat trumpets share the same bell (which is different, however, from any of the B and X series bells) but come in three different bores:

• S22 - Large bore, all introduced in 1985.
• S32 - Medium large bore
• S42- Medium bore

The Schilke catalog attempts to describe the S Series as follows:

The 'S' Series trumpets were developed to accommodate the requests of a number of leading professional trumpet players who were [sic ] for a certain 'feel' or 'sound quality.' while retaining the same response and excellent intonation that has been characteristic of the 'B' and 'X' series of Schilke trumpets.

Telephone calls to the Schilke factory to get a more satisfactory explanation virtually always fail. They simply won't commit to any more specific or illuminating information, and I've tried.

Though that description is not very helpful, it appears to me that the goal of the design was to produce a horn with the sound of a Bach, i.e., a solid core, very opaque and dense, while trying to maintain the unequaled responsiveness and intonation of the lighter weight Schilke trumpets. I suggested this in correspondence with Mike Vax, who played a prototype S32 for many years and was, he said, involved in the design process, and he said the comparison with Bach was never made to him, however Vax admitted he generally dislike Bach horns so the fact that it wasn't mentioned to him may have intentional. For me, it seems so obvious that it would be hard for it to be otherwise, especially given the popularity of Bach trumpets in the Midwest United States and the influence of the Chicago Symphony brass players in Chicago. The 'S' Series horns are made of heavier gauge materials, have additional bracings and a squarer tuning slide, and are even designed with a larger mouthpiece gap. All three models share the same bell. It is true that the horns sound more Bach-like, but it is equally true that they are not as responsive and nimble as the Schilke lighter weight B/X series. Whether the compromise is valuable depends on the feel and sound the player desires. However, since their introduction in 1983, these horns have become very popular and among Schilke's best sellers.