Martin Committee 1956 Melk restored

An instrument that needs no introduction, the Martin Committee was famously designed with the input of a number of influential brass manufacturers: Vincent Bach, Elden Benge, Foster Reynolds, Reynold Schilke, and a handful of players from the Chicago Symphony. When asked about the design process, Reynold Schilke would later call it: “a Committee of one… me!”. The Martin Committee would go on to become an era-defining instrument, played by Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Roy Eldrige, Art Farmer, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Lee Morgan, Maynard Ferguson, Cat Anderson, Bill Chase, Conte Candoli, Red Rodney, Wallace Roney, and many more. The Committee captured the sound and look of a generation, with its streamlined profile, hand engraved bell, and intimate sound. Renowned for its ease of play and smokey, dark sound, the Martin Committee is without a doubt the most popular trumpet in the history of Jazz and improvised music.

This particular instrument dates to 1956, from the "golden age" of production at the Martin Factory in Elkhart, IN. This is a "standard" Committee model, meaning it has all brass tubes, unlike the nickel-trimmed "deluxe" models. The all-brass Committees have a slightly warmer sound and are excellent for small group jazz and big band playing. This trumpet is a medium bore model, measuring at .453" at the 2nd slide. The valves are in excellent condition and have great compression. The slides are smooth and fast, and this trumpet was fully restored by Charlie Melk, including a relacquer. This trumpet looks like it just came off the assembly line, with the only flaw being a small bleed in the lacquer near the pinky hook. This trumpet is a fantastic player, with an incredible fluidity and sweetness to the sound that modern horns just can’t replicate. Intonation is excellent and the upper register feels open and easily accessible. The timbre in the middle register is warm and lush, typical of a Committee.