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Tony has known Severson since 1963. They’ve played
together over the years, and recently he agreed to tour
with the former Tonight Show bandleader. Severson was
in Las Vegas recently to purchase two trumpets from Tony.
The longtime Las Vegan began manufacturing trumpets in
1988. He’s sold close to 70 horns worldwide, fetching
anywhere from $1,500 a horn and up.
“I can not only play the things, but I can put them
together with ingredients I know will work,’’
Tony says with confidence and authority. ``I came up with
a (trumpet) bell that is a good marriage with a valve
system.’’
Unlike most factory made horns, Tony heat-treats his bells,
a process called annealing, to a specific temperature.
He won’t reveal that temperature, but the musician
says it’s what gives his trumpets and flugelhorns
a more resounding sound.
Tony also custom fits the three valves and repositions
joints, making sure they are soldered correctly. Each
horn, he says, takes an average of 32 hours to complete.
Some are gold plated and elaborately engraved.
“ There’s a lot more life and brilliance in
sound in my horns,’’ Tony proudly boasts. “
The sound has more pizzazz. You get more results off the
bell.”
Tony says each horn sounds different, which is why he’ll
let a musician play it a while before deciding to purchase
it or not. But in all his instruments, he emphasizes that
the sound and components must be in harmony with each
other to be considered a good trumpet or flugelhorn.
Having played professionally all his life, five years
with the legendary Harry James orchestra, Tony says he
knows what ingredients are needed to make an exceptional
instrument. Several of his horns, he adds, are sold in
the prestigious international Rayburn Musical Instrument
Co. in Boston.
For more information, contact: Tony Scodwell Custom Trumpets,
6229 Fargo Ave., Las Vegas, NV. 89107. Phone: (702)
878-1442.
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