Canadian trumpet player John Loach was born without fingers and thumb on his right hand. In December 2001, he had Schilke make him a trumpet he could play with his left hand.
The modifications include:
- attaching the pinkie hook to the bell, rather than the leadpipe;
- eliminating the third valve slide finger ring;
- installing a third valve spit valve;
- installing a first valve trigger
- installing a brace connecting the leadpipe to the bottom leg of the tuning slide so that he could stabilize and bear some weight on his right hand.
© 2002 by James F. Donaldson / All rights reserved