Manufacturer: Benge
Model: 3 ML
Condition: Used, Very good
Year: 1953
Key: Bb
Bore: .460"
Bell Size/Material: 4 3/4" Yellow brass
Finish: Gold plated
Case: Yes, Vintage non-original hard case
Oil: Yamaha Regular
Used 1953 Benge Chicago ML-bore Bb trumpet in gold plate, from the collection of Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin of The Blues Brothers and the Saturday Night Live Band. This horn was replated in gold at some point in its life, and the bell engraving shows evidence of significant buffing, though the maker stamp and Chicago-era Benge logo are still visible. The newer plating is entirely intact with just some surface scratches here and there. There’s evidence of minor repairs in several spots, including patches on the underside of the leadpipe and first slide crook. The third slide ring is slightly out of round, but we chose to leave it alone to respect the integrity of the finish and structure of this very lightweight horn. Other interesting modifications include set screws that function as slide locks on the first and third slides, as well as an oversized first slide thumb ring.
We gave it a professional cleaning and precision valve alignment, and compression is very good with Yamaha Regular oil. It plays with excellent intonation and response, superb valve action and a sound best described as golden and glorious, with the kind of character you’d hope to find in a great vintage Benge. This is a horn that plays as good as it looks, with a pedigree to match—perfect for collectors and players alike. Comes with a non-original vintage hard case and letter of provenance.
ABOUT ALAN RUBIN:Alan Rubin (1943–2011), better known as “Mr. Fabulous,” was a legendary New York trumpeter whose career spanned the studio, Broadway, television, jazz, and commercial music worlds. A Juilliard-trained player and student of William Vacchiano, Rubin became one of New York’s most in-demand session musicians, recording and performing with an extraordinary range of artists over several decades. He was a longtime member of the Saturday Night Live Band and became widely known as the impeccably dressed trumpeter in the Blues Brothers Band. Among fellow musicians, Rubin was especially respected for his powerful lead playing, versatility, musicianship, and ability to handle virtually anything put on the stand.
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