Chet Baker

According to O.J.'s Trumpet Page, Baker used an Aristocrat in the "early to mid 80s".

Buescher Aristocrat, student's model (early to mid 80s - pawnshop)

Used in the '70s, according to three sources.

Trumpet Herald forum, January 15, 2005

2ndchair, 7:23 PM On the album pictures for "You Can't go Home Again" he appears to be playing a Conn Constellation.

I own examples of both and they are very different horns in sound, look and feel.

Chet Baker did suffer from ill health and some extreme dental issues in his later years. The Conn may have felt better on tired chops. Mine sure does!

He still got that fat rich sound and maintained an introverted and poetic style throughout the album. Paul Desmond is also quite amazing and the two musicians are obviously very comfortable working together.

plankowner110, 9:30 PM Chet played a 38B Connstellation. Down Beat magazine did a feature story on Chet along about 1983, and Chet talked about his Conn Connstellation. At the time of the DB interview he was playing a Blessing (you probably can guess why he did not have the Conn anymore) and he said, "I really like Conns but they're so expensive." Chet also stated that he quit playing flugelhorn because it was too much hassle carrying two instrument cases. He said he could achieve the sound he wanted by playing open horn very close to the mic.

I remember that article well because I played a 38B throughout the late 60s, 70s and 80s. I personally knew the regional sales manager for C.G. Conn (pre-UMI) and asked him if Conn would be interested in putting a Connstellation back into the hands of Chet Baker, and he replied that the company probably would not want to use Chet as an endorsee and roll model for student trumpeters. Eventually, Chet dumped the Blessing and picked up a Bach Strad.

The Folk Who Feel Jazz, March 1, 2009

What kind of horns did Chet play?

Chet wasn't loyal to any particular brand or type. He usually blew on whatever he had at the time. Many times he would pawn or lose his horn when he was strung out. He played a Martin "Committee" in the fifties, he even appeared in an ad for Martin. In the 70's he liked the Conn "Constellation". In the 80's he played on a Buescher and a Getzen Capri. At the time of his death he was playing a Selmer "Vincent Bach Stradivarius". He also played a flugelhorn (usually a Selmer) through much of 1964-1968. He found the horn easier to play when he was having problems with his teeth.

Trumpet Herald forum, July 2, 2011

Big Daddy, 1:08 PM According to Ruth Young who dated Chet for 10 years from around 1973 to 1982, the Constellation 38B was his all time favorite trumpet. I've had some long conversations with Ruth, 5 hours once on the phone. She still has Chet's hand written transcript for, "As Though I had Wings" and a couple of his mutes.

Part of Lot #89458 of Heritage Auctions. According to this March 1, 2009 The Folk Who Feel Jazz blog post, it was played in the '80s.

Lot Description

Chet Baker Owned and Stage-Played Trumpet, Case, and Vintage Performance Photographs. We can't think of a better piece of memorabilia from iconic jazz musician Chet Baker than this Getzen trumpet, owned and played by him in the later years of his life. Like its owner, the instrument shows evidence of a hard life in music -- the tubing has been bent at the mouthpiece end, dislodging one of the metal brackets (but which is still with the instrument and included). Chet's mouthpiece is also still with the instrument, and it comes with the soft sided leather gig bag that he would have likely used to carry the trumpet to club performances. The case is heavily scuffed, and the carrying strap has been torn in the middle. Included is a set of original vintage photographs of Chet performing in a club in Europe in the 1980s. From the Diane Vavra Collection.

The Folk Who Feel Jazz

What kind of horns did Chet play?

Chet wasn't loyal to any particular brand or type. He usually blew on whatever he had at the time. Many times he would pawn or lose his horn when he was strung out. He played a Martin "Committee" in the fifties, he even appeared in an ad for Martin. In the 70's he liked the Conn "Constellation". In the 80's he played on a Buescher and a Getzen Capri. At the time of his death he was playing a Selmer "Vincent Bach Stradivarius". He also played a flugelhorn (usually a Selmer) through much of 1964-1968. He found the horn easier to play when he was having problems with his teeth.

Chet Baker is listed as using a Vincent Bach Corp 10 3/4 mouthpiece, according to the equipment list on O.J.'s Trumpet Page.

Lot 1133 in the May 14, 2011 Tennants Auctioneers auction.

A 'Chet Baker' Martin Silver Plated Brass No.3 Committee Model Trumpet, serial number 194589, with mother of pearl inlaid keys, in the original velvet lined leather Martin case** Provenance - previously owned and played by Chet Baker. Two very interesting letters from The Martin Instrument Company dated 1960 included in the lot

Part of Lot #89458 of Heritage Auctions.

Chet Baker Owned and Stage-Played Trumpet, Case, and Vintage Performance Photographs. We can't think of a better piece of memorabilia from iconic jazz musician Chet Baker than this Getzen trumpet, owned and played by him in the later years of his life. Like its owner, the instrument shows evidence of a hard life in music -- the tubing has been bent at the mouthpiece end, dislodging one of the metal brackets (but which is still with the instrument and included). Chet's mouthpiece is also still with the instrument, and it comes with the soft sided leather gig bag that he would have likely used to carry the trumpet to club performances. The case is heavily scuffed, and the carrying strap has been torn in the middle. Included is a set of original vintage photographs of Chet performing in a club in Europe in the 1980s. From the Diane Vavra Collection.

Used for vocals on Chet Baker Sings, as can be seen in this photo that became the album cover, this other photo from the same session and this alternate album cover from another session.

According to O.J.'s Trumpet Page, Baker used a Stradivarius in the year leading up to his death.

Vincent Bach Stradivarius (87 - 88)

Used for the trumpet on Chet Is Back!, as can be seen on the album cover and two ca. 1961 photos, which can be found here and here

According to O.J.'s Trumpet Page, Baker used a 6B in the '50s.

Bach 6B (in the 50s)

Among the list of Baker's equipment compiled by O.J.'s Trumpet Page.