By Paco "Mare Nostrum" One-of-One Custom Bb Trumpet

Serial No. 1-2021AD | Near Mint

This is a one-of-one By Paco Mare Nostrum B♭ trumpet, built in England by Francisco A. Perez-Ferrer (Francisco Perez), now of De l'Olla Musical Instruments. This was a personal showcasebuild for Francisco, not a production model, and took approximately 18 months to complete. As unusual and beautiful as this trumpet is, the real standout is how well it plays.

This is a heavy trumpet, but it is remarkably well balanced in the hands and does not feel cumbersome to play. It is extremely resonant and responsive, with an immediate response and a very alive feel to the instrument. There is a lot of substance to the sound without the horn feeling like you have to work to get it moving. It is a genuinely impressive playing trumpet, not simply an interesting collector's piece.

Francisco built the Mare Nostrum while working at the Taylor Trumpet workshop in England, and there is Taylor influence in the horn, including a Chicago-style leadpipe. The valve section is Miraphone, with stainless steel pistons.

The most unusual feature is probably the bell. It is a large 148 mm (5.83") double-wall “thermos” bell, with a yellow-brass inner bell and copper outer sleeve. This is a completely different construction from a conventional single-sheet trumpet bell and gives the horn a very distinctive look and character.

The bore is 11.7 mm (.460"). It also has a custom bronze mouthpiece receiver, and all of the valve slides were custom made from hexagonal brass tubing. There is a lot of mixed-metal construction throughout the instrument, with yellow brass, copper, bronze and stainless steel all used in different parts of the horn.

The elaborate engraving has a Mediterranean theme, which ties directly into the name. Mare Nostrum is Latin for “Our Sea,” a historic name for the Mediterranean. Francisco documented portions of the build himself through Facebook posts and comments, giving us first-hand information about the instrument and how it came together.

Francisco now builds under the name De l'Olla Musical Instruments, making the Mare Nostrum a really interesting earlier example of his work.

The trumpet is in near-mint condition.

This is obviously an unusual horn, but don't let it's looks or collectibility overshadow what it is as an instrument. It is an incredible playing trumpet. It is beautifully balanced for its weight, exceptionally resonant and responsive, and has the kind of immediate response that makes it very enjoyable to play. The fact that it is also a one-of-one, heavily engraved, documented custom build makes it that much more special.

Includes a case and 2 mouthpieces in a Neotech pouch

Details
Brand: By Paco
Model: Mare Nostrum
Builder: Francisco A. Perez-Ferrer
Current Company: De l'Olla Musical Instruments
Serial Number: 1-2021AD
Key: B♭
Built In: England
Build Time: Approximately 18 months
Production: One-of-one custom instrument
Bore: 11.7 mm / .460"
Bell Diameter: 148 mm / approximately 5.83"
Bell Construction: Double-wall “thermos” bell
Inner Bell: Yellow brass
Outer Bell Sleeve: Copper
Leadpipe: Taylor Chicago-style
Mouthpiece Receiver: Custom bronze
Valve Section: Miraphone
Pistons: Stainless steel
Valve Slides: Custom made from hexagonal brass tubing
Construction: Extensive mixed-metal construction
Engraving: Mediterranean-inspired
Condition: Near mint