By Dave Monette

This year (2010) is the year of the Next Generation Monette RAJA. These all-new designs incorporate all the latest developments in our PRANA STC horns and more. For example, the big news is that the INTEGRAL MOUTHPIECE IS THREADED, so mouthpiece changes, for the first time, are possible and relatively easy! We have already made five of these new RAJA instruments to date, and the response from the players has been universally positive… not to mention the music we have heard on them has been amazing!

WHY IS A BUILT-IN MOUTHPIECE BETTER?

The advantage of only having “one thing between the player and the audience,” with zero loss between the mouthpiece and the instrument - has always been a clear winner. RAJA instruments simply project more, have more stability of response, and just feel more natural and effortless to play. Now even more of the advantages of our latest PRANA STC instruments can be realized as we redesign them with threaded, interchangeable, integral mouthpieces!

WHAT MOUTHPIECE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Most of the players who order RAJA instruments stick to one mouthpiece. However, with these latest innovations, it is possible to change rim and cup, and backbore shapes too. This may be helpful when playing in different musical situations or acoustic environments. The players who are playing these new instruments are all longtime Monette clients who are very familiar with our work. They trust our judgment as we build their instruments, and take our recommendations on mouthpiece selection as we playtest and make final adjustments to their horns.

IF MOST PLAYERS DON’T CHANGE MOUTHPIECE SIZES, WHY MAKE THE NEW RAJA AN INTERCHANGEABLE DESIGN?

Making the mouthpieces interchangeable offers three main advantages:

• Players can change mouthpiece weight, size or configuration as their musical or physical demands change.
• The interchangeable integral mouthpiece design makes future mouthpiece upgrades incredibly easy as compared to our earlier RAJA instruments!
• The threaded, interchangeable integral mouthpiece allows us to perform final adjustments on these new RAJA instruments much more easily than we ever could in the past. As a result, the cost of making them is closer to the cost of a similar style Monette instrument with a standard, tapered mouthpiece shank design than ever before.

WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT, BESIDES THE THREADED INTEGRAL MOUTHPIECE?

Having an instrument with an integral mouthpiece improves everything about how the horn sounds and feels. Given the increased stability and security of playing a horn with a built-in mouthpiece, we redesigned and optimized the proportions and configuration of the new RAJA to compliment the integral mouthpiece design.

• These new instruments are more ergonomic to hold. The bell flares are closer to the player’s ears, and the valve cluster is closer to the body as one plays. Since RAJA instruments consistently project more out into a room, having the bell closer to the player’s ears while keeping a normal bell straightaway length helps players hear themselves better despite the forward sound placement RAJA instruments are known for. Less arm extension also helps the player feel more comfortable and breathe easier as they play, with less stress on their arms and shoulders.
• The remarkably efficient and stable integral mouthpiece design makes these horns feel unusually secure, with a lightning-fast response. The proportions, shapes of bends and overall new configuration is an improvement in every way - the notes just feel “roomier” on a RAJA, and the larger “Target Size” means fewer missed notes and wider range of timbre to choose from while maintaining a rich, centered sound.
• The WEIGHT of these new horns can be very light or very heavy and everything in between. The model and weight of instrument a player prefers is almost always dictated by the relationship between their sound concept and their physical approach to playing. Players who like light horns can get a lightweight RAJA. Players who like heavier horns can get a heavier RAJA!

For more information, please contact Jason or Gretchen in our office: Jason@monette.net

ANDRE DUBELSTEN PLAYS RAJA STC Bb AND C TRUMPETS!

ANDRE DUBELSTEN RAJA 3 STC Bb WIZZARD!

INTRODUCING OUR NEW RAJA P3 STC WITH THREADED INTEGRAL MOUTHPIECE

DAVE BAMONTE PLAYS MIKE'S RAJA LT STC C!

More DAVE BAMONTE playing the RAJA LT STC!

ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST -NEXT GENERATION- RAJA C TRUMPET!

JEFF WORK - RAJA LT STC C TRUMPET GREAT DEMO!

JEFF WORK PLAYS THE FIRST RAJA P3 STC C TRUMPET!

WOW! ANTOINE DRYE SINGS ON DEAN'S RAJA STC Bb!

THREE GENERATIONS OF RAJA TRUMPETS WITH CHARLIE SCHLUETER & FRIENDS

WYNTON'S FIRST NOTES ON HIS NEW RAJA III Bb!

RASHAWN ROSS RAJA III DEMO - "E" OVER TRIPLE C!