Initially Eclipse Trumpets, which is based in the United Kingdom, began as a repair facility for all brass instruments. The company quickly gained a very good reputation for high quality repair and lacquer work.  This reputation led to repair work being peformed  on behalf of many leading manufacturers and soon after, finishing work on custom manufactured trumpets. In July 2001, Leigh McKinney made  a decision to develop a new design of Pro level trumpets. Prototype models were developed, assembled and put through their paces by pro players from a variety of backgrounds. Many years of experience in manufacture meant the company already knew how to make trumpets - the challenge was now to design one that really kicked!!!

Many sleepless night later, the Eclipse was born, and the goal was achieved! The Eclipse line of trumpets was launched in March 2003 at the Frankfurt Music Messe.

EclipseTrumpets.us is managed by Paul McCall, in the United States.  Paul began customizing instruments for his own use after reaching limitations with standard off the shelf lines of trumpets.  Besides managing EclipseTrumpets.us,  Paul still performs regularly in various settings, from jazz and lead playing, to playing and singing regularly at his home church in Florida. Paul's goal for each trumpet player is help them find the instrument that best fits their individual playing style and maximizes their playing efficiency.

Leigh Mckinney

Leigh started work in 1986 at the age of 15 as an apprentice Brass Instrument Maker with a company that was comprised of the very best ex Boosey & Hawkes technicians in the industry. Over the next 8 years, he learned every aspect of manufacturing, from cornet right up to tuba. At the end of this term, Leigh was the head maker of instrument manufacture there.

In 1994, he moved to Norway to become a teacher of brass instrument repair in a specialist music university. Three years later, he was asked to head up the brass manufacture at a German Instrument Company. He then returned, 1 year later for another 2 year spell with his first employer as head maker again. In 1999, Leigh decided that he wanted to make his own mark on the brass world and started First Class Brass Ltd (Eclipse Trumpets) in September of that year at a small workshop in Dunstable, England.

Carl Skinner

Carl has worked for Eclipse straight out of school at the age of 16. Having been with us for 16 years now, he is truly one of the most talented repair and making techs in the UK. Leigh and Carl run the Eclipse workshop as a team. One's skills complimenting the other. Carl is Eclipse through and through, and has a real and true passion for the instruments, contributing to design and structure of new products.

Radka Mckinney

Radka is not just Leigh's wife, but the "KINGPIN" of the company. Radka is the company book-keeper first and foremost, but also takes care of all the photography for the instruments and a hundred and one other things, which leaves Leigh and Carl to simply get on with building instruments.

Please contact us at [email protected] for more details.