Kanstul 905: The Best Pocket Trumpet Ever Made?

noah_adams

The Kanstul 905: Is this the Best Pocket Trumpet Ever Made?

Here is what I have gathered:

- Burbank (and some LA) Benge Pockets seem to be most similar, but a little more fidigity with the intonation
- New Benge Pockets just ain't made the same
- Carol, Pocket Max, LA Sax, Phaeton & Jupiters are ok - 100x better than the Asian/Indian TSO's, but still not up to snuff for pro playing
- Taylor Pockets costs $5 g's, too heavy, & slots slightly squirly in the high range

For a pocket player looking to get as close to the tone, intonation, & slotting as a full size Bb, is there any better option?

Also, wondering if anyone here has ever had a Robb Stewart pocket conversion done, and if so what changes they noticed it made to the horn...
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Yamaha Xeno
Kanstul Pocket
GR 66MS

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 3959

Jupiter 416 would be more than ok if the intonation problems were solved.

Zeé · Regular Member Joined: 16 Jul 2011 Posts: 32

I have a CarolBrass CPT-3000-GLS, that's the best pocket I've played, try to play test one of those; full sound, good intonation, open and even blow, good valves. I also own a Jupiter 416, that one is pitchy & doesn't have the presence a full-sized belled trumpet has.

My only gripe with the CB is the awkward wrap, it's difficult to find a good comfortable grip.

ChopsGone · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 1377

So far, the Carol is the best pocket trumpet I own. As far as the best ever made, I'd suspect it might be a Calicchio. But there are some other fine candidates shown here (buy his book, too - there's a new edition just out):

http://www.pocketcornets.com/
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Vintage Olds & Reynolds & Selmers galore
Aubertins, Bessons, Calicchios, Courtois, Wild Things, Marcinkiewicz, Ogilbee Thumpet, DeNicola Puje, Kanstuls....

chuck in ny · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:19 am Post subject:

little bit i heard of the carol pocket trumpet left me dazzled. it seemed to play like a full size trumpet and with very nice sound.
if the kansul can beat that, i'd be surprised. ..chuck

John Mohan · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:38 am Post subject:

I've always heard Benge was the best (real Benges, not the current ones). The Kanstul is a new and improved version of the original Benge, so it gets my vote.

McH · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:53 am Post subject:

Have a look at the Stomvi Forte Pocket Trumpet.

fredo · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

+ 1 for the Carol one (but i've never tried Kanstul/Benge, Calicchio, Marcinkiewicz or Taylor)
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Frédéric FELTZ
Calicchio 3/7 ml 2012 silver
Carol Brass 5000L YLS lacquer
Carol Brass 6200 flugel lacquer
Carol Brass pocket trumpet lacquer.
Wedge B7D and B6B DOC 25 throat M bb
Wedge B 6B FLX custom

gregplo

qcm · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject:

chuck in ny · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 2:54 am Post subject:

qcm · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject:

nieuwguyski · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:21 am Post subject:

I owned a Kanstul 905 pocket trumpet, years ago. I have to say, I was disappointed. The best thing about the horn was the utterly cool Walt Johnson case (that I understand isn't made anymore). I desperately wanted to like the horn, and I hauled it around the country on business trips and practiced on it, and played it on a few polka gigs, but I simply never took a shine to it.

In retrospect, there may have been a mouthpiece receiver issue with it -- most every mouthpiece took an extra-firm twist to get seated -- but it didn't play any better with the Kanstul CG3 it was shipped with.

If I had it now I'd ship it to Flip Oakes and have him perform his enhancement service on it, but he wasn't offering it back then. Too bad, for me.

The fellow I sold it to was delighted with it, so maybe it was just me.
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J. Notso Nieuwguyski

chapahi · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:23 am Post subject:

My first pocket trumpet was a Benge I got in '96 which I used full time. One day, I came to a gig with a '47 Committee and all anybody wanted to know was where was the pocket trumpet. It was more than just the "novelty" issue. The projection and sound was surprisingly well balanced for the venues and dynamic levels I tend to work in but it still held it's on the big stage.
A few years later I got a 905 with a copper bell. The carrying power is even greater and it slots a lot tighter. I had problems with the valves and had them rebuilt by Zig himself.
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Conn, Olds, Martin, etc. a bunch of mouthpieces too...you name it I got it.

improver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 948

Saying the Carol trumpet wasnt up to pro standards is just wrong. I take mine on gigs and play it all the time. The Carol to me has a professional sound. Man im telling you if there is a better pocket i want to see it!