Best flugelhorn

ruling · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:10 pm Post subject:

I have a Carol Brass CTR-5000-YST SLB trumpet (satin lacquer) and a Conn Vintage One flugel (satin lacquer). I love the sound of both, but they are COMPLETELY different. The 5000 is a bright lead horn and the VO is so mellow.

I play in two town bands and the directors love the brightness of my trumpet. They have no use for my flugel, except for Christmas brass choirs.

I also play in a Blue Note Era jazz ensemble and the leader wants the sound of the flugel. I agree.

The flugel is my favorite. I love the fluffy, round tone, especially played piano.

Enjoy whatever you have and please tolerate others' choices. Our instruments are very personal things.
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Conn Vintage One Flugelhorn
CarolBrass CTR5000L YST SLB Trumpet

Yamaha TRBX304 4-String Bass (candy apple red)
Squier 4-string Jazz Bass (fretless)
Cordoba Concert Ukulele
3-string Cigar Box Guitar

chuck in ny · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject:

the flugel is a very special instrument. when i play there is little to no air column as such. it's more the air directly producing sound in the same way as talking softly. the softness of the experience is mystical and it gets me every time.
trumpet is basic and should be played every day. with the trumpet and cornet you do stack up some air in a bagpipe effect. the trumpet in particular has its own zen, soft way as it will speak well with its shallower mouthpiece. the trumpet and flugel make a devastating duo. air travels through each horn in a decidedly different manner.
my WT flugel is very nice indeed. some of the top brands ascend and slot freakishly well and easily in the high register. it's a quality that is needed hardly at all yet is a great tribute to the skill of the maker. the many positive endorsements of a variety of gear in this thread suggest you can do well on a variety of gear. find something you like and play it.

wiemelen · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:03 am Post subject:

Does anyone hav e any thoughts/experiences with B&S flugelhorns?
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Trumpet : Yamaha YTR-9335CHS + Yamaha YTR-6335H
Trumpet mouthpieces : Lotus 2L (main) + Lotus 2L2
Flugelhorn : Kanstul 1525 with Curry 1,5FL
Cornet : Conn 80a (1919) with Curry 1,5 BBC + Curry 1,5 VC + GR L66,9 #6

Flugelnut · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 7:50 am Post subject:

No experience, but certainly thoughts: if I needed another flugel and had the money, the B&S Brochon would be the one I'd like to try.
Build-wise it looks very much like my Couesnon and when I hear John Marshal play it on YouTube it sounds like a real flugel too.

TrentAustin · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:56 am Post subject:

wiemelen · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:18 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info about the B&S

@ Trent : thanks for the info and offer. Talking about good customer service

However, when adding shipping costs and especially VAT rates for Belgium, I'm afraid US (internet)shops are less interesting for buying products made in Europe.
_________________
Trumpet : Yamaha YTR-9335CHS + Yamaha YTR-6335H
Trumpet mouthpieces : Lotus 2L (main) + Lotus 2L2
Flugelhorn : Kanstul 1525 with Curry 1,5FL
Cornet : Conn 80a (1919) with Curry 1,5 BBC + Curry 1,5 VC + GR L66,9 #6

Heisentpt · New Member Joined: 26 Nov 2015 Posts: 5

I absolutely love the 4-valve courtois!

jazzpik · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 2:43 pm Post subject:

There is nothing and I mean nothing better than playing Flugelhorn models yourself. Everyone is going to tell you what they like but that means nothing to you. I tried almost twenty different models and I think 17 different companies. Some of the horns had more than I could put in them and others didn't feel right for me. Why buy a horn that your not comfortable with just because it's the "best". I played two different "best" flugelhorns (brand doesn't matter) and they were terrible for me. That doesn't mean they are not great horns but not great for me. Frankly, unless your very very good most horns mentioned in all these threads have more in them than you can ever get out of them. So, find something your comfortable with that gives you the sound you like. Remember Flugelhorns are very very sensitive to mouthpiece changes so keep that in mind. I actually chose my mouthpiece, first before I ever tried out a horn. This will tell you a lot about the horn you really like. Forget price but decide upon the horn first. You may be surprised that the most expensive horn is NOT the horn for you. Good luck in your search!
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1933 King Silvertone Cornet For Sale!

plp · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 9:32 pm Post subject:

cheiden · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 8:47 am Post subject:

When I was just getting out of high school and getting into pop bands the two signature tunes burned into my memory were "You're Still a Young Man" and "Feel So Good".
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"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Paladin53 · Regular Member Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 34

RandyTX suggested that many would just recommend what they play, so,
Lawler Flugelhorn. I am not a pro, but I've been complemented on the sound of my Lawler.
And like shofarguy my horn plays very well in tune. It does not have a third valve slide adjustment of any kind. It is close enough to easily lip in tune.

I bought my Lawler trumpet new but later purchased the flugel off TH marketplace. It turns out the two serial numbers are three numbers apart. Almost a matched pair.

oljackboy · Veteran Member Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 290

I have a Taylor Standard Copper flugelhorn that I rely on heavily. It's easy to generate that soft, fluffy sound that I have in my head. But here's something to carefully consider:
It took me a good month of playing daily to come to grips with it. If I had evaluated this horn based solely on my first playing impression of it, I very likely would not have bought it. The blow is so different than most other flugelhorns that there is a definite acclimation period that you must go through.
This could be because of the massively thick copper bell. It could be the .413 bore. I don't know. Maybe it's feedback. Point is, some flugelhorns may take more adaptation than others. .460 Getzens are initially easy for trumpet players to adapt to. Adams F1s take a little more learning curve. My Taylor was a learning process-but I wouldn't trade it for any other flugelhorn now. Just another thing to consider.

jazzpik · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 8:34 am Post subject:

sfbaytrumpet · New Member Joined: 24 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

I love my Yamaha 635!

Mark Bradley · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:02 am Post subject:

Don't know about it being "the best" but there's nothing I'd rather be playing than my Yamaha 8315G.
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Bach 180S-25/ Reeves 43C
Blessing 1580
Bach 181SML cornet/ Laskey 60SB
Yamaha 8315G flugel/ Reeves 42F

Louise Finch · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 11:34 am Post subject:

Hi

I've just read through all five pages of this thread

Like a poster said pretty early on, I've owned quite a few trumpets and even more cornets, but only one flugel.

Rightly or wrongly, I never practise flugel and only play it fortnightly in my husband's Jazz band, mainly for ballads.

I have a Bach 183. I'm nothing special as a player overall, and am primarily a brass band cornet player, but I've received a fair number of positive comments about my approach to flugel and flugel sound. Me and this flugel just seem to gel, and it gives me the sound which I am looking for, with the only flugel mouthpiece I have ever owned, and which I have owned even longer than my flugel, a Bach 3CFL which I bought off Ebay very cheaply years ago.

I'm therefore very happy with my Bach 183 and have no plans to change it.

All the best

Lou
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Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

chuck in ny · Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:36 pm Post subject: