Flugelhorn Recommendations

[miles71]

I went on the flugel search a year or so ago. Tried everything I could get my hands on. My opinion, the NYTC is making some of the best flugels on the market. I have the California Flugel, does everything I want. GREAT tone and feel, response is fast, and plays even. I have had the Broadway model flugel for about two weeks to try out. It is an amazing flugel. Notes just come out!! I plan on adding to the reveiw asap.

If you dont include these horns in your search, you are silly.

TD

[ohiotpt]

[djpearlman]

Since you are not far from the DC area, you should see if Washington Music has a Scodwell flugel to try. They are great.
_________________
Dan Pearlman
Santa Fe, NM

- Monette Cornette
- Andalusia Cornet
- Carolbrass Pocket Trumpet
- Monette mouthpieces

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NafoVeXrsRm-fOhKaIpnA

[ChopsGone]

I've heard nothing but good about the latest Calicchio flugelhorns, especially the copper bell model. If I felt that I had any excuse at all for attempting to improve on my Kanstul ZKF-1525, that's where I'd be looking.
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Vintage Olds & Reynolds & Selmers galore
Aubertins, Bessons, Calicchios, Courtois, Wild Things, Marcinkiewicz, Ogilbee Thumpet, DeNicola Puje, Kanstuls....

[Dan O'Donnell]

Speaking about Copper bells on Flugelhorns...

To my amazement, they really change not only the sound but also the blow!

I found that my Kanstul 925 has a better / quicker / easier response than my Besson Brevete with a Brass bell even though they are basically the same horn design.

In terms of the sound, I find a Copper bell helps to provide a denser core to the sound yet...not muffled or too wide and dispersed like a Trombone sound.

It's kind of hard to explain but all I know is minimally, no matter what brand of Flugelhorn you try...you should try one with a Copper Bell...you too might be very happily surprised!
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God Bless,
Dan O'Donnell

"Praise Him with the sound of the Trumpet:..."
Psalms 150:3

[trpt.pete.]

Has anyone tried Courtois Flugels?
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schilke B1-Bb
1988 monette chicago, Yamaha chicago-c
Bach 184SML-Bb cornet
Schilke P5-4
3C 24/24 ,14b4 ,13A4, 1/2c

[EdMann]

I've tried many Courtois flugels, and they are inconsistent, but if you find a good one, you'll be the happiest flugelist on flearth.

My fav, the old Bessons, either made at their factory pre-fire, or the ones made at the Coesenon factory afterward, which I have. I love it to death, slightly out of the tune in the usual places, velvet sound and responds to just whispers of air. I sold even sold my Benge 5 as I favor it so much. Two reviews:

"Classic sound, better than my Courtois"-- Don Davis, composer.

"Sounds stuffy."-- Jeff Kaye, trumpet player with earplugs.

ed

[TrumpetMD]

Ditto on the suggestion to stop by Chuck Levins in Silver Spring, Marland. They will have a large number of flugelhorns for you to try.

I play a 4-valve Getzen Eterna, which I purchased around 1980. It serves me very well today, as a weekend warrior (or a weekend warrior wannabe). I guess it can sound "tromboney", as others suggested. But I sometimes try to emulate a trombone when I play it. For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz8dytT2sHM. I use a Bach 3CFL mouthpiece, but switch to a 3DFL when I want a lighter sound.

If I was purchasing a new flugel today, I'd definitely consider another 4-valve Eterna. But I'd also look at the new Getzen Customs, Kanstul, Bach, Yamaha, NYTC, and any others I could get my hands on to try.

[nordlandstrompet]

If you are looking for a all round flugel which can be used
both as a solo and section horn, the Conn Vintage 1
would be a good alternative to try out.
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Nordlands
http://www.brassnor.no
CarolBrass Scandinavia
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Taylor
Chicago Custom X-VR
Chicago Gen III

CarolBrass
CTR-5200V-(D)-L
CCT-9392-GLS(D)
CCR-9990-RSM-SLB
CPT-3000-GLS
CPT-1000 mini

[bebop]

I would try out the Conn Vintage One. I tried the Kanstul and a few others and this one was my choice.

Jim

[jgambill]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I appreciate it very much. I do have one more question, has anyone out there played a Lawler Flugelhorn and what did you like or not like about it? How would you compare it to the Kanstul or Yamaha or any of the other flugels discussed in this thread?

Thanks,
jgambill

[HarryRichardson]

I've played most flugels out there, but I really believe the Getzen 4 valve flugel is one of the best values in a really good profession flugel. Just make sure you use a really deep mouthpiece.
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[Mark Bradley]

cross post of interest:

http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=97361

[delano]

Another cross post:

http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1043521#1043521

[trumpetmike]

I've played just about all flugels available and owned a few (including the Getzen 4 valve), I now own an Eclipse (copper bell) and have played nothing else that comes close.

Of the ones originally mentioned, I will agree with those who have said that the 4 valve Getzen can sound a bit tromboney. Not a problem I have encountered with the 3 valve version.
I have also enjoyed some of the Yamaha models I have played (including the 631), but have found that they didn't all have what I wanted in terms of sound - I generally sounded like a trumpeter blowing a flugel, as opposed to a true flugel player.

The Kanstul flugels are lovely, but I just didn't get on with the ones I have tried. I know a lot of people who love them, but they weren't for me.

I had always struggled with flugels - I played many that were lovely instruments to play but didn't sound quite what I was after, that is what took me to Eclipse, I played one and fell in love with the tone, the fact that it plays like a dream is an added bonus

[crzytptman]

You know, my trombone chops are a slight second to my trumpet/flugel chops, but I've never confused the sound coming out of my Getzen 4 valve with my trombone! When I go to NAMM, I play all the flugels. I've never thought "wait a minute, am I playing a trombone?" I frequently play trumpet, flugel and trombone on the same gig. The musicians I work with love the sound of my Getzen flugel, and they're never confused as to which horn I'm playing. I was perfectly happy with my Getzen until I spent some time with Flip testing the new Extreme mouthpiece. The Wild Thing flugel blows away any horn I've ever played. On a horn that good, your sound concept and mouthpiece will dictate the sound coming out of the bell.
_________________
Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld)

[GenoValet]

[Denny Schreffler]

[shofarguy]

Speaking of Curry flugelhorn mouthpieces, I have this graphic from Mark showing his three different cup sizes and throats, along with Flip Oakes Standard and Extreme series. Mark's are the smaller three.



Brian
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Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[Crazy Finn]

Holy cats!
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LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn