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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8914 Location: Orange County, CA
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Classical Saxophonist Regular Member
Joined: 10 Oct 2013 Posts: 77 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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The mellophone can actually make a great substitute for a French horn if it is played with the right kind of mouthpiece. Mouthpiece's maked as "mellopone mouthpieces" can range from being basically trumpet mouthpieces, to being basically alto (tenor) horn mouthpieces, to being something in-between.
A trumpet mouthpiece gives an edgy, trumpet-like sound, while an alto (tenor) horn mouthpiece gives a round and mellow sound, which is what a mellophone is supposed to sound like.
If you want to try the mellophone, get a Denis Wick 3 or 5 tenor (alto) horn mouthpiece or a Blessing 5 mellophone mouthpiece. The Blessing 5 is the same as the Denis Wick 5 tenor horn mouthpiece.
Here are some videos that demonstrate what a mellophone can do:
Solo mellophone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVeCL2VoojE
Mellophone quartet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfbIuAJTOU |
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GordonH Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2893 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:52 am Post subject: |
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Obvious point:
French Horn is left hand for the valves nd it is an octave apart on the valve fingering PLUS all the notes are very close together. So unless you intend learning how to play the french horn then a mellophone or tenor horn (alto horn) are likely to give you better results.
[Someone needs to find the clip of Laurel and Hardy playing Mellophone and put it in here!] _________________ Bb - Scherzer 8218W, Schilke S22, Bach 43, Selmer 19A Balanced
Pic - Weril
Flugel - Courtois 154
Cornet - Geneva Heritage, Conn 28A
Mouthpieces - Monette 1-5 rims and similar.
Licensed Radio Amateur - GM4SVM |
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Tenor Horn Fellow Regular Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 41 Location: United States
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:54 am Post subject: |
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Classical Saxophonist wrote: |
The Blessing 5 is the same as the Denis Wick 5 tenor horn mouthpiece.
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Do the Wick 5 and the Blessing 5 have the same shank size,
approximately a trumpet shank?
Up to this point all of my mellophone mouthpieces are vintage ones with cornet shank,
but I will be obtaining a newer mellophone that allegedly requires a "standard" shank.
Or maybe I could use a cornet-to-trumpet adapter make my vintage mellophone mouthpieces work in the newer mellophone?
Mark _________________
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1934 H.N. White Circular Alto Horn - Silver - mint
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1961 Conn 9A Cornet - Coprion - mint
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m'pieces:
White Horn #8
Wick Cornet #2
.
photos and audio:
https://tenorhornfellow.imgur.com/
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dershem Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1887 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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I have 2 horns - an Olds single, and a King double. I also have a Mellophone, and when my big band does the occasional McConnell or Kenton chart, I bring the Mello, just because it doesn't get drowned out. You don't lose the voice.
Then again, my band is a rehearsal band. If we did a gig, I'd bring the horn and ask to be mic'd ... in the very unusual circumstance of actually playing a chart that needed it. _________________ BKA! Mic Gillette was my mentor and friend.
Marcinkiewicz Mic G. trumpet, Custom Marcinkiewicz mpc. (Among others)
Marcinkiewicz Rembrandt flugel, Benge 8Z cornet, King 2B, Bach 36, Benge 190, Getzen 3062... many more. All Marc. mouthpieces. |
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Tony Scodwell Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1961
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 6:43 am Post subject: Slide trumpets |
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Anyone who has heard Chuck Findley solo on his Calicchio slide trumpet might agree that a slide trumpet can be more than a "joke" instrument.
Tony Scodwell
www.scodwellusa.com |
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bike&ed Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:55 am Post subject: |
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I guess that’s why I like playing euphonium, it jumps the “beautiful tone” gap over all those other instruments... |
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deleted_user_48e5f31 New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 7:53 am Post subject: I don’t think we’re talking about the same instrument |
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Deleted by dfcoleman
Last edited by deleted_user_48e5f31 on Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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As a repairman who has serviced many school instruments, many of the "marching mellophones" I've worked on arrived with a french horn mouthpiece adaptor firmly stuck in the leadpipe. The high school directors usually have their Frinch horn players play the mellophone with a French horn mouthpiece. |
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RandyTX Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 5299 Location: Central Texas
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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There are a fair number of quintet arrangements available (mostly outside the US) for what is essentially a BQ made out of Brass Band players. 2 cornets, Eb tenor horn, trombone/euph/bari, Tuba (bass for the BB purists).
I'd steer clear of a mellophone, which sounds closer to a dying calf in a hailstorm than anything else I can think of. _________________ "Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away." |
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Tenor Horn Fellow Regular Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 41 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Per RandyTX |
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dfcoleman wrote: | Per RandyTX : “I'd steer clear of a mellophone, which sounds closer to a dying calf in a hailstorm than anything else I can think of.”
I’ve never actually heard a calf dying in a hailstorm, but this statement echoes my sentiments re the mellophone |
"Mellophone" can refer to several different instruments.
From the modern version used in marching bands,
to the Conn instruments used in Stan Kenton's band in the 1960's,
to the French-Horn-style made by H.N. White in the 1930's.
http://www.hnwhite.com/King/Cleveland%20american%20standard/1935%20french%20horn%20Cleveland.jpg
(Click the image to enlarge it to readable size. )
When you lump all "mellophones" together,
that is like lumping poodles with pit bulls.
Plus, you are blaming the instrument without taking into consideration the amateur-or-professional level of the player.
Here is famous Don Elliot playing jazz mellophone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsgZk-eRsnY
Please refrain from being insulting just for the purpose of being insulting.
Please try being constructive.
Mark _________________
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1934 H.N. White Circular Alto Horn - Silver - mint
.
1961 Conn 9A Cornet - Coprion - mint
.
.
m'pieces:
White Horn #8
Wick Cornet #2
.
photos and audio:
https://tenorhornfellow.imgur.com/
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Moderators TH Moderator Group
Joined: 31 Mar 2005 Posts: 3906
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 6:43 am Post subject: |
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Several trolling/insulting posts removed and related posts (so some additional fallout).
Remember:
* Personal attacks and insults are not allowed.
* If you have a problem with a post, PM Moderators, DO NOT respond in the thread as it just makes more clean-up work for us.
* Response to PMs may not be immediate so please be patient.
Thank you,
TH Moderators |
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1926 Location: WI
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:03 am Post subject: Re: Per RandyTX |
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All I can say is "Wow!". That is wonderful playing regardless of instrument, and the tone Mr. Elliot gets is beautiful, a bit like a trombone but sweeter and 'fluffier'.
Does anyone know what make of horn he is playing? I've never seen a mellophone wrap like that. It's circular, but the bell points forward from below (unlike the Kenton mellophoniums, where the bell points forward from above). Could it be custom-made, or modified? |
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Tenor Horn Fellow Regular Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 41 Location: United States
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Moderators wrote: | Several trolling/insulting posts removed and related posts (so some additional fallout).
Remember:
* Personal attacks and insults are not allowed.
* If you have a problem with a post, PM Moderators, DO NOT respond in the thread as it just makes more clean-up work for us.
* Response to PMs may not be immediate so please be patient.
Thank you,
TH Moderators |
Thank you.
I will attempt to be at peace with all members.
Mark _________________
.
1934 H.N. White Circular Alto Horn - Silver - mint
.
1961 Conn 9A Cornet - Coprion - mint
.
.
m'pieces:
White Horn #8
Wick Cornet #2
.
photos and audio:
https://tenorhornfellow.imgur.com/
. |
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deleted_user_48e5f31 New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Deleted by dfcoleman
Last edited by deleted_user_48e5f31 on Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1926 Location: WI
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:33 am Post subject: Re: Per RandyTX |
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Halflip wrote: | Does anyone know what make of horn he is playing? |
Never mind; I did a search on the web and found an image of his horn, which led me to a web page with information.
It's a custom Conn. |
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Tenor Horn Fellow Regular Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 41 Location: United States
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Per RandyTX |
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Halflip wrote: | Halflip wrote: | Does anyone know what make of horn he is playing? |
Never mind; I did a search on the web and found an image of his horn, which led me to a web page with information.
It's a custom Conn. |
Please tell us all you found about Don Elliot's custiom circular alto horn / mellophone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsgZk-eRsnY
Don Elliot and that horn produce great music.
Mark _________________
.
1934 H.N. White Circular Alto Horn - Silver - mint
.
1961 Conn 9A Cornet - Coprion - mint
.
.
m'pieces:
White Horn #8
Wick Cornet #2
.
photos and audio:
https://tenorhornfellow.imgur.com/
. |
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Halflip Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1926 Location: WI
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Tenor Horn Fellow Regular Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 41 Location: United States
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for the info !!!!
Mark _________________
.
1934 H.N. White Circular Alto Horn - Silver - mint
.
1961 Conn 9A Cornet - Coprion - mint
.
.
m'pieces:
White Horn #8
Wick Cornet #2
.
photos and audio:
https://tenorhornfellow.imgur.com/
. |
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chog410 New Member
Joined: 16 Jul 2018 Posts: 1 Location: Denver
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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Has anyone used the Alto Horn Bach 5 or 6 or Denis Wick 2 on a Mellophone? Would they fit an F.E. Olds Mello? How's the playability In the past I've been a somewhat serious jazz/pop trombone player and a mediocre trumpet player at best but I'm a professional bassist and tubist these days who plays bone occasionally. I was given a Mello a while back and have a pretty easy time getting around the horn in a jazz context but I feel like the tiny Bessing 6 mouthpiece makes the high range flat, low range sharp, and gets a fairly brassy tone. Would an Alto Horn mouthpiece mellow out the tone? I know it would be better in strengthening my embouchure for bone, often I practice medium high range on bone to strengthen the upper limit of my tuba range. I start to lose tuba range when I'm not playing trombone. |
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