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ChuckK Regular Member
Joined: 20 Aug 2020 Posts: 35 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:35 pm Post subject: Flugelhorn search |
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Short backstory: Undergrad degree in trumpet, Graduate performance in French horn. Now, retired, age 68 mostly been playing bass with community theater pits. I'm cooling it the COVID mess by getting back to brass after not touching a horn for 15 years. I have an Olds Ambassador cornet that is doing me just fine, but I'd like a flugelhorn too of about the same quality.
I have a Chinese or Indian flugel that sounds OK, but the intonation is all over the map. Mechanically it's a huge question mark also.
I'd like to find a piston valved flugelhorn that plays acceptably well, but doesn't cost over $500. If the slides work and it doesn't come with several hundred in repairs needed that just might be the horn for me. I really doubt I'll be playing this in public with any real expectations. However, after 35 years of teaching 7th grade band, I've heard my share of intonation problems.
Any suggestions? _________________ Never confuse beauty with things that put your mind at ease. - Charles E. Ives |
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scottfsmith Veteran Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2015 Posts: 472 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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The Yamaha student model might be your best shot.. they are regulars on eBay for under $500. YFH231, YFH 2310 etc. _________________ Thane Standard Large Bb / Monette Unity B6-7M mpc
Lots of vintage trumpets and mouthpieces |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8910 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Yamaha student flugels I've played have been just fine. And likely an easier transition for the hobbyist. Used you might score one for your price range.
Dillon's music had a house brand horn new for that price when I looked earlier today. They are reasonably well-reviewed. _________________ "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 |
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ChuckK Regular Member
Joined: 20 Aug 2020 Posts: 35 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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I think I saw an ad for a Thomann's flugelhorn. Any one know about that? Not just sold by the store, but a suppose a stencil of sorts. _________________ Never confuse beauty with things that put your mind at ease. - Charles E. Ives |
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jmtrumpet Regular Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 84 Location: Omaha, NE
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Let me add to the chorus on the Yamaha 231/2310. I used one professionally for years until I found a Couesnon I fell in love with. They’re a sleeper horn, IMO, and you should be able to find one used around your budget. _________________ Jesse McBee
http://www.jessemcbeejazz.com |
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HaveTrumpetWillTravel Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 1020 Location: East Asia
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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The Yamaha looks like a great option. There's a used Bundy with the funky Bach wrap for $550 in the markeplace, but I don't know how they are on intonation. You might find a used ACB/ Dillon /Jupiter / Blessing in that range. If you can up it to $700-$1000 you enter another pool of possible instruments. You might also be able to improve your Chinese/Indian flugelhorn with a Yamaha or Jupiter leadpipe. On flugelhorn mouthpiece also makes a big difference, so I spent $100 buying several used mouthpieces, and that helped a lot. |
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khedger Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 754 Location: Cambridge, MA
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DJtpt31 Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Dec 2015 Posts: 308 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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As others have mentioned the yamaha 231 could be found at the price point you're looking for. ACB doubler flugelhorn would be a little more expensive but I understand it is a reliable horn for the hobbyist? Same with Dillon. I've seen a Blessing 1547RT floating around for $600 on Reverb and Ebay. Maybe worth a shot? A lower end Jupiter is possible to find for your price range, I think, on a Craigslist, Reverb or Ebay. I'm in the hunt for a flugelhorn as well, but I have my eyes on either a Yamaha 6310 or 8315, Benge #3, or an Adams F1. _________________ "You need F-15's..." Joe Biden |
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wilder Veteran Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2020 Posts: 341 Location: NYC
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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A used YAMAHA standard (student) horn is the way to go. Good luck! jw |
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nltrumpet Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Nov 2019 Posts: 206 Location: Washington DC
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 6:27 am Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: |
Dillon's music had a house brand horn new for that price when I looked earlier today. They are reasonably well-reviewed. |
I’ll back up this statement. I picked one up almost a decade ago and it’s served me well. I was looking to upgrade for a while, but I don’t play flugel enough to really justify it. And the more I play it, the less I want to part with it. |
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harryjamesworstnightmare Veteran Member
Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 167
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Look for a Getzen Capri _________________ Brian James
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King Super 20 Symphony
Bach Strad 43 Sterling Silver Plus
Getzen Proteus
Yamaha 6335HS
Olds Super
Olds Mendez
Getzen Custom 3850 Cornet
Conn 80A
Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn |
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mikepodorski Regular Member
Joined: 25 Jul 2020 Posts: 34
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I'm picking the gloss lacquer one tomorrow. Trent and Josh at ACB are awesome.
I had a beautiful silver plated Couesnon that I loved. I bought it from a pawn shop for cheap 30 years ago. I sold it a while ago after I quit playing. What a mistake that was. |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8910 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:12 am Post subject: |
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FWIW I just stumbled across an old TV special that featured Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello with a small orchestra. They were playing music from their "Painted From Memory" recording which is one of my absolute favorites. The reason I mention it is that the trumpet player used flugel quite a bit and best I can tell it was a Yamaha student model. And he sounded just great. _________________ "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 |
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mikepodorski Regular Member
Joined: 25 Jul 2020 Posts: 34
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:27 am Post subject: |
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I've had the ACB Doubler for a few days now. It is a tremendous value. Overall build quality is solid. The valves are monel and are very smooth with good compression. The 3rd valve trigger works well and is surprisingly well built. The finish is not perfect but very nice. The intonation is off with the stock no name mouthpiece, so I highly recommend adding one of Trent's flugelhorn mouthpieces. I bought one of the custom ones (15cf) which totally fixes the intonation and plays much better. They offer a cheaper single option upgrade as well, and offer a discount with the horn purchase. Its been a long time since I played the Couesnon I had, but this is for sure a suitable replacement.
I'm pretty sure you can find a similar horn on Amazon for the same price, but the service from ACB including the valve optimization are a huge added value. |
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TrumpetMD Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2008 Posts: 2411 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:46 am Post subject: |
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Good replies already given. I'll add a couple more in the "under $500" range.
A used Getzen flugelhorn (Capri or Eterna), if you do a little looking, could go for under $500.
Also, the Allora flugelhorn from WWBW and MusiciansFriend. I've tried one, and it's a reasonable choice for the price. They list for $599, but regularly go on sale. They currently have an open-box one for $449. I'll PM you the name of a friend who recently purchased one and is happy with her choice.
Mike _________________ Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns. |
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outskiing Regular Member
Joined: 02 Oct 2017 Posts: 32 Location: Idaho
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 12:01 pm Post subject: Upgrade the Mouthpiece |
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I have a cheapie stencil flugel and with one of ACB's Fabfive mouthpieces it sounds great and is a lot of fun for playing at home and at church once in a while. Try upgrading your mouthpiece and you might be pleasantly surprised. _________________ Est quod est. |
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Robert P Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2579
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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TrumpetMD wrote: | Also, the Allora flugelhorn from WWBW and MusiciansFriend. I've tried one, and it's a reasonable choice for the price. They list for $599, but regularly go on sale. They currently have an open-box one for $449. |
Pretty sure the Allora is the same horn as the $300-ish stencilhorns on eBay with a fancier pricetag.
Here's a stencilhorn played with a Denis Wick 4FL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7wMDUHc81g _________________ Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C
Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Flugel |
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Ed Kennedy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: | FWIW I just stumbled across an old TV special that featured Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello with a small orchestra. They were playing music from their "Painted From Memory" recording which is one of my absolute favorites. The reason I mention it is that the trumpet player used flugel quite a bit and best I can tell it was a Yamaha student model. And he sounded just great. |
George Graham used one but he had Kanstul put on a different bell. |
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