Benge 3 Flugelhorn

DJtpt31 · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:48 pm Post subject: Benge 3 Flugelhorn

Edit:
What has been your experience with the Benge 3 bell Flugelhorn when King owned the company between 1972-1983?

Uberopa · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:39 pm Post subject:

I bought one through Giardinelli's in 1980. I had to send it back to have the valves reworked and the threads on the upper valve casing second valve were distorted. It was made right and returned to me. It played well. The Silverplate was very thin and wore through on the bell where my right hand contacted it. I eventually had the entire horn replated.
In truth I enjoyed playing my friend's Yamaha 631 better. I bought a WT3X mouthpiece from Flip Oakes. I asked him his opinion on the Benge Fl3 and he didn't seem too keen on it.
I eventually found a Couesnon that gave me the sound I wanted.This was just my experience over thirty years of ownership.

DJtpt31 · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:42 pm Post subject:

Uberopa · Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:05 pm Post subject:

I think that I liked the blow better as well as the sound. The 631 had a better core sound.

JHirakawa · Veteran Member Joined: 11 Mar 2022 Posts: 155

I have a Benge 3 UMI Flugelhorn. I got it as an even-up trade at a local instrument exchange shop for a the King trumpet that I purchased used for my daughter for 6th grade band, and a very nice silver Besson 10-10 trombone that I got from Goodwill really cheap. It was in almost mint condition when I got it. All the parts look Benge, and it plays just fine for me. I haven't had any problems with it. Don't diss on me too much. I own a real Benge trumpet too.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Benge_3_Flugelhorn.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/1947_Chicago_Benge_Trumpet.jpg
_________________
Kanstul FB Classic b-flat&C
'42 Buescher 205
'45 Martin Committee
'48 Chi Benge
'47 Conn 22b
'69 Olds Custom Crafted
'47 Holton 48
'64 Bach Strad Cornet
'62 Olds Spl Cornet
'64 Conn 80a
'54 Conn 34a
Benge flugel
Olds, DEG Bugles

Danbassin · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:42 pm Post subject:

I played a circa 1979 Flugel with a 3 bell. It was very reliable - some intonation quirks on fourth line D and below low C, but nothing out of the ordinary and easily addressed with mouthpiece options. The sound isn’t as lovely as the 5, but section blend and intonation management is far superior.

If you study the serial number lists on Joe Lill’s comprehensive Benge page, you’ll see that throughout the late 70s through the mid 80s, flugelhorn production ramped up, with batches of flugelhorn (dedicated subsets of serial numbers) increasing such that components of flugels made during the Zig Kanstul LA era were used for a while into the Eastlake end days.

I’ve been looking for that dream 5 bell with perfect pitch and few battle scars from the decades, though my current Flugel demands are limited.

Has anyone checking out this thread played one of the rare Flg1 Benges???

Happy practicing til it FEELS SO GOOD,
-DB
_________________
Daniel Bassin
Conductor/Composer/Trumpeter/Improviser/Educator
I play:
Monette - CORNETTE/PranaXLT-STC Bb/MC-35/Raja A Piccolo;
Kromat C-Piccolo; Thein G-Piccolo; Various antique horns
MPCs - Monette Unity 1-7D and DM4LD