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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 7:56 am Post subject: Benge 2 bell: For everything? |
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I've done some reading and research on past threads here on this forum, and elsewhere.
And I think I understand the Benge 2X is a bright trumpet compared to other models. The only difference between a 2X and 3X is bell shape, right?
My question is for those that play a 2X, can you use that trumpet for everything? Concert band, Church and solo stuff?
Or is it "too" bright and only good for dance band and pop music?
Thanks for any info, and I'm sorry if this has been covered in previous threads, I have not read. |
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Uberopa Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 935 Location: Canada
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
It is good to ask questions so that one is better informed. I own an LA Benge 3x+ and have played the 2x models. The 2x are brighter or zingier or shrill depending on your viewpoint. I find that it is difficult enough in community band settings to blend my 3x+ with the much more common Bach Strads and Yamaha Xenos out there. A 2x model would be a bit too much these days in my experience. .
Big band yes but for anything else not so much.
Brian |
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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for the reply. I'm on a hunt for a time capsule Benge to replace the trumpet my parents bought me back in the 70s.
There are a lot around, but I never new about all the models. Mine had no markings as memory serves, so I guess it was a 3X.
Trying to learn about everything else I can before I bight and buy another trumpet.
Appreciate all the help, thank you again. |
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Yamahaguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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I have a 2x+ which I like very much, but definitely a very brilliant sound!
Even with a deeper cup mouthpiece, it would be difficult to blend. |
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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Yamahaguy wrote: | I have a 2x+ which I like very much, but definitely a very brilliant sound!
Even with a deeper cup mouthpiece, it would be difficult to blend. |
Thank you for the reply. For you guys that have a 3X and a 2X and chance you could take, and post a couple pics of the bells of those horns?
I'd love to see how much difference there really is in the tapers.
Thanks in advance! |
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Yamahaguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Pic 1- 2x+ on left, 3x+ on right...bells are same size
Pic 2- 3x+ on left, 2x+ right...notice the difference in the flare taper
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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Very informative. I guess the difference is pretty obvious.
Which do you prefer? |
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Yamahaguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Depends on the gig...but the 3x+ is much more versatile |
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HERMOKIWI Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2594
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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The 2X bell is a very specialized bell. It was described in the original Benge brochure as "Very brilliant and well centered sound. Ideal for TV and recording as "edge" reaches out to microphones."
"Edge" is an understatement. The 2X bell produces an extremely bright sound. You don't play a 2X to blend. You play it to stand out. The 2X is one of the best lead horns ever made. It is much brighter than the 3X. _________________ HERMOKIWI |
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Joel Payne Regular Member
Joined: 27 Sep 2009 Posts: 36 Location: Cincinnati Ohio
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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In HS, grew up playing a 1953 2X+ that I picked up from Bill Trumbauer using a Mt Vernon Bach 3C, and that combination had a full resonant sound. Also had a nice easy upper register. Unfortunately, that horn was stolen in college.
A few years later, I tried to replace it with a 1979 2X, also picked up a C with the 2 bell. Good horns, but just not quite the same magic as the 1953. At the time, I was playing principal with the Emory-Atlanta Orchestra, ...found that I could get a good orchestral sound on these two horns using a Schilke 20.
I still have both horns, though I don't play them much anymore. Just can't turn loose of them.
Joel _________________ Joel Payne |
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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:40 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for all of the information guys.
Joel, getting your horn stolen sounds like such a nightmare.
The more I read, the more I learn that Benge were all very special trumpets. Very sad to see what happened to the brand after the company was sold.
I'm glad there are still so many great trumpets floating around. |
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tomcherv Regular Member
Joined: 10 May 2016 Posts: 33 Location: Saint Paul, MN
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 4:44 am Post subject: |
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I love my Benges - the versatility is great.
And there is another player with a Benge (large bore) in the community band I recently joined. _________________ Tom
St. Paul, MN
Benge Bb
Benge Piccolo
Buescher Flugelhorn |
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trumpet.sanity Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2016 Posts: 763
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Seems there is a real subculture of Benge players. I'm glad they are still being played with such love!
Since starting my search I've learned a lot about the history and different models. I intrigued and equally confused. Can't wait to get my hands on one again |
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Oldboy Regular Member
Joined: 19 Apr 2020 Posts: 15 Location: Maldon Victoria Australia
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Bought a Tempered 2 model the other day from a music store for $1200 Australian. Only ware is on a bottom valve cap and and couple of finger buttons Rest is excellent. Great valve action too.
Can this horn blow! Just need a big of control as it can take off. For me it's perfect answer for bigband stuff. I play with deep mouthpieces so easier
for me to control but still can can get it to open up at the top end therefore I find that it is reasonably versatile. I use my Martins and Shires Q for quite work which are extremely dark with this mouthpiece. Not as mellow as my flugel of course but getting there. So this is really going to be the answer.for me! |
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Goby Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Posts: 655
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Is the 2 bell the same taper that Benge used on his C trumpets? |
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khedger Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 754 Location: Cambridge, MA
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Uberopa wrote: | Hi,
It is good to ask questions so that one is better informed. I own an LA Benge 3x+ and have played the 2x models. The 2x are brighter or zingier or shrill depending on your viewpoint. I find that it is difficult enough in community band settings to blend my 3x+ with the much more common Bach Strads and Yamaha Xenos out there. A 2x model would be a bit too much these days in my experience. .
Big band yes but for anything else not so much.
Brian | '
Do you happen to know the bore size on the 2x? Is there a 2x and 2x+ at .460 and .464 respectively, like the 3s?
keith |
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khedger Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 754 Location: Cambridge, MA
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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trumpet.sanity wrote: | Seems there is a real subculture of Benge players. I'm glad they are still being played with such love!
Since starting my search I've learned a lot about the history and different models. I intrigued and equally confused. Can't wait to get my hands on one again |
I got one a few months ago (I've been playing them forever) from Horntrader and it is IMMACULATE! Took me about 3 years to find one that I wanted. He seems to get them fairly regularly if anybody's interested.
keith |
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HERMOKIWI Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2594
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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khedger wrote: | Uberopa wrote: | Hi,
It is good to ask questions so that one is better informed. I own an LA Benge 3x+ and have played the 2x models. The 2x are brighter or zingier or shrill depending on your viewpoint. I find that it is difficult enough in community band settings to blend my 3x+ with the much more common Bach Strads and Yamaha Xenos out there. A 2x model would be a bit too much these days in my experience. .
Big band yes but for anything else not so much.
Brian | '
Do you happen to know the bore size on the 2x? Is there a 2x and 2x+ at .460 and .464 respectively, like the 3s?
keith |
The 2X, 3X and 5X are .460. The 2X+ and 3X+ are .464. The 6X is .468.
The Chicago ML is .460 and became the 3X when it was given a model number in Burbank. The Chicago Large Bore is .468 and became the 6X when it was given a model number in Burbank.
The CG was first made in the Anaheim factory (the bell stamp is "Los Angeles"). The CG is .468 but the bell tail is choked to .464 where it enters the first valve casing. _________________ HERMOKIWI |
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blbaumgarn Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 Jul 2017 Posts: 705
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:44 pm Post subject: Benge 2 bell: for everything |
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This is a very interesting topic. I looked into a 2x in the marketplace 2 or 3 years ago and decided after messaging a couple people that I couldn't really do the horn justice anymore. The laser like quality would be fun to experience. I played a Benge 5 for 26 years and still think, that in shape, I could use a horn like that. I love these types of topics because it means that many still value the Benge name and want to have the horns for what they do well. In municipal bands I never felt out of place with the Bachs and other horns but listening and blending in is up to the musician, too. _________________ "There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush |
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Yamahaguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Wow! A refreshing blast from the past...and nice to see my pictures still here from
almost 5 years ago
Interesting how things change over time, both with equipment and preferences.
I still have the 2x+ but the 3x+ has found another home...however, I still affirm
that (at least for me) it's less versatile than other models, especially a 5x I
recently acquired. But for pure commercial work, it's definitely hard to beat! |
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