SAI Flugel???

[tptLad]

Hello,
Wondering if an SAI Musical flugel is worth my time and money. I saw on the horns forum someone had the SAI picc and said it wasn't terrible. Does anyone have the flugel and can prove that it isn't an actual piece of crap?
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"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin

[Quadstriker]

After viewing these videos, I wouldn't recommend being withing throwing distance of an instrument involving the letters SAI. (But I *would* recommend the videos themselves. Funny stuff from Trent Hamilton!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbUz8hq62DY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Qr-gbzGLg

[Crazy Finn]

They're made in India. A fair step down from a plastic flugel.

A college buddy bought the SAI piccolo on a lark. It's cheap chrome plating, not even silver or nickel. It would be stretch to say you could even play a scale on it, let alone figure out what key it actually was in.
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Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

[Halflip]

In another thread, someone said they bought a $150 (Indian) flugelhorn on Amazon. When I checked the listing and clicked on the link to the vendor store, I discovered that the vendor mainly sells brass cremation urns!

I can't prove that the SAI flugel isn't an actual piece of crap, but I'll bet it makes a dandy ash receptacle.
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"He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)

"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run"

[Robert P]

I've consistently heard that instruments made in India are garbage, not comparable to budget horns made in China.
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Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C

Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo

Chinese Flugel

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

I am considering buying a C trumpet and do not want to spend much money.
Was looking at a SAI C trumpet made in India.
Has the quality improved at all ?
Did have good luck in the past with rebranded Chinese cornets.
Any recommendations for alternative companies for a C trumpet?
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Leblanc Vito alto sax ( possibly a Jupiter 669 stencil)
Cornet less at this time.

[Brassnose]

I had (more or less by accident) bought a Tristar/India valve trombone a few years back (used, thank goodness). The thing came in a stinky case that seemed made from stiff, black lacquered cardboard and never worked. Yes I could make sounds but the valves were constantly stuck plus loads of other issues. Sold it to someone with a hobby workshop …

A colleague in the orchestra had an Indian sousaphone and said he had to SAND down the valves for them to move.

First suggestion would be the marketplace or trusted sources like ACB for good used C trumpets.

However, are you looking for new like with the cornets? Some places sell open box horns which I understand are essentially new at a discount - that sounds interesting to me.
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2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1997 Blessing XL cornet
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1977 Conn 6B
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AR/Klier/Yamaha

[Crazy Finn]

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Thanks for the information about the SAI C trumpet. Now on to dreaming about a b/c cornet.
_________________
Leblanc Vito alto sax ( possibly a Jupiter 669 stencil)
Cornet less at this time.

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Thanks for the information about the SAI C trumpet. Now on to dreaming about a b/c cornet.
_________________
Leblanc Vito alto sax ( possibly a Jupiter 669 stencil)
Cornet less at this time.