carol brass? good or bad?

Trumpcyms1993 · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Feb 2012 Posts: 177

I've never played any of there horns but all of the videos and reviews Ive seen of them sound good and everyone who plays them seem to like them. Im considering their flugelhorn in the near. Does anyone have experience with the CFL-6200-GSS-SLB carol brass flugel? or any of the other carol brass instruments?

TrumpetMD · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: carol brass? good or bad?

Capt.Kirk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 5792

They are fantastic!!!! If money was no object and I wanted mass produced trumpet I would still buy a Carol over other mass produced brands like Kanstul, Bach,Conn and so on.
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loweredsixth · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:32 am Post subject:

I use that flugel. It's the best flugel I've ever played!
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ALaschiver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 639

Why not consider a used pro horn, made in American such as a L.A. Benge...found on ebay from 700.00 to 1000.00. Fabulous horn and fabulous value..........and it was made in American.

Retlaw · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:29 am Post subject:

It is well known that Eclipse flugels are some of the finest.... made right here in the UK.... personally the best flugel I have played is made in Holland by Hub Van Laar. Europe seems to have a real handle on the sound... Now US trumpets...Olds...Schilke ...Bach..I like those.....

Walter
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gregplo · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:36 am Post subject:

Just check my signature...I'm pretty much playing all CarolBrass instruments now. They are all well made, with great stainless steel valves, and at a very good price for a new pro horn. (Anybody who says they aren't building pro horns may want to take that up with the artists playing CarolBrass horns).

At the very least, you need to check out the Flugelhorn and see how it plays for you. I love mine.
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Greg
Edwards Gen II
P. Mauriat PMT-75 (Ti/Copper)
Conn 61B
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CarolBrass CFL-620R
Getzen CB 610

Remember...when He returns, the trumpet shall sound....

crzytptman · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:15 am Post subject:

jazz_trpt · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:39 am Post subject:

You might also look at George Rawlin's new offering, the Solista Flugelhorn, which he's currently selling at an obscenely low price:

http://grawlin.com/index2.html

I know some folks who are playing this who say it's a very good pro-quality instrument.
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TrumpetAce · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:33 pm Post subject:

By purchasing a CarolBrass instrument, you will be suppoting American-Owned small businesses.
http://austincustombrass.com/instruments http://www.xstreammouthpieces.com/carolbrass-trumpet/ http://californiamusicsupply.com/CarolBrass_Models.html
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crzytptman · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:26 pm Post subject:

loweredsixth · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

TrumpetAce · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject:

[quote="crzytptman"]

crzytptman · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:28 pm Post subject:

Legendary craftsmen in Germany. Stomvi and Fides in Spain. Not sure where Tawain is . . .

loweredsixth · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:45 pm Post subject:

While I'm in favor of "buy American", if (IF) there is a manufacturer in another country that builds a very good horn at a lesser price.....well, it's a free market.
Competition is a fact of business, a comparable or even better product at a lesser consumer cost is probably going to get (at least eventually) a large share of the market, regardless of where it was built.

Brad361
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lmf · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject:

jazz_trpt · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject:

PS: If you play a Yamaha, you're a communist. Or something.
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Free jazz solo transcriptions!

Trumpcyms1993 · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Feb 2012 Posts: 177

Buying a horn simply because it is american is not what thread I posted was about. I wanted to know how people felt about the quality of carol brass instruments not about the buying american products vs foreign products debate. If american companies want people to buy their horns theyll either raise there quality or lower their prices. The fact that a horn is american doesnt make it better and the fact that a horn is from japan or taiwan doesnt mean it is bad. No one at an audition or a gig is going to earn the job or care where the horn that someone is using was built.

Now back to "how do you feel about the quality of carol brass instruments(if you have any experience with them)"

OldEmo · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:33 pm Post subject:

I bought their old logo model CFL-620, which is the all yellow brass standard model with Amado style waterkeys. I understand that they did not change the design with the new logo, only added more material options.

Now I have to admit I never played a flugel before that, just listened to them, but I have a pretty good idea what sound I want and this one comes real close to that, using the mouthpiece that comes with it. Feels not as comfortable to me as my Wedge, which is why I ordered the latter for my new Flugel as well, but some might like it. With more practice, it will sound exactly like it want it to.

Intonation is very good, response and slotting is great, not too tight and not too loose. The 3rd valve trigger works well but I find the spring a little tight. I don't need to use it much, though. The valves were real nice when I got the instrument, and after some weeks of playing and repeated cleaning they are now better than anything I've ever seen.

The lacquer seems very thin but well applied everywhere. I did not find any imperfections with assembly, either. Overall better than my B&S. Only the heavy valve caps had some very small spots, which is why I got a discount at the shop.

There are two leadpipes, one for trumpet shanks and one for standard/Yamaha style shanks. Good to have that.

In my opinion this is all the flugel I'll ever need.

Another thing - I'm German, I live in Thailand, I got a Taiwanese flugel and a Canadian mouthpiece. I sold my German B&S trumpet and ordered a Carolbrass instead. From a Thai dealer. Should I feel guilty now...?

Carolbrass are a mid sized family business with an apparent sense for quality. They don't just copy others but they actually did their own development, of course based on what's already there. Nobody needs to invent the wheel again. They aren't that well known yet, and their cost is lower as others it seems. Was this company located in Europe or in the US, nobody would say anything. But they are in Asia, even Taiwan...ewww that's just the same as old evil CHINA isn't it, where we outsourced all our labor intensive production to! Now they want to develop products on their own and dig into our pockets, that's outrageous!

It is my opinion that anyone who develops and makes a good product at a good price deserves good business. Anywhere. Protecting local markets may prolong the existence of older businesses to some extent, but at the end of the day it increases prices, reduces quality and stifles local development. Without serious competition, there is no need to improve products or efficiency.

German tradition in instrument making goes back a very, very long way. If someone in Taiwan can hold up against that, perhaps even surpass, then it is well deserved for both sides.