To ZEUS or not to ZEUS

leadlad · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:37 pm Post subject:

I have been looking at the Zeus antique brushed copper flugelhorn on the web, but of course we do not have anyplace to try them nearby, has anyone played on of these? What are your impressions? Who is the American maker tha? is making them?
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Downunder · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:30 pm Post subject:

I have no idea how far it is, however Zachary Music is in Windsor Ontario and Alex has flugels in stock (not sure which finishes though).

I have the polished copper bell ZeuS flugel and it is a beautiful instrument. I had an almost new Kanstul ZKF1525 which I sold when I got the ZeuS. One reason for selling it was that I'm a ZeuS dealer and therefore felt I should play one, however if I wasn't entirely happy with the ZeuS I may have kept the Kanstul. The Kanstul had a slightly more "mellow" sound, however the ZeuS is definitely easier to play. Also, as I do most of my playing on cornet I had to consider the ease of jumping to the flugel and the ZeuS was a much easier transition.

I have a friend who is a fine flugel player and he plays a Bobby Shew Yamaha flugel. I gave him mine to play for a week or so and he was very impressed with it. He actually preferred the sound of the ZeuS and would probably have bought one had he not recently bought the Yamaha!

It could ultimately come down to the type of playing you do as to what type of sound you are after.
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MUSICandCHARACTER · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:22 pm Post subject:

It may be hard to find one close to you to try. Many of the ZeuS dealers and Zachary music have a 3 or 5 day return policy. You have to pay the shipping, which can be a bit of an expense.

No doubt about it, the ZeuS is a fine horn -- and less expensive than some. The dealers are very partial to them because the play them and had to be sold on them before they became dealers. But so are lots of other players.

But as Downunder said, it comes down to the type of playing you do and what you want.

M&C
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