Talk to me about soprano tubas

[arpthark]

Okay, yes, flugelhorns.

What's good? Looking for something to mess around on.

There are a few floating around eBay. I've been idly browsing French auctions to see if there's anything worthwhile popping up.

I know Couesnons are desired/desirable, but nothing really beyond that, and the ones I'm seeing for sale are either crazy expensive or have worn out pistons. How's the made-in-China stuff?

[claf]

I have a Jupiter JFH846 (predecessor of the JFH1100). My main instrument is trumpet and that flugelhorn perfectly fits my doubler's need (classical, big band, jazz). It works well (the valves require frequent wiping/lubrication) and it's very middle-of-the-road in terms of sound (not the darkest, not the brightest).

I'm dreaming of buying a higher-end flugelhorn at some point, but considering I'm just using it for 1-2 tunes in my big band, I prefer to invest in something else (and I have a lot of investment because I play trumpet, flugelhorn, tenor trombones, bass trombone and now tuba ).

[gocsick]

The trumpet board I sometimes Iurk on love the Austin Custom Brass Doublers Flugelhorn and the Dillon Rose brass model.

Which is strange because they argue that the difficulty of making a high quality trumpet is too great and that there are no Chinese trumpets are worthy of buying.. then praise Chinese flugelhorns.

[arpthark]

The trumpet board I sometimes Iurk on love the Austin Custom Brass Doublers Flugelhorn and the Dillon Rose brass model.

Which is strange because they argue that they argue that difficulty of making a high quality trumpet is too great and that there are no Chinese trumpets are worthy of buying.. then praise Chinese flugelhorns.

The bar is low for us conical instruments.

[bloke]

If one of them plays well, those that have been bent into the shape of a saxophone look like they are fun.

[MikeS]

I had an Olds flugel once that was a thoroughly decent instrument. I sold it to a trumpet playing friend who still has it and likes it. A couple more friends are happy with their Yamaha 631’s. The flugel player in my brass band recently sold his Yamaha and bought a Geneva. He is happier now, but poorer.

[bloke]

You're reminding me that - EVENTUALLY - I need to pull (yeah...a C_ _ _ _ _ _ _...and with rebuilt pistons to boot) off a shelf, get it slicked out, add a 1st slide trigger, and turn it into money.

[LeMark]

We have a Packer Smith Watkins we're very happy with, unfortunately my wife doesn't play it very often

[bloke]

We have a Packer Smith Watkins we're very happy with, unfortunately my wife doesn't play it very often

Their cheapest version frankly doesn't look that much different.

[iiipopes]

Yes, I have a Queenie (nickname for Couesnon), complete with two contemporary mouthpieces. With the proprietary mouthpieces, mine plays in tune in all registers (of course, keeping in mind the multi-valve notes that all require a little slide pulling or lipping). Every other mouthpiece I have tried goes flat in the upper register, whether shallow or deep cup, and irrespective of rim size, shape, or cup diameter. Only a Queenie has that piquant, smoky, inimitable tone that marks the standard by which all others are measured. Don't get caught up in the fad of some players wanting the darkest tone possible, because that sort of tone won't blend, along with the intonation issues.

[tclements]

I have one Larry Minick made for me. He took and Olds flugel, and made it point up.