1. Welcome Guest! In order to create a new topic or reply to an existing one, you must register first. It is easy and free. Click here to sign up now!.
    Dismiss Notice

Strange Trumpet.

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Plastic Nev, Dec 2, 2012.

  1. Plastic Nev

    Plastic Nev SUPER MODERATOR IN MEMORY

    Joined:
    May 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,801
    Location:
    In front of a monitor in Blackburn Lanc's UK.
    Operating System:
    Windows 7
    a few weeks ago, a friend and fellow musician, Bert, who knows I collect brass musical instruments, told me he had been round a car boot or open air market and seen a rather strange brass instrument that only had two valves and not the usual three or sometimes four, was I interested?

    He described it as similar to a trumpet, both in shape and size, silver in colour and the price asked was cheap.
    I told him that if it was still for sale next time he was there, and so long as the price was less than £50 to get it and I would pay him next time I see him.

    Thursday evening he turned up with it and told me he had knocked the price down from £30 to £20 with a bit of haggling and here it is.

    It is made by the American company of DEG of Wisconsin according to the label on the case and inscribed on the bell. It is in lovely condition, some minor scratches is all, however one of the two valves needed a spring.
    So, after making and fitting a spring, I tried it out to find it is made in the key of G rather than the common key of C or B flat.

    So a look round the internet and asking the question on a brass band forum, I learned it is an American marching band instrument known as a soprano bugle, and when played in the higher parts of the musical register, only the two valves are needed, hence why only two. Our American members may know something of these instruments too.

    It is also a veteran if not vintage instrument, as they are no longer used as the bands have gone in favour of three valved and slightly larger mellowphone type instruments which are still shaped like a trumpet, just bigger. (I have one of them too)
    Here are a couple of photo's of it in the case it also came with.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Give it a shallow cup mouthpiece and the tone is very bright, especially higher up the scale from the bottom low G note, though even that isn't a bad sound.

    Nev.
     
  2. KenB

    KenB Registered Members

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2010
    Messages:
    1,223
    Location:
    Wirral UK
    Operating System:
    Windows Vista Home Premium
    Very quirky Nev.
    I think you got it for a bargain price :)


    I found this interesting as I used to - in my youth - play a standard bugle.

    I bet your neighbours love you to bits :)
     
  3. Ricardo

    Ricardo Registered Members

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2012
    Messages:
    469
    Location:
    Windsor,Ont,Canada
    Operating System:
    Windows 7
    Computer Brand or Motherboard:
    Asus M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3
    CPU:
    AMD Phenom 11 x4 965
    Memory:
    Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 DDR3 8 gig
    Hard Drive:
    Seagate X 1TB, Hitachi Deskstar X 1TB, WD X 500GB external
    Graphics Card:
    AMD Radeon HD 6670
    Power Supply:
    Corsair TX750M 750W ATX12V
    That is a common instrument used over here by drum and bugle corps. Even the larger instruments in these corps, such as the french horn, baritone and tuba have 2 valves like the one you posted.
     
  4. jaylach

    jaylach Registered Members

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2012
    Messages:
    475
    Operating System:
    Windows 8
    Yep, they are designed for marching and "big band" scenarios where octal range is not normally a big factor.

    Four key versions would be normally used by heavy Blues and Jazz players where the octal range is critical and, with the extra key, extended.
     

Share This Page