Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps+Bugles - Page 3

creedo · 04-23-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickg

Yeah - they used to call us the F@g in Drag and we called you guys "Ugly Guard".

Believe it or not, I found out one HOT Fourth of July when I got stuck on CQ (when the FDC was still part of H Company) and I had to go do a memorial service that Pershing's accidentally dropped, that those heavy blues were absolute ovens and worse than the colonials.

When I left I believe the CSM of the Old Guard was CSM Phifer. (Pronounced "fifer") He was army infantry to the core. One night when I was on Staff Duty he came in and told a story about doing a night jump as part of a field training exercise and getting caught in the static line which dislocated his shoulder. He then went to the ER, but as always, it was "hurry up and wait" and so finally, he gave his arm a good yank to see what would happen, popped his shoulder back in, and left so that he could continue the field training exercise!

Question: Do you still have your coin?

Answer: of course I do... you tryin ta coin me for a beer??

I actually tried to come over on OJT for thirty days and do an audition after then.. my 1sg was all for it, then Master Sergeant Rock was all for it ... but things didn't pan out with the RSM. It was cool though I got to hang out with the bugle corps, Me and "Iron" Mike Creedon would play duets from Arbans most of the day and a guy named "J.B." they said it was short for Jelly Belly ??? ring a bell? anyway he was my trainer..

trickg · 04-23-2008, 10:41 PM

Kathy and Scott Mandrell were both before my time - I know them by name and stories, and I think that maybe I met them once, but otherwise I didn't serve with them.

Let me tell you, most days I wish I had never gotten out - it was a really cool job, but at that point in my life, I felt like I needed to do something else so I took a bunch of technical training so that I could take advantage of the computer industry that was booming. I just didn't know how good I had it at the time.

trickg · 04-23-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creedo

Answer: of course I do... you tryin ta coin me for a beer??

I actually tried to come over on OJT for thirty days and do an audition after then.. my 1sg was all for it, then Master Sergeant Rock was all for it ... but things didn't pan out with the RSM. It was cool though I got to hang out with the bugle corps, Me and "Iron" Mike Creedon would play duets from Arbans most of the day and a guy named "J.B." they said it was short for Jelly Belly ??? ring a bell? anyway he was my trainer..

Nah, just curious if you still had it.

I knew SGM Greg Rock when he was just a staff sergeant and oddly enough, he came from the same unit I did - the First US Army Band - only he was a trombone player rather than a trumpet player, but he learned to play bugle well enough to get the job done.

Greg is a great guy and in my opinion his stewardship as the SGM of the FDC has only been a good thing. The standard is higher than when I left and the last couple of times I have seen the FDC, they have both looked and sounded dynamite. I'm very proud to have been a part of it and I wish them only continued success in continuing the rich heritage they portray.

I'm not sure what the "J.B." stands for - we called him "bullet-proof". Mike Creadon is a crazy runner - he has run more regular marathons than I can count, and he has done the ultra marathons - 50 and 100 milers - as well. Both of them are great guys though and I hope that they still consider me a friend - I don't talk to them too often these days because it's rare that I find myself on Fort Myer anymore.

creedo · 04-23-2008, 10:55 PM

sgm Rock and I were pretty cool ... but he made sure I understood my place..lol... I asked him how the transition from bone to bugle was ... he just shook his head and said "rough .... very rough.. " and laughed.. but man that was an awesome gig for that month ... I was unofficially attached to you guys... and having a blast...

trickg · 04-23-2008, 11:02 PM

I think it's been hard for SGM Rock in some ways - when you ascend to that kind of position, the position demands certain duties and responsibilities and it makes it hard to maintain the lesser ranking friends you have had for years. I used to go out to breakfast with Greg, Rees Richardson and Brian Bunting at Bob and Edith's all the time. I've known Greg for 16 years, so there is some history there, both with work and outside of work, but the last time I talked to Greg, at best I can only say that his demeanor toward me - now a civilian - was somewhat detached. It's tough to find the balance between leadership and friendship, and on the job, the leadership HAS to come first, so I can understand and appreciate his position.

Anyway, back to the bugles, those Kanstul bugles are great players and held up VERY well considering how they were used and abused. They played very much like a good trumpet, which is quite an accomplishment when you think about how small of a package they were turned into.

regularsopguy · 04-25-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickg

I think it's been hard for SGM Rock in some ways - when you ascend to that kind of position, the position demands certain duties and responsibilities and it makes it hard to maintain the lesser ranking friends you have had for years. I used to go out to breakfast with Greg, Rees Richardson and Brian Bunting at Bob and Edith's all the time. I've known Greg for 16 years, so there is some history there, both with work and outside of work, but the last time I talked to Greg, at best I can only say that his demeanor toward me - now a civilian - was somewhat detached. It's tough to find the balance between leadership and friendship, and on the job, the leadership HAS to come first, so I can understand and appreciate his position.

Anyway, back to the bugles, those Kanstul bugles are great players and held up VERY well considering how they were used and abused. They played very much like a good trumpet, which is quite an accomplishment when you think about how small of a package they were turned into.

that's probably why the Army doesn't play just Bach anymore...

trickg · 04-27-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regularsopguy

that's probably why the Army doesn't play just Bach anymore...

I don't understand - what's that supposed to mean?

Regarding the Army using Bach instruments, the last I knew there were still a lot of Bach instruments being issued - both trumpets and trombones.

The Army uses plenty of Bach instruments, but I believe their custom work still goes to other companies like Kanstul and Lawler. I'm not sure if they are still being used, but the US Army Herald trumpets (part of Pershing's Own) used herald trumpets made by Roy Lawler, which I believe was instrumental in the Fife and Drum contracting Lawler to make their original valved bugles.

Also, once upon a long time ago, the open bugles that the Pershing's Own trumpet players used for Funerals and memorial ceremonies (such as the MANY wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery) were custom made by Bach, but that Bach wouldn't make any more of them. I'm not sure where that currently stands because I haven't seen a Pershing's Bugler play taps in quite a while. The last time I did, it was Dennis Edelbrock playing taps for a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and I believe he was playing on one of those old Bach bugles.

Regarding durability, there is no question that horns used by active duty military bandsmen get more than their fair share of use and abuse. Not only are they being used for personal practice and ensemble rehearsals, but many of the jobs require being outdoors in temperatures that swing from being swelteringly hot to miserably cold. My personal Bach Strad that I got as a sophomore in High School and used for my first 7 years as an Army musician was in a sore state by the time I traded it. The sweat from my hands from sweating all over it on the parade field for years had literally eaten small pin holes in the second valve slide and the tubing leading into the third valve slide on the right side of the horn. That would have happened if it had been a Bach or a Kanstul, or any other make or model for that matter.

regularsopguy · 04-30-2008, 11:50 PM

I'm saying that the kanstul horns hold up for hard use, like the marching horns at my school. Kanstul brass holds up exceptionally well and thats probably why the Army and the Marines use them now. not to mention that it seems that Bach cant or wont make the specialty horns for them anymore.

trickg · 05-01-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regularsopguy

I'm saying that the kanstul horns hold up for hard use, like the marching horns at my school. Kanstul brass holds up exceptionally well and thats probably why the Army and the Marines use them now. not to mention that it seems that Bach cant or wont make the specialty horns for them anymore.

I don't see that they hold up any better or worse than any other horn - we had to some of them repaired here and there, but I never had to have one repaired while I was using them.

04-23-2008, 10:41 PM	#22 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	Re: Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps+Bugles Kathy and Scott Mandrell were both before my time - I know them by name and stories, and I think that maybe I met them once, but otherwise I didn't serve with them. Let me tell you, most days I wish I had never gotten out - it was a really cool job, but at that point in my life, I felt like I needed to do something else so I took a bunch of technical training so that I could take advantage of the computer industry that was booming. I just didn't know how good I had it at the time. __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

04-23-2008, 10:55 PM	#24 (permalink)
creedo New Friend Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 15	Re: Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps+Bugles sgm Rock and I were pretty cool ... but he made sure I understood my place..lol... I asked him how the transition from bone to bugle was ... he just shook his head and said "rough .... very rough.. " and laughed.. but man that was an awesome gig for that month ... I was unofficially attached to you guys... and having a blast... __________________ Bb- Bach Strad 37 LR -Schilke 20 C-Bach Strad 229 GH 25R leadpipe Eb/D- Schilke E3L-Schilke 15b Piccolo- Kanstul 920 CC Stock A leadpipe Blackburn Bb leadpipe - Schilke 11Ax

04-23-2008, 11:02 PM	#25 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	Re: Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps+Bugles I think it's been hard for SGM Rock in some ways - when you ascend to that kind of position, the position demands certain duties and responsibilities and it makes it hard to maintain the lesser ranking friends you have had for years. I used to go out to breakfast with Greg, Rees Richardson and Brian Bunting at Bob and Edith's all the time. I've known Greg for 16 years, so there is some history there, both with work and outside of work, but the last time I talked to Greg, at best I can only say that his demeanor toward me - now a civilian - was somewhat detached. It's tough to find the balance between leadership and friendship, and on the job, the leadership HAS to come first, so I can understand and appreciate his position. Anyway, back to the bugles, those Kanstul bugles are great players and held up VERY well considering how they were used and abused. They played very much like a good trumpet, which is quite an accomplishment when you think about how small of a package they were turned into. __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

04-30-2008, 11:50 PM	#28 (permalink)
regularsopguy New Friend Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 33	Re: Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps+Bugles I'm saying that the kanstul horns hold up for hard use, like the marching horns at my school. Kanstul brass holds up exceptionally well and thats probably why the Army and the Marines use them now. not to mention that it seems that Bach cant or wont make the specialty horns for them anymore.

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