Warren

Hi all!!

My first post here...A brand new member, as shiny as a new horn!

Hope someone here can help me. I've got a B&S Bb trumpet, but due to years of laquering and the likes (of which a poor job was done) I can't make out any model numbers. Can still see the beautiful B&S badge on the bell though.

As far as I know there are no modifications done to the instrument. I don't know how to post pictures (anyone direct me to a thread to show me how?) so I'd happily email a few pictures to anyone that thinks they can help.

Can't find any email addresses for B&S themself. Just their challenger site.

administrator

Warren, Welcome to the TM!

Send pictures to administrator@trumpetmaster.com and we will post them in this thread for you!

Vulgano Brother

Welcome to TM, Warren! Here is a link to some B&S instruments. After the fall of the wall they got liquidated and became part of VMI. Have fun! http://www.markstein.de/cgi-bin/mark...63e/Search/Run

Warren

So you think if I email VMI they might have someone who can help me identify my horn?

Are B&S generally good horns or do they range from terrible to fantastic...Like the ever so popular Bach and Yamaha instruments?

ecarroll

Warren,

For what it's worth I happen to like B&S trumpets very much. Bach-like design and German manufacturing, coupled with a rather affordable price.

Best,
EC

Laowai

Warren,

Take a picture of your horn and send it with your questions to vmi-info@t-online.de

They are very helpful. I own a Challenger DBX, a very good trumpet for sure.

Good luck!

Warren

Thanks for the email address. I'm very happy with my horn thus far, thats why I'm willing to spend R2000 (more than most new instruments cost in South Africa) on having it repaired. Before it I had a Getzen 300 series...Must admit I do miss my Getzen a bit, but still wouldn't go back.

I got some help from Bill Gibson at JA Musik...He's prepared to use my pictures to try find out more about the horn. Fantastic guy!!!

Vulgano Brother

When I bought my rotary Bb, the best horns I tried were Monke, Yamaha, and B&S, with about a 2000 DM price difference;the B&S was by far the best bargain. The Challengers my students bought were equal to good Bachs, again at a substantial bargain.

Warren

While it is difficult to say without actually seeing my horn and playing it (did send pictures to the administrator to put up) you think it would be worth spending $300 on having it relaquered. Which is more than most people will spend on a horn in my country.

Vulgano Brother

Rather than getting the instrument relacquered, you might want to consider stripping the old lacquer off yourself (use the search function here on TM--stripping is a hot topic) and see how it plays. Sometimes horns are improved, (my Scherzer picc. for example) and no lacquer looks better than ugly lacquer. The East German lacquer was pretty nasty stuff; West German repairmen complained every time they made a repair on one of my horns, and would cheerfully strip the lacquer for me.