Bill McCloskey

Some of you may remember a rather contentious thread a while back about the Image Flugelhorn.

Well, out of curiosity, I bought one.

For those interested in my review, I posted it on Trumpet Herald. Happy to post it here as well for those interested or you can read it there.

MJ

Why don't you go ahead and post it here please. Thanks!

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Bill McCloskey

Sure.

I purchased the horn from Bronstein Music in San Francisco with a solid return policy if I didn't like it. Horn arrived today in with a nice case with shoulder straps, similar to the Eastman cornet I purchased about a year ago.

The horn itself looks beautiful. Nice Copper tone to the bell. Valves moved nicely, if a bit stiff right out of the box. Didn't have much of a chance to play it at work, but the little I did play it, it sounded like a flugel.

Tonight I got a chance to play it. I played it for a short while when I got home. It comes with a Yamaha 14f4 mouthpiece. To tell the truth, I was underwhelmed with the sound. I was having trouble hitting some notes, which I attributed to the fact that I wasn't used to playing Flugelhorn or using a flugelhorn mouthpiece, but I wasn't crazy about the sound. I figured, I'd eat some crow, return the horn and post a negative review when I got my refund.

I went out for awhile and come back this evening and decided to record myself. It actually recorded very nicely, but I was still having some issues hitting certain notes without just a lot air coming out.

I didn't have any other Flugelhorn mouthpieces around so I tried experimenting with some cornet mouthpieces, and I put in a Jet Tone 1d cornet mouthpiece with some tape wrapped around the shaft so that it fit better.

And MAN! this thing just came alive! I was completely BLOWN AWAY. I played it for the last hour and had a complete and utter ball. No more issue hitting notes, it sounded fantastic. I put a little Blue Juice on the valves and they moved like lightening. Stayed in tune, sounded great.

It is a keeper as far as I'm concerned. It is everything I was looking for in a Flugel. Your mileage may vary, but Bernstein's offers a return policy ( you pay shipping if you return it). Try some other mouthpiece than the once supplied, and you might find that for $500 for a new Flugel, you'll be as happy as I currently am. If not, return it.

I'm now on a Flugel mouthpiece safari.

Darthsunshine

Well, if you're happy it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks. Glad you found something that works for you

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Glen

1977 Benge 3X+ C
1976 Benge 3X+ Bb
1951 Olds Ambassador Cornet
1938 King Master Model Cornet

Vulgano Brother

Thanks for the review, Bill!
Question #1, are the valve slides set up like a trumpet, or a normal flugelhorn?
Question #2, Any issues with getting the threads on the top and bottom valve caps to match (side issue--in my younger years I got to put gas into a Rolls-Royce, and it had the most amazing gas cap--beautiful threading!
Question #3 regarding mouthpieces, Bob Reeves might be just the guy you are looking for in your mouthpiece search.

I am glad that you are having fun!

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www.letsbuildhope.org

Bill McCloskey

Valve slides are set up like a normal flugel. I've only unscrewed the top caps to put the Blue juice in and they went on and off nicely.
Thanks for the tip on Bob Reeves.

trumpetnick

Bill, can you post some pictures? Let's finally see this mysterious Image flugel

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Spada Bach B flat 72, leadpipe 2L/DWMM1.5C
Spada Bach C 256, leadpipe 2LQ/DWMM1.5C
1956 Olds Ambassador Cornet
Spada Custom Piccolo

If you don't know where you are going, you 'll end up someplace else

Bill McCloskey

If I can get some time this weekend (and I can borrow my daughter's digital camera) I'll try and get some posts up.

CHAMP

you know what P. T. Barnum said...

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POW!!!

Bill McCloskey

" you know what P. T. Barnum said..."

...buy a Wild Thing for the special 'nodal' tweeks?


Just kidding guys.


(sort of)