Veldkamp

I played the Oiram flugelhorn and trumpet when I visited Hub van Laar the 4th of januari (2007) and this are my first impressions. I thought the trumpet would be a similar horn like a Getzen Genesis or Edwards Gen. X but it isn't. It plays like a standard trumpet but has extra weight in the specially designed Bauerfeind valve block (200 grams). The extra weight in the valve caps give the horn more projection and keeps the sound a bit more centered. This compensates the big bell a bit I think, the wider bell spreads the sound so with the extra weight the soudn will not spreach too much. So the horn is perfectly in balance. As you can see the receiver is a bit heavier too. The horn has a ML bore and doesn't feel big. You could easily play lead on it but it will also work well for jazzsoloists with a deeper mouthpiece. So it's pretty versatile, it will blend very well in a section with Bachs, Schilkes, etc. It has a new developed bell with a 5" diameter and a wider flare. I think you can compare it with something like a Bach 72 bell.

A Belgian architect named Mario Garzaniti (Oiram-Mario) helped Hub with the design of both horns, so he give it the "looks". They started of with the flugelhorn in 2005 and is a very popular horn, it sells very well... Some famous (European) jazzsoloists are playing the Oiram now, like Paolo Fresu, Nils Wülker and a few others. The flugelhorn is probably the easiest flugelhorn I ever played. The high registers slots very well and the intonation is very good. It has a warmer and bigger sound compared to my B1. I think it has a more jazzy feel and look but it will fit in any setting.

So Hub did a nice job with these new Oiram models. There aren't so many (design) horns on the market like this ones, certainly not in this price range. So I think you should give it a try if you're interested in something special for a decent price.



http://www.erikveldkamp.nl/hubvanlaaroiram_.html