midwestchops

i was wondering if anyone had experience with kanstul instruments. from everything ive read they sound like a great company, but since they are built to order, how would you play one first? i think the one with the copper bell is beautiful, anyone heard one in person? i will be looking for a professional trumpet in the future and have just been trying to do some research. thanks in advance!

trumpet blower88

In the Drum Corps I march with, all of our horns are Kanstul, everybody loves them. We use the standard "marching" trumpet, I can't remember the exact model number, but it's pretty close to the 1500 Signiture Model. The main differance is they don't have the copper bell like you mentioned. (It'd be a bad idea to march horns made out of copper)

Out side of the corps I play a Kanstul 1500A Model. It has the extended mouthpiece reciever, weighted valve caps, copper bell, and extra weighting in the bell crook as well as in an extra tuning slide (I like it because it feels like it helps center the tone better and slot into partials easier in the upper register).

Kanstuls horns are great, Zig is an amazing horn builder, and just a great guy too from what I've heard. If you have the time and money I would suggest going down to Aniheim and checking out the shop and playing all the differant models they have, if you can't do that get ahold of someone from their website, I think they have some kind of "try before you buy" service where you can test the horn out for a week or so, and if you don't like it, send it back to try out another.

If you're in the Phoenix, Az area call up Jack Kanstul. He's got all the models in his showroom/house you can try them out there and buy them from the factory from him. I'm not positive but I think there's also some kind of dealer up in Oregon or Washington where you can try a few out too.

bandman

I own a ZKF 1525 with silver plate and a few custom touches. I love my horn and would say it is the finest Flugel I have ever OWNED. There are a few others that I would love to give a 12-month test drive.

I went with Kanstul because there was a specific sound I was looking for and the Kanstul gave it to me immediately. I had a Bach Strad before and loved it. I played 30-40 Bach Strads before picking the one I owned. My Kanstul was made to order and plays exactly like I wanted.

I would say that there is only one problem with Kanstul and that is that they are very independent. They could not care less if you buy a horn from them or not. They make what they make, and they don’t care for criticism. If they would get their act together a bit more, and support the dealer in my area, I would have all of my brass players on Kanstul horns.

Tootsall

Although Kanstul will build to order (kind of like Schilke that way), they do have dealers who most likely hold some samples in inventory.

We've had a Kanstul-made Besson International around the house for near 8 years now and I've also had a chance to try the F. Besson pro models with the Najoom lead pipe as well as a "Wild Thing" (which Kanstul also makes). All of them were/are good horns with excellent quality and very different playing characteristics.

I'd recommend you contact the factory ( http://kanstul.com/pages/dealers.html ) and get in touch with one of their listed dealers to see what might be available "off the shelf" and whether you might get a trial.

Liad Bar-EL

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestchops i was wondering if anyone had experience with kanstul instruments. from everything ive read they sound like a great company, but since they are built to order, how would you play one first? i think the one with the copper bell is beautiful, anyone heard one in person? i will be looking for a professional trumpet in the future and have just been trying to do some research. thanks in advance!

Liad

midwestchops

this is why i was asking about others experiences. ive heard a lot of really good things, but i wanted a few more personal experiences. and i was wondering what kind sound you get with the copper bell. sucks that you had bad luck. did you end up getting something that you liked?

Thunderchicken

My own experience with Kanstuls have been very positive.

Right around two years ago I purchased both a Signature copper bell flugel from PicK Music and a used Custom piccolo from a private party and am extremely pleased with both, would do it again in a heartbeat (even if it cost a little more...), and wouldn't hesitate recommending either instrument or PicK to anyone. I have visited with Priscilla @ Pick several times since then, with questions and special requests and found her very attentive and responsive.

I have also found Charles (Hargett, I believe, is his last name) at the showroom/sales office/factory in Anaheim as well as Mr Kanstul, himself, to be especially helpfull and accommodating. My case is, perhaps a bit unusual, however, as I travel to the LA Basin fairly often so getting to Anaheim is not a big deal. Still, on two occasions I have visited the facility, gotten to play the horns to my heart's content, received a personal tour of the factory, and, after a visit with Zigmant, himself, had them install a "pinky ring" on my CCT 920 Piccolo. At his suggestion, rather than the one used on the Signature Pic, I selected a "ring" which is used on one of the other horns (Baritone, I think) they make. If I could wait a few hours, I could have walked out with the finished horn. As it was, I had to leave it, but it was back home before I was! The was I was treated, you would have thought I was "Doc" Severensen, himself. And the fit & finish is "spot on"!!

I know everyones experiences are different. I have had more trouble trying to buy a Bach C trumpet and Bb slides from a local store back a few years. I admire Kanstul's approach: make great instruments in the USA, charge a fair price, resist the urge to over-expand. Just me...

Regards,
Jon Paschka

gzent

Kanstul is a very respectable company that makes very fine instruments.

I've posted on TH and TM for about 5 years and have only heard of 2 people that had any problems with Kanstul.

FWIW I had a F. Besson and a Zeus (made by Kanstul) and they were both very nice horns.

Greg

Liad Bar-EL

What kind of sound with a cooper bell? I was "sold" on the "sales hype" that the 1510 with the copper bell has a very rich sound. Being that I have a Schilke which is very bright, I wanted something with a richer sound for sure. The 1510 was much brighter and thinner than the Schilke. The sound was the complete opposite of what I was looking for; so, this is why I say, PLAY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT.

Don't get hooked on the copper metal but rather look at the weight of the horn. The 1510 was probably the thinest and lightest horn I have ever held in my hands. It is my belief that if the maker uses the thinest metal that he can get his hands on be it copper or brass, the thiness of the metal is going to over ride the qualities of the metal itself; so, I got a very rich looking horn but with a very poor and thin sound.

I have said before in another thread, that this horn makes a good student horn.

Liad

Liad Bar-EL

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