New cornet player - first post

larry newman · 12-22-2005, 01:03 AM

Hi all...

It's great to find a forum like this...!

I'm strictly an amateur player, in a British style brass band.

This winter, I've promised myself to practice every day, which, for me, will be about a 900% increase...It'll be interesting to see the difference...already I notice a big increase in tone quality, after 2 weeks.

The Benge listed is on its way to me...I think this is Kanstul's first design of this type, built in 1979 or so, which he is now producing as the ZKC 1530. The sound is reputedly very mellow (too cheap to buy a flugel, but I dig the sound), esp. with the D.Wick 2B I use.

The Benge has a raw brass finish, which i know nothing about, save that it's hip on the west coast...what does one do to care for this finish? Any hints would be greatly appreciated..

sparxIII · 12-22-2005, 01:47 PM

Hey Larry,

Welcome to the 'Trumpet Master'

The Benge 8Z is a great cornet.

I bet it would really sing with the new Sparx 2* cornet mouthpiece

Cheers,
Ted

www.sparxmusic.com

nieuwguyski · 12-22-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry newman

The Benge has a raw brass finish, which i know nothing about, save that it's hip on the west coast...what does one do to care for this finish? Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

Care of raw brass largely depends on what you (or your section mates) want or expect the cornet to look like. If the dark, dull, olive-brown appearance of fully tarnished raw brass is acceptable to you and the band, then the only question is whether your skin will continue to react with the brass. Some players don't have any problems playing raw brass instruments, while others find that their hands turn green and smell unpleasant afterwards. If you have this sort of problem, you should be able to get a Leather Specialties hand guard that wraps around the valves and has flaps and extensions that prevent most all skin-to-brass contact.

If you want a shiny finish, you're looking at a future full of polishing. There are any number of metal polishes that will clean up a tarnished raw brass instrument and make it shiny. A layer of non-abrasive car wax or "museum wax" will do a lot to preserve the shine, and a hand guard, as described above, will help prevent your hands from wearing off the wax.

If it were me, I'd have the cornet refinished, but that would involve some expense.

larry newman · 12-22-2005, 10:36 PM

Thx, John...yes, I was thinking of silver plating it, as i bought it for a third of a new Kanstul price...

Any sources for such work ?

regularsopguy · 12-23-2005, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry newman

Thx, John...yes, I was thinking of silver plating it, as i bought it for a third of a new Kanstul price...

Any sources for such work ?

You should send it to Kanstul in California. They do their own plating. Almost anywhere else you send it, it goes to Anderson plating. (I've heard stories of thumbprints and blemishes, not to mention a thin plating job. Maybe someone could offer their story on this?)

I recently had an old soprano bugle (kanstul) plated. it came out to about $220 I think, and it looks as new as the day it was made.

forgetful86 · 12-19-2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nieuwguyski

Care of raw brass largely depends on what you (or your section mates) want or expect the cornet to look like. If the dark, dull, olive-brown appearance of fully tarnished raw brass is acceptable to you and the band, then the only question is whether your skin will continue to react with the brass. Some players don't have any problems playing raw brass instruments, while others find that their hands turn green and smell unpleasant afterwards. If you have this sort of problem, you should be able to get a Leather Specialties hand guard that wraps around the valves and has flaps and extensions that prevent most all skin-to-brass contact.

If you want a shiny finish, you're looking at a future full of polishing. There are any number of metal polishes that will clean up a tarnished raw brass instrument and make it shiny. A layer of non-abrasive car wax or "museum wax" will do a lot to preserve the shine, and a hand guard, as described above, will help prevent your hands from wearing off the wax.

If it were me, I'd have the cornet refinished, but that would involve some expense.

I currently have a raw brass Blackburn and have recently experienced the tarnish problem. Can you give me some of these polishes that will solve this issue.

Thanks!

Bob Grier · 12-20-2008, 02:26 AM

I use silversmiths copper polish on my raw brass horns. If you get any in the horn be sure and give it a good bath afterwards. i also have the leather Specialtie guards on all my horns to keep my hands from smelling after playing. I love the sound of raw brass

12-22-2005, 01:03 AM	#1
larry newman New Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 49	New cornet player - first post Hi all... It's great to find a forum like this...! I'm strictly an amateur player, in a British style brass band. This winter, I've promised myself to practice every day, which, for me, will be about a 900% increase...It'll be interesting to see the difference...already I notice a big increase in tone quality, after 2 weeks. The Benge listed is on its way to me...I think this is Kanstul's first design of this type, built in 1979 or so, which he is now producing as the ZKC 1530. The sound is reputedly very mellow (too cheap to buy a flugel, but I dig the sound), esp. with the D.Wick 2B I use. The Benge has a raw brass finish, which i know nothing about, save that it's hip on the west coast...what does one do to care for this finish? Any hints would be greatly appreciated.. __________________ Larry ------------ Second Cornet - Buffalo Silver Band , est. 1915 (British style - all cornets ) ----------- Blessing B-141 Artist cornet Connstellation (Elkhart)37a/38a cornet Amati pocket cornet Yamaha trumpet

12-22-2005, 01:47 PM	#2
sparxIII New Friend Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 31	CORNETS Hey Larry, Welcome to the 'Trumpet Master' The Benge 8Z is a great cornet. I bet it would really sing with the new Sparx 2* cornet mouthpiece Cheers, Ted www.sparxmusic.com

12-22-2005, 10:36 PM	#4
larry newman New Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 49	Thx, John...yes, I was thinking of silver plating it, as i bought it for a third of a new Kanstul price... Any sources for such work ? __________________ Larry ------------ Second Cornet - Buffalo Silver Band , est. 1915 (British style - all cornets ) ----------- Blessing B-141 Artist cornet Connstellation (Elkhart)37a/38a cornet Amati pocket cornet Yamaha trumpet

12-20-2008, 02:26 AM	#7
Bob Grier Mezzo Forte User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 864	Re: New cornet player - first post I use silversmiths copper polish on my raw brass horns. If you get any in the horn be sure and give it a good bath afterwards. i also have the leather Specialtie guards on all my horns to keep my hands from smelling after playing. I love the sound of raw brass __________________ Bob Grier, An Old Pro Web Cam trumpet & jazz improvisation lessons bgrierjr@triad.rr.com Schilke B5 GB bell NY Bach ML 37GB Bb 1949 Benge 7X 1985 Conn 22B 1940s King Liberty Silversonic 1975 King Master Model Siversonic cornet 1975 1985 Bach C L 229GB 25A 1985 Bach D ML 239 1985 Bach Eb ML 239 1967 Martin C ML rose brass bell 1985 Selmer Paris Picc with Osmun A pipe & Blackburn Bb pipe 1975 Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn 1985 Yamaha YFH 635T Flugelhorn

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