Which Bugle to Buy??
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July 25 to 30th (Band Camp Duties)
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Note: Silver Centennial Bugles Available Mid-August
From Left to Right is a Kanstul Regulation Field Bugle, An Amati 223, A Scoutbugle.com Centennial G Bugle, A Jupiter Brigadier Bugle, and a Getzen Field Trumpet (B-Flat). Mouthpieces are not necessarily the ones that come with. Click for very detailed pictures.
Key of the bugle - The key is the natural notes played by the bugle in terms of the piano scale. The traditional boy scout bugle is in G/F (the key changes by pulling out the slide). A trumpet is usually in B-flat. Thus the G bugle plays 1 1/2 steps (a note and 1/2) lower then a trumpet. The advantage being the lower notes are a bit easier to play for the beginning student. Otherwise, I'm not sure WHY the bugle is in this key, tradition, or some other reason that appears long lost. One thing to be careful with all this is that sometimes you'll see a bugle in "B-Flat" but it's a whole octave below the standard bugle (the length of tubing of a trombone). While you might have a specialized need for such an instrument it's probably not what you would want for funerals, memorials, boy scout signaling or the other purposes folks on this website usually want to accomplish.
Bugle Material - All these bugles are made of brass. You might from time to time find a bugle made of copper or have a copper bell, but in general they're brass. There are different "flavors" of brass.
Bugle Finish - Bugles normally come in a lacquered finish, though sometime in "raw brass" and sometimes in silver. Lacquered bugles maintain a shine but need to be kept clean. If the lacquered wears off you'll want to polish the exposed area. Silver plating is more expensive, but stays shiny longer and takes a shine. Due to cost you don't tend to find as many off the shelf silver bugles.
Here's some examples and variations of what might be called the "Traditional Boy Scout Bugle" the 1892 bugle (when the Army Specified this style), a Field Trumpet, or the trademarked US Regulation Bugle. The difficulty buying these on line is that it's hard to figure out the key and playability. These bugles below are roughly 15 3/4" without the mouthpiece and about 17 1/2" with the mouthpiece. The Bells are from about 4 1/2 inches to less then 5 inches. This style is specified in G/F but as you see below variations of B flat, G, F and by having a LONG tuning Slide G/F. Often with these bugles, you lose sound quality as you pull out the G/F slide so for practical purposes, it's probably best just to play them in G.
To add to your confusion about "keys" (If late at night I'd skip this paragraph): The piano is in the key of "C". There are a lot of trumpets in the key of "C" but in the US that would be 99% of the time played by a professional or college level orchestra player. The most likely trumpet, cornet, or flugelhorn you'll find out there will be in the Key of B-flat, or one STEP lower pitched then the "C" trumpet. A step is the distance between white keys when there is a black key in the middle. When a B-flat trumpet player sees and plays a "C", to the piano player he's playing a B-flat. The often recommend key for playing "TAPS" is the the key of G (same as a trumpet if you add the tubing of the 1st and 2nd valve), followed by B-flat and then sometimes F (same as a trumpet but adding the tubing involved in valves 1 and 3 on the trumpet. I know, you need to shake your head a few times to figure this out.
Some horns have "spit valves" installed either on the first forward bend or on both forward bends.
From Left to Right is a Kanstul Regulation Field Bugle, An Amati 223, A Scoutbugle.com Centennialtm G Bugle, A Jupiter Brigadier 600AB Bugle, and a Getzen Field Trumpet (B-Flat with G Slide shown). Mouthpieces are not necessarily the ones that come with the instrument. NOTE: ALL THESE BUGLES ACCEPT TRUMPET MOUTHPIECES. Click for very detailed pictures.
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New for 2010 The ScoutBugle.com Centennial G Bugle
Specified by Scoutbugle.com to meet requirements of ease of play, tone quality, intonation, and construction quality and still be available for an economical price. While maintaining some of the flavor of the traditional 1892 model bugle and the traditional Boy Scout bugle, we elected to take advantage of 118 additional years of brass instrument manufacturer along with an ISO 9000 qualified factory to deliver the best of modern day product. The designer has worked for such brass powerhouses as Conn-Selmer and Schilke. The Centennial bugle uses a trumpet mouthpiece, so replacements are as close as your local music store (or here). Prices starting at $169(bugle and mouthpiece) to $209(Bugle, MP, and Case). Click here for more information and pictures. It's offered with a lightweight solid case for long term protection. |
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Amati 223 G/F Bugle
Click Here For More Information. Priced $209 to $240.
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This is simply a great playing and great looking horn for all bugling needs. This bugle is available from Scoutbugle.com and is manufactured by Jupiter, a Taiwanese based company that's developing a strong reputation for fine instruments. This horn, in "G" only produces a rich tone with great resonance. It's well designed with a yellow brass body. We believe this to be the "Bugle of Choice" for the adult player, especially with the hard case. Features of the Brigadier:
Click here For More pictures and information or to buy. Price Range $229 to $269 |
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The Kanstul Regulation Ceremonial Bugle Custom made Bugles available in G, F or B flat. G Model Shown below and in the group shot.
Test trial: Played very much as a trumpet, has a wider throat bell then let's say the Amati trumpet with much more of a "trumpet" sound then a "bugle" (sort of hard to describe). Of course quality is first rate, that's to be expected from a Kanstul horn. More Kanstul information ghre. |
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The Getzen Field Trumpet
Getzen is a long time Wisconsin based manufacturer of brass instruments. Their student trumpets are simply the best most durable student horns currently being produced (in our humble opinion). If you find a good shape Getzen 300 trumpet, there's a good chance you have a horn that will last through the student's high school career and beyond. This horn is available through Woodwind and Brasswind (Click on Logo below and search for Getzen Bugle). They also have music supplies, etc so you might want to take a look at their site. More pictures of the Getzen Field Trumpet and information click here.
While a mouthpiece is included, the one in the horn is a stand in for the picture. Contact your Getzen Dealer or www.getzen.com Tell them you heard about them from Scoutbugle.com |
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Besson (Kanstul) 709 Intermediate B-Flat Trumpet. There's always the option to play TAPS on a trumpet. At Scoutbugle.com we were able to acquire several of these fantastic bugles to offer for a great price. Kanstul made to exacting standards, this is THE BEST value in a "better than a student" trumpet. From beginner to the semi-pro this horn will do the job. Limited quantity, when they're gone, they're gone. Click Here for more information. HUGE SAVINGS $499 TO $519!!! PRICED WAY BELOW ANY OTHER NEW USA MADE TRUMPET Also See the Garage |
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Limited number of GIG bags available for bugles. Fits Our Centennial, Brigadier bugle and Amati and most likely other G/F bugles (such as a Kanstul bugle). Too small for trumpets. Shown with Brigadier bugle. $25 + $6.50 S&H. Will hold our Cavalry bugle but is a bit large.
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| Don't see what you want? We also make CUSTOM BUGLES (and offer Brass restoration). Click Here for details. | ||||||||||||||||||
 7C
Mouthpiece - Click Here |
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RexcraftTM is a trademark of Lon T. Palmer and not associated with Scoutbugle.com
The Centennialtm Bugle is a Trademark of Scoutbugle.com
The Brigadier
