ContraBuddy

Hey everyone, I've got money probs and am facing being evicted unless I can come up with $2500 by 12/12/08. I've got no choice but to see what I can get for my K-90 and my other G bugles. Here's what I've got: King K-90. Serial Number 881898. She's got the 2 'U' braces, as well as the tuning marks on the main slide. She's pretty much confirmed as one of Blue Devils original set of 8. Here's a copy of an email from John Meehan: "My Dad no longer has the tuning guide, so we struck out there. Wayne is almost positive it is a BD horn. By any chance, are there "marks" on the main tuning slide? That would be a give away it is a BD horn. Depending on when it was used, it might have marks or residue of finger nail polish :). " She's in what I'd say is VERY good shape. Just has a lot of tarnish and has the usual worn plating, but no serious dents. Also, ALL slides & both valves work easily and as they should. DEG Dynasty II 2 valve bari. Serial # A2498. She's in good shape, with only a few minor dents. DEG Dynasty II 2 valve sop. Serial # 4330. In excellent condition. Olds UltraTone V/R contra. Serial # 011652 In excellent condition except for a small crack right above the water key. It's taped over and now air-tight. Olds UltraTone V/R bari, with hard case. Serial # 009117. Excellent condition. Olds UltraTone V/R sop. Serial # 016524. In good shape. Top tubing connection to the rotor needs to be resoldered. Getzen Titleist single piston french horn. Serial # B8331. Fair condition, some crinkle on the bell. Probable Getzen Titleist single piston sop. Serial # 2012. Pretty rough condition, but playable. Brass finish (where there IS finish), some corrosion. This sop was use in St. Nicholas Cadets all-girl corps in the late 50's - early 60's. I know the V/R's and single valve bugles aren't worth much nowadays, but I have a week to get $2500, so, I'm listing them all. If you live anywhere near Dover, Delaware, I've got a lot of other things for sale as well. Since I need the money so fast, payments would have to be an over-nighted money order, PayPal to my sister's account or a Westren Union Moneygram. So, make an offer, or offers.... Thanks for reading this. Bill PS: Here a link to pics of the K-90: My K-90 pics on TubeNet

I agree with you. Sure, it's really just being 'sentimental', and in some ways, it doesn't even make any sense. Most ppl would think of it as 'just' another contra. When it was made, who it was made for and who used it when... Well, it's not having a "BD orginal 8 K-90" has led to ppl knocking on my door offering me everything from new, still-in-the-plastic-wrap Kanstul Contra Grande's to their first-born sons for my K-90. But, to me, knowing that horn's history gives me both a good feeling and a sense that I have a piece of drum corps history that most other ppl will never have. But, it's also a little disconcerting to think that my contra has been in more World Championships than I have! Bill

Hi again guys, I've been off-line for quite awhile, and just got back on a few days ago. Anyways, my old house is sold, my new house in Delaware is being built and I'm living (more accurately, merely existing) in a motel until the new house is ready (Dec. 22). I'm back to looking for a good 3 or 4 valve G contra. The 7 SuperMags that Pioneer had for sale are all sold, and I think $1750 for a 3V K-90 is just a bit steep. If anyone has a big 5/4 sized, 3 or 4 valve contra, or knows of any for sale, please let me know. Take Care, Bill

Hi Guys, Thanks for the replies, info & pics. Seeing the pics helped alot. I remember seeing corps on the field with them, and they sounded pretty good. I'd really like a 3V K-90, but not enough to pay more than maybe $1400 (including shipping). For awhile, I'd thought about getting my K-90 overhauled, replated and converted to 3V, but the one I have is either the 2nd or 3rd K-90 to come off the production line and has been confirmed as one of the first 8 that BD bought. To me, it's a piece of history and really shouldn't be 'modified'. So, unless something better comes along, I'll try getting one of Pioneer's 4V SuperMags. Now, goes anyone know what shape Pioneer's contras are in? I've looked at their website, but haven't yet found any pics that really show the contras clearly. Also, if anyone has a big 5/4 size, 3 or 4 valve G contra to sell, please let me know. Take Care, Bill

Hi guys, Does anyone have any good pics of a 4V SuperMag that they could post in a reply? I'm considering buying one, but I've never played one and really don't remember what they look like. Also, just for discussion, which sounds like a better deal: a 3V K-90 for $1750- or a 4V SuperMag for $2K? Personally, as much as I like the K-90 (I've got one of BD's original 8), I think $1750 is a bit pricey even for a 3V. I'm also a little concerned about the lead-pipe being moved towards the back with the 3V conversion. I'm not in the same shape I was when I first started marching, and a front-heavy K-90 would NOT be fun during a long, hot parade! Thanks, Bill Achee

Are any of the SuperMag Contras left?

I really don't remember which model those long-bell, nose-heavy contras were, but they were 2V. We had them in Reading Bucs in '90, and I know that Cavies used them as well. The body was pretty much normal-sized, but the bell was extended so far foreward that they actually looked weird. The sound was pretty good, but I just didn't like them.

Hi, Thanks for the reply. You do have a really good point there, which I really hadn't even concidered. So, I just posted a message over in the marketplace looking into buying a 3V contra. As for the possible conversion of my K-90, the main reason not to go with the Kanstul conversion kit was price. I think the kit goes for around $800- by itself. Whereas adding a 3rd valve that was 'compatable' but not an actual K-90 valve along with the full overhaul, would only cost me a grand. As for the plating, sure, the plating will have an effect on the sound, and the K-90 never did come chrome plated. I also know that it woild be considered almost sacreligious to chrome a K-90. But, cleaning & polishing a contra to 'Show Readiness' is a real *itch, and I'll freely admit that I'm getting a bit lazy in my old age. The K-90 that I have is in really good shape, but it takes about 3 hours to really clean her up. Then, within 2 to 3 weeks, she's tarnished almost black again. I've also got several old bugles, including a 50 year old single piston bari with chrome plating. That old bari has a better finish than the 26 year old K-90. It's also really nice to be able to clean the horn using only Windex and a towel. So, I'll put working on the K-90 on hold, and see what comes from my post looking to buy another contra. Take care. Bill

Hi Everyone, My house is currently up for sale, and I'm moving down to Dover, Delaware. I'll have a little money after the sale to treat myself to something nice, so I've decided on a canoe and a 3 valve contra. I was going to get my K-90 overhauled, replated and converted to 3V, but it was pointed out to me that I could likely buy a used 3V contra for less than the cost of redoing the K-90. So, here's the post looking into that. What I'm looking for: First & foremost, I want/need a 'G' contra that tunes and plays well. She'll be on the field with Bridgemen next season. Also, if I buy another contra, I'd like one that still looks fairly good. (If I buy one and still have to send it out to get replated & overhauled, I'm not going to be saving any $) Second, I'm looking for a 'big' contra. A 3V K-90 (First Choice) or a Kanstul Contra Grande (Second Choice) would be perfect! Bridgemen have a bunch of 3V DEGs, so I'm not looking for one of those. If I remember right, I think the DEG Super Mags had that really long bell, and were really nose-heavy, so, if that's the case, one of those wouldn't be among my first choices either. I intend to pay a good, but fair price for a contra. If anyone has one that they'd like to sell, if at all possible, please include a pic or 2 (or 3 or 4) in your message. Thank You.

Hi everyone, Well, I'm selling my house and moving. I'm also planning on using some of the money to get my K-90 overhauled, replated and converted to a 3V. I'll probably have the job done by Intensive Care Repair up in Ontario, Canada. But, before I go ahead and do any of this, I'd like to get some input from others. First, has anyone here gotten repair work done by ICR? If so, how good was the work? Second, to keep the cost down, ICR would do the 3V conversion using non K-90 parts. They also would not be using the Kanstul conversion kit. What kind of results have people gotten from a K-90 3V conversion that didn't use K-90 parts or a Kanstul kit? Last, what are the advantages & disadvantages of different kinds of plating? I'm thinking of going with chrome, since my 40+ year old V/R contra still looks really good. I know that there are some of you who will not like the idea of going 3V on a K-90. But, I prefer playing the low end and our music is written for 3V contras. In a 3V corps, an original K-90 doesn't get any more use than my V/R Olds Ultratone. Pros or cons, I hope to hear from you.

Hi Guys, I checked the Vivace website, they aren't the corps that I'm looking for. So far, I haven't had any luck at all in finding that pic again, so I still don't have anything to go on or any new info to give. All I know is that the corps that I'm looking for info on is all-girl, wears really bright, multi-colored uniforms, looks to be pretty much full-sized and is asian or oriental. It's really not that big of a deal. I'm just interested in finding out about this corps. Any other thoughts and/or suggestions? Bill

Personally, I don't see competitive alumni corps even as a possibility. One of the main things that allows us to have the members that we do is having such a 'light' schedule for both practice and shows. By competing, a corps would would simply have to increase the number of practices, which in turn would cost the corps members because alot of people couldn't make it as often as would then be needed. Bill

:) Any corps names or websites?

Hey everyone! While surfing the web earlier today, I came across a pic that looked like it was of an all-girl drum corps. I have no idea of what country they're from, but the girls were oriental, and had really bright, colorful uniforms with red & yellow plus other colors. I can't remember when I saw the pic. Anyone know of an all-girl corps on that side of the planet? Bill

This is a really good thread! In all honesty, I don’t remember much about my first performance with a corps, not even where it was. Most of the ‘Old Days’ are a blur. So, since I can’t tell you about my very first time with a corps, instead, I’ll tell you about my first performance with Bridgemen. That I’m not likely to forget! (And for more reasons that it’s just being a few months ago!) An old friend that I’d marched with in Black Watch back in ’79 called me, and asked if I’d like to go with her to a show that Bridgemen were doing. She said that since she was in Bridgemen, I could sit in on the practice, and then see the show. It sounded like fun, so I said OK, I’d go. On Saturday, March 31st, Beth picked me up and we drove to Pompton Plains, NJ for the Emanon Winter Guard Show. On the drive up, Beth talked about being in Bridgemen, and got me more than a little interested. By the time we got up there, I was really giving some thought to joining. I never got the chance… When we arrived at the school where Bridgemen were going to practice, Beth introduced me to Bridgemen’s director, George Lavelle, and ‘casually’ mentioned that I was a contra player. My initial meeting with George went something like this: George: “Hi, Nice to meet you.” *Hand Shake* Me: “Hi, Nice to meet you, too.” George: “There’s a contra over there. Why don’t you go grab it, and head on inside?” Me: (With a really confused look on my face) “Umm, OK.” I picked up a contra, went inside, and found the room where the corps was getting ready to practice. I went in, and walked up to the contra line. They just kind of stood there and looked at me. I tried to smile at them, but I’m not too sure how it came out. I waved to them and said, “Hey everyone! I think I’m your new contra player.” I still didn’t get much of a reaction from them. So, I explained what had been said outside, which got a laugh out of them and the welcomes started. Practice went pretty good. In the four hours we rehearsed, I learned maybe half of Ritual Fire Dance/Sabre Dance and about ¼ of In The Stone. When we broke for dinner, the section leader went and talked to George, then came back to me and said that when we got to the (other) school for the show, I needed to make sure I found ‘Nancy’ to get a uniform & hat. *Put yet another totally confused look on my face* “Huh?” I said. “You’re in the show tonight. You can’t very well do it without a uniform, now can you?” For some odd reason, I had a really hard time eating the sub that I’d brought with for dinner after that. This wasn’t some little parade corps, this was Bridgemen! Forget the ‘Alumni’ added to the name, I’d just spent the past 4 hours practicing with them. This was the real thing! *OK, it’s time to wake up now. It was a really ‘interesting’ dream, but it’s time to wake up…* That didn’t work. I might have been in a daze, but I was definitely awake. The equipment truck was unloaded, I found ‘Nancy’, and was assigned my uniform. I just kind of held it and looked at it for awhile. I finally put it on. The thought that kept running thru my head was, “I’m wearing a Bridgemen uniform…” That lasted until Jim (our DM) caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up. At that point, my thoughts changed to, “My god! I’m actually IN Bridgemen!!!!!” After that, my confusion rapidly turned to sheer pride. Of course, then the nervousness set in… We spent awhile warming up outside, and then had to wait around in the school’s cafeteria until it was time to go on. Luckily for me, it was just going to be a standstill on a basketball court. We finally got the word, and lined up outside. The rusty, old instincts took over, and I snapped to Attention or Parade Rest with the best of them. The drumline started the streetbeat, and I marched forward with my back straight and my head held high. “I’m in Bridgemen!!!” The gym was packed to overflowing, and the cheering as we entered almost over-powered the drumline. We formed up, and played our show to a crowd that kept trying (very hard) to cheer louder than we could play. I did fairly good. I had enough sense to only play what I’d managed to learn, and sat out the rest. That gave me a good chance to watch the crowd, and that did it for me. THIS was where I wanted to be, and THIS was the corps that I wanted to be with. And, I was with them! According to Beth, I never stopped smiling once after the show or during the 2 hour ride home that night. I’ve been smiling a lot since that night… Bill