MCL_Contra

I just purchased a gold Mike Finn MF1 Heavyweight mouthpiece for my Contra. I find that my range is better and my flexibility has improve dramatically over my Schilke Helleburg II. My low end range is much stronger as well.

Hey, I can tell you that Legend is looking for more Contra players as well. We currently have 2 and while they play like 6 we could use more help. If you live anywhere near the SouthEast and want to march in a great Corps come take a look at MCL. We also need more drummers.

I really like my DEG Contra Grande, but then I've never played a Kanstul either.

Phantom all the way!

Music City Legend - DEG 4-valve Contra Grande

I was refering to going the other way (from Bb to G)! :)

Yeah! You can't march Drum Corps with it! :sshh:

Yea, I can keep my hand up on the higher tubing for a while but then I will suddenly realize I'm holding the bottom tubing. It's easier on the arm but not as stable.

As far as playing well with others. If you are going to play a G bugle with others playing Bb horns then your music will need to be transposed down a minor third. This will allow the normal fingerings to be used to produce the same pitches as all the others. This can be confusing if you think about it too hard. Most G corps (that don't write in treble clef only) will write their music just the same as a if for a concert band. The total sound you hear however will be a third lower in pitch

I've only been playing mine for a few months now but it's really not too bad. The main thing you have to be careful about is not killing your fellow hornline members. Watch those teeth gang!

Hey Ed, Call me!

Because it is a BUGLE not a TUBA. It has a more conical shape throughout it's tubing than a Tuba does. Go to the manufacturers websites and see what they call them. You will find that they ARE in different families. Concert horns can have different pitches (i.e. Bb, C, F, E) but only BUGLES are pitched in G. There are no concert horns pitched in G that I am aware of and no Bugles in any key other than G.

I love to hear a big rich bottom end with nice crisp top end highlites! To me that is the essence of power!

Tradition may take precedent here in what people call what. But there IS a difference. Concert horns (i.e. Bb) are trumpets/tubas while Bugles are sopranos/contras. These are "official terms and are not truely interchangable. That being said though, I don't think it's a big deal if someone calls a tuba player a contra. Especially if they don't know it's a Bb horn or can't tell the difference visually.

I have a 5 year old DEG/Wilson 4 valve Contra. I purchased it a couple of months ago from The Brass Shop. It came from the Madison Scouts and is in remarkably good condition and it came with a hard shell case. I use a Schilke HII (Helleberg 2) mouthpiece

Bought one of the Scouts Contras. Plays very well and looks great. It has a few dings but the finish is in excellent condition.

Troopers are selling their K90's for $1500

I recently purchased a used (5 year old) DEG 4 valve Contra from the Madison Scouts (Actually through The Brass Shop). I got it for $2400 which I thought was an excellent price considering a new one is over $10,000. I think the quality of the horn is excellent and aside from some slight intonation quirks (which I believe are related more to my lip than anything else) it plays and sounds wonderful. Having never played a Kanstul though I really can't make a valid comparison. Contras RULE!!!!