wvu80 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 4 Eb Trumpet16 Bb Trumpet (or 8 Bb Trumpets and 8 Bb Cornets) Chris, question from a dumb drummer here; what would the Eb trumpets do that the Bb trumpets would not? +++ Side comment: What, no King flugals? (a la BD in the early 80's) And another meaninless side comment: I don't think the key of the tubas is as important as the size. Everybody seems to like those HUGE Contra Grande's, but I remember the old smaller contra bugles, and man could BD ever project and focus the sound with 6 to 8 of those smaller horns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomnoise Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Eb trumpets are pitched higher than Bb trumpets and have a bit more of a bite to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Kirby Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Agreed. But never say never. Someday, someone will grow a pair and go against the tyranny of the 4 voice choir (5 if you count Euphs). I would be interested to hear a Bb/Eb line - that would be cool. Eb tubas would add a great low end. Of maybe I am just geeking out because I am playing in a brass band. Here's a wacky thought: 4 Bb Piccolo 4 Eb Trumpet 16 Bb Trumpet (or 8 Bb Trumpets and 8 Bb Cornets) 6 Eb Mellophones (I know, they don't exist - would need a custom slide) 10 Bb French Horns 12 Bb Baritones 12 Bb Euphoniums 8 Bb Tubas 8 Eb Tubas When I first heard the proposal for any-key brass, I naively thought corps would add voices to their existing lines. I thought we would see something like the following, at least for better-off corps: F or G angel horns, Bb or C trumpets, G flugels and mellos, F frenchies, Bb baris, G euphs and BBb and GG contras. Can you imagine what Hy, Jim or Tru would have done with that? Mind you, according to a quote from Hy it was the G choir voicing that produced the unique drum corps sound. Still, it would have been something to hear. There's nothing like 6 part bass and bari harmony for the Tsar's Hymn segment of the 1812 overture. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-horns Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 When I first heard the proposal for any-key brass, I naively thought corps would add voices to their existing lines. I thought we would see something like the following, at least for better-off corps:F or G angel horns, Bb or C trumpets, G flugels and mellos, F frenchies, Bb baris, G euphs and BBb and GG contras. Can you imagine what Hy, Jim or Tru would have done with that? Mind you, according to a quote from Hy it was the G choir voicing that produced the unique drum corps sound. Still, it would have been something to hear. There's nothing like 6 part bass and bari harmony for the Tsar's Hymn segment of the 1812 overture. Robert I know that back in the G-D days, Hy was writing some charts with 5 part bass and bari harmony. (Along with 3+ sop, 1 mello and 2 frenchie parts.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agogobell28 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Hey, does anyone happen to know if any of these horns are for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vance Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Came across this thread. Very interesting. I played the Meehaphone with the 1991 BD and I love the sound. So I went to work on a 3-valves F version, and I had it done couple of weeks ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shofmon88 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Interesting necro'd thread. That new 3-valve version is an interesting looking horn. What's it sound like? Does the 3rd valve make it feel a bit "stuffier"? Speaking of 3rd valves and insane horns, why don't you try and make a 2 valve Bb soprano? I've heard constantly, and experienced myself, that 2 valve horns were freer blowing (and louder) than 3 valve horns. Why not make a "lead" Bb soprano that someone can blow the heck out of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vance Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 21 hours ago, shofmon88 said: Interesting necro'd thread. That new 3-valve version is an interesting looking horn. What's it sound like? Does the 3rd valve make it feel a bit "stuffier"? Speaking of 3rd valves and insane horns, why don't you try and make a 2 valve Bb soprano? I've heard constantly, and experienced myself, that 2 valve horns were freer blowing (and louder) than 3 valve horns. Why not make a "lead" Bb soprano that someone can blow the heck out of? Kanstul is still making them, so I'll leave that market to them. My goal is to create and explore a new market, I think what I'm doing can achieve that. What's missing with the traditional key is the soprano bugle and contrabass sound. The trumpets sounds very thin and their smaller 4/4 size tuba is being buried by electronics. That's why the sound of modern day drum corps is hallow. All you have to do is listen to 1986 Blue Devils and 2017 Blue Coast, you will be able to tell the missing element. As for the horn, I played the original megaphone with 91 BD, and my latest creation actually plays a lot better in tune. This is a prototype, the question is if I can get a group to play them, so I can put it through production. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidp Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) Why not just make something like an alto flugelhorn (still in G, or I guess Bb now)? To me, that’s what the meehaphone looks like. 🙂🙂🙂 Edited August 6, 2021 by davidp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Pirtle Posted February 6, 2023 Author Share Posted February 6, 2023 Tiffany Johns acquired the Meehaphone that was in Ken Norman’s collection and created a great video with some playing samples: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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