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Page #4 Player Feedback!!!!!
| Hello Dan! Greetings from a lukewarm Massachusetts! One of the new AHFTs found its way to my door this morning with G Slide. Absolutely fantastic horn; I'm having it tested by three professional trumpet players for even-ness of tone and sound quality tomorrow at school (I go to UMass Amherst; our trumpet professor is principal with the Albany Symphony, and our prof. Emeritus of Trumpet owns one of the first Stomvis ever made.) Hope they like it too! Valentine J. "Buddy" Bialecki BAA Easthampton, MA |
Greetings,
The Getzen Field Trumpet is a fine instrument. Fine fit and finish, good intonation
etc.. It has not become my favorite bugle, but let me explain my backround first. I'm
a French Horn player, not a Trumpet player, and am used to working a bit harder to
make the noise. Up till this point I have been bugleing with Amati 201 and 203, and
an old Couesnon Clairon. I was amazed at the "agility" and ease of playing the
Getzen, truley a friendly horn, but a little disappointed by the relatively small sound.
I suppose I just need to get used to the difference between a field trumpet and the
larger bore Clairon dOrdonnance. I am likely to use the Getzen when I am nervous
about missing notes, the thing is so easy to play, you almost CAN'T miss.
Neal Rudy BAA Peoria,IL
The Getzen Field Trumpet is a fine instrument. Fine fit and finish, good intonation
etc.. It has not become my favorite bugle, but let me explain my backround first. I'm
a French Horn player, not a Trumpet player, and am used to working a bit harder to
make the noise. Up till this point I have been bugleing with Amati 201 and 203, and
an old Couesnon Clairon. I was amazed at the "agility" and ease of playing the
Getzen, truley a friendly horn, but a little disappointed by the relatively small sound.
I suppose I just need to get used to the difference between a field trumpet and the
larger bore Clairon dOrdonnance. I am likely to use the Getzen when I am nervous
about missing notes, the thing is so easy to play, you almost CAN'T miss.
Neal Rudy BAA Peoria,IL
| Dear Mr. Erikson, Thanks for the email requesting feedback on my recent purchase of the American Heritage Field Trumpet. I’ve played Taps for over 50 military funerals as a member of the 120th Fighter Wing Honor Guard. As a bugler, I consider Taps to be the most important part of the military funeral honors given to our departed Veterans. If one rifle in the Firing Party misfires most likely no one will notice. But everyone notices if the bugler misses a note or the quality of the playing of Taps is poor. We leave the loved ones of these honored Veterans with those few notes of Taps, and as members of the Honor Guard we need to sound and look as good as possible for those attending the funeral. While I’ m not in the trumpet playing shape that I was in high school or college, I’ve still been able to play Taps for the Honor Guard on a variety of instruments. I’ve used my Bach Stradivarius, a student model cornet and a US Regulation bugle during ceremonies, always searching for the perfect horn to use. I haven’t had the opportunity to use the AHFT in a ceremony yet, but I am impressed with the quality of its playing, the ease of holding the horn and the quality of the workmanship that obviously has gone into its creation. It should always remind me of the single reason that I purchased it for--to pay the final respect to Veterans who have selflessly served our Nation. My many thanks go to the Getzen Company for building such a fine instrument, and also to you for your involvement as the Wisconsin State Director of Bugles Across America. I am proud to be one of the first in my state to own an American Heritage Field Trumpet. SMSgt Eric J. Peterson, Multimedia Manager 120th Fighter Wing/Montana Air National Guard |
| My name is Ret. Ofc. Robert Krupinski #366, from the Bergen County Sheriff's Dept. I have been doing Law Enforcement Memorials since the 1994 to the present. I have done 32 of 37 funerals for the Port Authority Police from the 9/11 tragerity. I am a professional Trumpet player and preformed Taps since that year 1994. When I have join as a member, Buglers Across America This Getzen field trumpet is awesome, It has a excellent sound as well as Brilliant tone, " I love the sound I get on this instrument! The upper register is as fat and big as the middle and lower, causing no thinned-out sound upstairs." I am very Proud and Honor to present this horn during my details. You have my permission to present my feed back on this very special horn. Thank you for designing this type of instrument for me and the rest of all those professional horn player out there. Sincerely, Ret. Ofc. Robert Krupinski #366 New Jersey State Bugler. |
Hi Dan,
Just a quick note to let you know that I absolutely love the field trumpet. The entire experience from ordering with
Getzen, the delivery time and of course the quality of the product was superb. The beautiful tone that is produced
from this instrument is unmatched. I would like to thank you for initiating your "Memorial Day daydream" and making
it a reality. Jack Saia BAA Getzville, NY
Just a quick note to let you know that I absolutely love the field trumpet. The entire experience from ordering with
Getzen, the delivery time and of course the quality of the product was superb. The beautiful tone that is produced
from this instrument is unmatched. I would like to thank you for initiating your "Memorial Day daydream" and making
it a reality. Jack Saia BAA Getzville, NY
| Dear Dan, You may want to add me to your list. I have an AHFT M2003E with the G slide purchased 10/17/03. I live in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am not ready for the Capitol rotunda in Indianapolis but I have enjoyed my bugle immensely. I have a cabin in the hills of Tennessee near Gainesboro and the sound of the bugle reverberating in the hills is wonderful. I have a neighbor across the valley that fires a cannon at the end of my playing taps. I will soon be ready to contribute playing taps in ceremonies. Best of luck and thank you for your efforts. Sincerely, Hugh R. Cameron, Capt. CAP United States Air Force Aux, Professional Development Officer Johnson County Senior Sqdn. Indianapolis, IN |
| Dan, I used to play concert French Horn and Jazz Trumpet many years ago. I had a scuzzy old Boy Scout Bugle that I played for gags mostly, as I had sold the horn and trumpet a while back. When my father asked me to play at his funeral and start volunteering for some of his W.W.II buddies I was at a loss. The Scout bugle played all right, but was bent and had turned green in many places. Then I found out about Bugles Across America from a Dear Abby column and decided I would volunteer as much as I could in this area of Texas. But... I was going to need a better bugle. My father bought me the Getzen M2003 and is it beautiful!! Tom Day was very helpful in suggesting that I get 2 spit valves and a 3-C mouthpiece which is deeper, more like my horn mouthpiece was. I immediately had a clear, wonderful tone and could play like I had been playing right along all of these years. The Getzen even made my husband sound good and he had been a Trombone and Euphonium player. It is a superb instrument. I got the g-slide and I like the lower tones it gives. They are the same as the original Rexcraft bugle( same key ) and it is our hope that someday both my husband and I will be able to play duets. I also found a good place to carry it where it won't be dented or scratched. Lorie Carnes BAA Plano,TX |
Dan,
We received the M2003 bugle with a G slide in time for the Commissioning Ceremony of the Delaware Military. The
bugle looks good, especially the Bugles Across Amerca engraving. It seems easier to play than a trumpet,
requiring less air. It is also much lighter and easier to hold during hour long ceremonies. Andrew used it for the
Purple Heart Memorial dedication yesterday. A photo is attached. (see Bugler Pic's Tab ) Thanks for all your work
on this. Jim and Andrew Feeley BAA Delaware
We received the M2003 bugle with a G slide in time for the Commissioning Ceremony of the Delaware Military. The
bugle looks good, especially the Bugles Across Amerca engraving. It seems easier to play than a trumpet,
requiring less air. It is also much lighter and easier to hold during hour long ceremonies. Andrew used it for the
Purple Heart Memorial dedication yesterday. A photo is attached. (see Bugler Pic's Tab ) Thanks for all your work
on this. Jim and Andrew Feeley BAA Delaware
| Add my name to the list of excited owners of the Field Trumpet. My wife gave me serial #1013 for my birthday, and I was absolutely thrilled! It's a real musical instrument -- blows slightly better than my Getzen trumpet -- and I love interchanging the G and Bb slides (while changing mouthpieces) to make it sound like two different instruments. "Taps" sounds best in G, while "To the Colors" comes out best in Bb. The carrying case is bulky, but that's a trivial complaint compared to the pride I feel when performing with my shiny new horn. Richard Loftin, BAA MA |
| I am so impressed with my Getzen M2003S that I hope to buy another one soon. The workmanship is wonderful and the field trumpet has my full recommendation. The other horn would be for my best friend whose father served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. My friend has previous trumpet experience and is also interested in honoring his father, and other veterans through Bugles Across America. Please express my gratitude to the Getzen Company for manufacturing such a wonderful instrument, and partnering with Bugles Across America to honor our nation's veterans. Jim Naylor BAA CA |
Dan,
Hi. I am Ray's father. He is a very busy kid. I will try to remind him to send you feedback. He did a funeral on
Saturday and also this morning with the horn. He loves it. His mother and I gave it to him as a token of our pride
in his accomplishment in earning his Eagle on Sept. 10th and also for his Sept. 11th birthday. I am also
attaching a picture of him with his new horn. Bryce Banks, Proud Pop of Ray Banks, BAA CO
Hi. I am Ray's father. He is a very busy kid. I will try to remind him to send you feedback. He did a funeral on
Saturday and also this morning with the horn. He loves it. His mother and I gave it to him as a token of our pride
in his accomplishment in earning his Eagle on Sept. 10th and also for his Sept. 11th birthday. I am also
attaching a picture of him with his new horn. Bryce Banks, Proud Pop of Ray Banks, BAA CO
| Dan, I am an officer in the Navy Reserve and experienced first hand the shortage of buglers. You ask anyone in the service and I can almost guarantee you that they will frown when you mention a non-live version of Taps...no matter how the recording is played. Having some musical abilities, I decided to pick one up and learn to play. Looking on the web for information, I stumbled upon the BAA. I was so impressed by this organization of veterans and patriots, giving their time and skills (some learning for the first time). It inspires pride in our country when a US company and its employees develop such a fantastic instrument as the AHFT for the purpose of honoring our nation's fallen heroes. Getzen takes this further by offering this bugle at a significant discount to those who are willing to step forward and answer the call. It truly shows what made this nation great. The trumpet itself is truly a piece of fine craftsmanship - an instrument of the best quality. Also, keep your AHFT website going ! Its an excellent source for those looking for one of the few quality bugles out there and will hopefully encourage more folks to join in the effort. BJ Reuter BAA Flemington, NJ |
| Dan, I am happy to give you some very positive feedback about the AHFT, and feel free to post it wherever you want. Not only does it look great, but the sound quality is excellent. I purchased the optional slide which has allowed me to once again sound Taps at veteran funerals. In July I had braces put on, and with my Bb trumpet I was having trouble because it was too high. But with the slide I am having no problem. VFW Post #2121 Honor guard has also been very complimentary of the trumpet and even gave me a pair of white gloves so that I could keep it clean. I hope you can tell that I am very happy with this horn. Ray Banks BAA Greely CO |
Hi Dan,
The Field Trumpet is very impressive. It has a nice full sound and a wonderful tone. I am still experimenting
with different mouthpieces for the best tone and intonation. I have found the intonation to be very consistent.
The only thing that I have noticed is that with the tuning slide all the way in I am still playing slightly flat unless I
consciously think about changing my embouchure to raise the pitch a few cents. I have 3 trumpets (Bb, C,
Piccolo), and a Flugelhorn all from different manufacturers and have the tuning slide extended roughly 1/2" on
each to put the horns at 440. The finish and logo on the Field Trumpet are great. I do wish that the case had
a separate compartment for the additional G tuning slide. The feel of the Field Trumpet in my hand is very
good, although having performed with a valve trumpet for many years does make the light weight of the Field
Trumpet feel strange at first. I commend the Getzen company for producing an American made Field Trumpet
of such high quality and at a reasonable price. Feel free to list my name as a proud owner of the Getzen
American Heritage Field Trumpet. Bob Masters BAA Genoa, NV
The Field Trumpet is very impressive. It has a nice full sound and a wonderful tone. I am still experimenting
with different mouthpieces for the best tone and intonation. I have found the intonation to be very consistent.
The only thing that I have noticed is that with the tuning slide all the way in I am still playing slightly flat unless I
consciously think about changing my embouchure to raise the pitch a few cents. I have 3 trumpets (Bb, C,
Piccolo), and a Flugelhorn all from different manufacturers and have the tuning slide extended roughly 1/2" on
each to put the horns at 440. The finish and logo on the Field Trumpet are great. I do wish that the case had
a separate compartment for the additional G tuning slide. The feel of the Field Trumpet in my hand is very
good, although having performed with a valve trumpet for many years does make the light weight of the Field
Trumpet feel strange at first. I commend the Getzen company for producing an American made Field Trumpet
of such high quality and at a reasonable price. Feel free to list my name as a proud owner of the Getzen
American Heritage Field Trumpet. Bob Masters BAA Genoa, NV
| Dan, Nathan is playing in the pep band at a football playoff game tonight, and will hopefully give you his own feedback soon, but I wanted to let you know how glad my husband and I are that we purchased the AHFT Elite. The horn is absolutely beautiful, both in appearance and sound. Nathan has not yet been called for funeral duty, but on Veterans Day, we went to the cemetery with him to pay tribute to his great-grandfather who was a World War II veteran. It was a cold, windy afternoon and a heavy rain started just as we reached the cemetery. Nathan had just gotten out of school and had no chance to warm up. He took the Getzen from its case, put the cold horn to his lips, and sent the 24 notes ringing out across the cemetery with the most amazing sound. As the last note faded away, tears mixed with the raindrops sliding down his cheeks. Tom Getzen is to be commended for producing such a fine instrument and should, along with you, receive even higher praise for his dedication to the BAA cause. Thank you to both of you for all of your work in seeing that America's veterans receive the honors they deserve, and that our buglers have access to such fine horns. Proud mother of a BAA bugler, Valarie Gano Georgetown, KY |
| This Getzen Field Trumpet Bugle is absolutely marvelous. It resonates with an ease and brightness that impressed me from the first notes I played. Mine is embossed with the Bugles Across America as well. 1 week after I received my Getzen I played it for a Veterans Day memorial service held in our community by my VFW post. At the end of the program and after the rifle salute two of us presented Taps in echo. I played my Getzen Bugle and my partner played his Silver trumpet. The difference in sound was immediately noticable and the visual impression and respect displayed of someone actually playing a real bugle was something about which everyone commented after the service. So much so, that my bugling partner is now planning to buy an identical bugle so that we can give the playing of military honors the sound and visual presentation it deserves. I've been recommending this bugle to every player I know and hope to keep using it until I can't blow a note anymore. Daniel Niebuhr BAA Kennewick, WA |