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Page 3 of Player FeedBack!!
| I would like to preface my feedback comments with the following: I'm a trumpet player and have never owned or purchased a bugle (BAA inspired me to purchase the Getzen Field Trumpet), I received my bugle this month (12/03) and have only had it for about 2 weeks, and I have not played it at any actual events or funerals. Since I figured that I would only get called 2-3 times a year, I opted for the M2003 in clear lacquer and the optional G slide because I was trying to be reasonable with the cost of my purchase. First, I want to say thank you to Getzen for making this horn a reality. It is good to see people and companies "step up to the plate" and give something back to those who gave something for us. I thought that the horn was reasonably priced and the engraving of the BAA logo on the bell was big added "bonus". The case that came with the horn is very nice. I'm partial to Pro Tec cases and the case for the Field Trumpet is either made by Pro Tec or a good "knock off". In short, I'm very pleased with the case and think that it should provide some good protection for my Field Trumpet. It would be nice if the case had a place to store the G slide. I know that you can only use one slide at a time, but I think it is nice to have both slides available and the only place to carry the slide is in the exterior zipper pocked which doesn't provide much (if any) protection. The finish on the horn is nice and what I expected. The tuning slide moves smoothly and the G slide fit appropriately. The water key operates well and provides a good seal on the "spit hole". Since I've never owned a bugle, I have only "messed around" with them briefly. Compared to the bugles I've seen this one is built much better. It is built more like a musical instrument (which is what I was looking for) than most bugles which to me are built like toys or wall ornaments. Since I'm a trumpet player, I had to get use to the weight (less than a trumpet because of no valves) of the instrument, but it does fit in my hand well and has a comfortable feel when playing. Intonation on the instrument is good. Although I haven't played it outside (yet), it seems like it should have good sound projection. I haven't played much with the G slide. I personally like the sound of the Bb better. I guess that comes from playing taps on my trumpet (past member of fire department honor guard). In summary, I would recommend the Getzen American Heritage Field trumpet to anyone looking for a good quality bugle. It is a good instrument (not toy) for the cost and it has the authentic "bugle look". Again, thank you to the Getzen company for making this instrument a reality. Garret Lewis, BAA Ladysmith, VA |
While I was in Omaha, just before Christmas, I had the opportunity to show my Mother and Father the Getzen. I sounded
some calls for them including Taps. They paid for the bulk of the price of the Getzen for a Birthday/Christmas gift just after
Thanksgiving.
The assignments that I had in St. Louis the Friday after the 24th of December went very well. The horn sounded beautiful.
My father passed away the following week on the 2nd of January. January 6th I sounded Taps for the 3rd time, with the
Getzen, at his funeral. He sure liked that horn!! SSgt. Duane D. Fly Missouri MFH's Jefferson Barracks, MO
some calls for them including Taps. They paid for the bulk of the price of the Getzen for a Birthday/Christmas gift just after
Thanksgiving.
The assignments that I had in St. Louis the Friday after the 24th of December went very well. The horn sounded beautiful.
My father passed away the following week on the 2nd of January. January 6th I sounded Taps for the 3rd time, with the
Getzen, at his funeral. He sure liked that horn!! SSgt. Duane D. Fly Missouri MFH's Jefferson Barracks, MO
| Dano, I opened my M2003S AHFT on Sun. Jan. 31st 2004. I was on alert Duty at Shaw Air Force Base located in Sumpter, SC. The notes echoed across the flight line. I played Taps in both keys. What a beautiful sounding instrument! I'm scheduled to play Taps for the 9th Air Force, 12 Outstanding Airmen Of The Year function at Shaw Air Force Base. What a privilege it will be! The 9th Air Force wanted a live bugler rather than the Digital ( FAKE ) bugle. TSgt. Stephen Goshorn DET 1 158FW F-16 Alert Crew Chief Shaw AFB, SC |
| Dan, I recently purchased the Getzen AHFT model M2003ES with G-slide after hearing your sound bite on this site. My thanks to you, Jari Villanueva, Tom Day and Mark Elrod for pursing this project. I have played trumpet for over forty years and have sounded TAPS on both my New York Bach Strad and 1960 Schilke. Currently, I am one of my police department's Buglers and had been searching for a Bugle similar to the Bach Field Trumpet that was made for the US Army Band, and the Getzen AHFT is the answer to that search. The horn is free blowing, intonation superb and the tone color is rich and dark, when I use my Giardinelle 3V mouthpiece. It has a brighter sound when I use my Girardinelli 3C, but with either mouthpiece it is an excellent horn. I recently used it to sound echo-taps for a candlelight memorial service sponsored by an FBI National Academy Class at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC, and even in the bitter cold the intonation held true and the tone color was excellent. Again my thanks for pursuing the production of this horn. Rich Pasciuto BAA Bowie, MD |
I greatly appreciate Tom Getzen working with what must be a really focused niche market and as a result was happy to spend
the money to get a custom made bugle to use on my honor guard duties. I'll certainly do what I can to promote the instrument.
I'm lucky enough to live in an area that has a veteran's honor guard and began playing taps for them about a year and a half ago.
I probably average about 5 funerals a month but go through stretches where I play 4-5 a week. I've been playing on my Bach
Strad trumpet but had been looking for a bugle for a long time to try to make things more authentic and also during the winter
months I've had my valves freeze up a few times on the gig, a bad situation to say the lease. I had tried numerous cheap bugles
off ebay but I'm really particular about the equipment I play on.
When I came upon the the Getzen FT through the BAA website I was a bit reluctant to shell out the money for what is a
volunteer gig but it had gotten such rave reviews I decided to go for it.
As I've said before, I'm really particular about what I play so I'm more critical than some. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts
on the instrument thus far, please feel free to distribute this as you see fit. I think the horn has a beautiful sound and plays really
well in tune. In practice sessions I've been very pleased with the sound and how the notes slot as compared to what I'm used
to. On the gig, though, I'm still getting used to it. I've played it on three funerals thus far and while it's sounded good, it's more
mellow than what I'm used to (I suspect due to the conical bore) so I'm having to adjust. But really I don't think I've done
enough funerals to really guage the instrument yet, also the funerals I have done have been in really inclimate weather. I'll have
a more educated opinion in several weeks. If you want, I will follow up later.
Anyway, that's what I think thus far, let me know if I can help. Eric Evans BAA Bloomington, IN
the money to get a custom made bugle to use on my honor guard duties. I'll certainly do what I can to promote the instrument.
I'm lucky enough to live in an area that has a veteran's honor guard and began playing taps for them about a year and a half ago.
I probably average about 5 funerals a month but go through stretches where I play 4-5 a week. I've been playing on my Bach
Strad trumpet but had been looking for a bugle for a long time to try to make things more authentic and also during the winter
months I've had my valves freeze up a few times on the gig, a bad situation to say the lease. I had tried numerous cheap bugles
off ebay but I'm really particular about the equipment I play on.
When I came upon the the Getzen FT through the BAA website I was a bit reluctant to shell out the money for what is a
volunteer gig but it had gotten such rave reviews I decided to go for it.
As I've said before, I'm really particular about what I play so I'm more critical than some. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts
on the instrument thus far, please feel free to distribute this as you see fit. I think the horn has a beautiful sound and plays really
well in tune. In practice sessions I've been very pleased with the sound and how the notes slot as compared to what I'm used
to. On the gig, though, I'm still getting used to it. I've played it on three funerals thus far and while it's sounded good, it's more
mellow than what I'm used to (I suspect due to the conical bore) so I'm having to adjust. But really I don't think I've done
enough funerals to really guage the instrument yet, also the funerals I have done have been in really inclimate weather. I'll have
a more educated opinion in several weeks. If you want, I will follow up later.
Anyway, that's what I think thus far, let me know if I can help. Eric Evans BAA Bloomington, IN
| Hi Dan, The horn is great! Okay, so you were looking for a little more detail, eh? I've had the opportunity to blow "Taps" 3 times since picking up the horn at the Getzen shop a couple of weeks ago and I am thoroughly impressed with it. It has a slightly darker sound than I was expecting but I brightened it up slightly by using a Denis Wick 3C mouthpiece (this piece is intended for use with Eb trumpets). For outdoor use, I've got a Kelly Lexan 3C which also gives the sound a little more edge. In each of the instances I've played so far, the Honor detail has said how impressed they were with the sound, and the fact that a live bugler showed up. They were also very impressed with how the horn looks. The finish is absolutely superb as is the BAA engraving. I'm completely pleased and satisfied with the instrument. Paul Roache BAA Detroit, MI |
Dan,
The Field Trumpet is EXCELLENT!! I was amazed at how light it is. Craftsmanship is of the highest quality. I am glad
you had the daydream so I could purchase an AMERICAN product to honor our Veterans and grateful to Tom Getzen
for producing it. I will be playing for our VFW POST 5563 in Valley City Ohio. I too have a desire to honor our
veterans which was brought on by the passing of my father in January. He was Navy, in the dental corps, stationed
on Guam during W.W.II. I would not have a CD of taps played for him, nor do I want it for any other veteran. There is
no heart in that. These men and women put there lives on the line so we can enjoy the freedom we have today. I
expressed my desire to sound Taps to my brothers of the Post and they paid for the Getzen AHFT! They made a dream
come true for me as well. I hope I make them proud! Keith Rush BAA Valley City, OH
The Field Trumpet is EXCELLENT!! I was amazed at how light it is. Craftsmanship is of the highest quality. I am glad
you had the daydream so I could purchase an AMERICAN product to honor our Veterans and grateful to Tom Getzen
for producing it. I will be playing for our VFW POST 5563 in Valley City Ohio. I too have a desire to honor our
veterans which was brought on by the passing of my father in January. He was Navy, in the dental corps, stationed
on Guam during W.W.II. I would not have a CD of taps played for him, nor do I want it for any other veteran. There is
no heart in that. These men and women put there lives on the line so we can enjoy the freedom we have today. I
expressed my desire to sound Taps to my brothers of the Post and they paid for the Getzen AHFT! They made a dream
come true for me as well. I hope I make them proud! Keith Rush BAA Valley City, OH
The horn plays very well in Bb. Being that it was the only other horn aside from my rexcraft and gunja din bugles at the
time. It almost played itself relatively speaking. Having my american made horn come with a mouthpiece that was made
in germany was kind of a shocker though. The horn is kind of stuffy with the G slide. And doesn't speak as well as it
does on the Bb side. I've done drum and bugle corps for a long time and prefer a G horn. And being a low brass guy
the G horns fit me better. I practice almost exclusively on my Kanstul Powerbore Soprano (in G) and the getzen AHFT
(in Bb, even though I have the G crook). But I'm a Euphonium player by default. And was an MOS 02E - Trombone
player for a number of years. I have other bugles as well, but they're not much fun to practice on. The rexcraft one,
while in G doesn't produce as sharp and crisp a sound. And is generally hard to play on. It doesn't even sound the
fundamental note on the horn. I have two gunja din bugles too. One sounds between B and C, and the other fairly close
to C. They're supposed to sound Bb. The C one slots well and is almost fun to practice on, if I had the range to do so
comfortably for extended periods of time. The Getzen AHFT is the best valveless bugle I own. I just wish it sounded
and played as good with the G slide in place. James Shatto BAA Jarrell, TX
time. It almost played itself relatively speaking. Having my american made horn come with a mouthpiece that was made
in germany was kind of a shocker though. The horn is kind of stuffy with the G slide. And doesn't speak as well as it
does on the Bb side. I've done drum and bugle corps for a long time and prefer a G horn. And being a low brass guy
the G horns fit me better. I practice almost exclusively on my Kanstul Powerbore Soprano (in G) and the getzen AHFT
(in Bb, even though I have the G crook). But I'm a Euphonium player by default. And was an MOS 02E - Trombone
player for a number of years. I have other bugles as well, but they're not much fun to practice on. The rexcraft one,
while in G doesn't produce as sharp and crisp a sound. And is generally hard to play on. It doesn't even sound the
fundamental note on the horn. I have two gunja din bugles too. One sounds between B and C, and the other fairly close
to C. They're supposed to sound Bb. The C one slots well and is almost fun to practice on, if I had the range to do so
comfortably for extended periods of time. The Getzen AHFT is the best valveless bugle I own. I just wish it sounded
and played as good with the G slide in place. James Shatto BAA Jarrell, TX
| Dano, Like so many stories I have read, I too have participated in many funerals with my V.F.W. Post 9295 Color Guard. Three of us supplied the rifle squad for a departed member last November. He was a former Marine so the Marine Corps. sent a three man squad for flag and taps detail. You guessed it, they brought a "boom-box". I played trumpet in the high school marching band, so the next step seemed to be to start exercising the umbrature again. I picked up my new M2003, serial #GE 1105, last Friday. It's been thirty+ years but this horn really plays easily. Baring a sudden funeral detail, my first request has come from the City of Mentor, Ohio, Parks and Recreation Director to play at the city wide Memorial Day Ceremony. Wayne Pless Bugler |
| Dan, My new Getzen field horn is truley a beautiful work of art! I have been practicing with the G-slide, which I believe is a little more difficult than playing in B flat. But I have been playing in B flat all my life. The M2003ES looks alot like my Bach Strativarious, and has the same beautiful tone quality. I am very satisfied with my purchase, and would recommend this horn to all . The best part for me is never having to worry about a frozen valve again John Stoffer BAA Elkhart, IN |
| Dan: Good morning...you sent an e-mail regarding the Getzen bugle and I'm replying for Aaron. Aaron is my twelve-year old son, who is a Boy Scout, working towards becoming his troop's bugler. After searching for a "Boy Scout" bugle and coming up "empty", we decided to buy Aaron the Getzen American Heritage Field Trumpet. Two weeks ago, he began taking lessons with a local gentleman, John Patterson, who was a trumpeter with the US Marine Band and a member of Bugles Across America. Aaron has come a long way in only two weeks, but needless to say, he also has a long way to go to sound the way he should for the basic bugle calls. He absolutely "loves" his bugle, especially the very attractive and easy-to-carry hard case. It is his dream to be able to share his talent through the mission of the Bugles Across America organization. Lois Knowlson Woodbridge, NJ |
| HI, sorry for not getting back sooner, I have just performed with the Heritage for the first time this weekend. It was just great with the G slide and a joy to play vs my trumpet. Richard Pelchat BAA Deerfield Beach, FL |
| Ho-ly smokes .. .I'd been sounding with my 3-valve Bb trumpet as I listened to MP3 files of the best recordings of "Taps" that I could find. These are not just files of any old Joe -- I've got the file Jari Villanueva has on his website, www.tapsbugler.com, and the model recordings on the official Army Band and Navy Band websites -- "Taps" as played by the very finest players in the world. And every time I listened to those files, and then sounded with my old trumpet, I kept asking asked myself, "I wonder how many more years I'll need to practice to get to the point where I sound anything even remotely like these buglers?"Well, journey over. The very first "Taps" I sounded on the M2003ES -- with the Bb slide in, no less -- sounded exactly like those files I've been struggling to emulate. My "Reveille" sounds like "Reveille," and not like a sackful of squeaky toys being dropped off a bridge. The responsiveness of this horn, the whisper-light resistance, are amazing. And while the horn has wonderful warmth with even my old-standby Warburton 4MD mouthpiece, it has full, mellow, substantial, three-dimensional warmth with the Getzen 3C mouthpiece.I am so pleased. I am almost moved to tears by the fact that this horn's first public outing will be at the farewell to my best friend in the whole world. I can tell right now that my American Heritage Elite is going to become a cherished possession. Thanks again so very much to Tom Getzen and his company -- for their thoughtfulness in making this wonderful. all-American horn. Tom Morrisey BAA Horton, MI |