Looking to buy an "Amazon.Com" or "Ebay" special.
A true E-mail Exchange (Edited for privacy)
From a now Happy Customer of a Centennial Bugle
He even made a YouTube Video:
Note: In this video the purchaser shows gloves and cleaning cloth included with the bugle.
It turns out that the manufacturer no longer includes these items.
On Jul 16, 2011 2:36 PM, "Brett C" wrote:
The bugle arrived today. My son has declared it "awesome". Unlike the cheapie we
bought previously, this one sounds like a bugle, which is to say similar to our
cornet with valves 1-2 pressed. Possibly a bit mellower, too. Case is impressive
as well. And the white gloves are a nice touch...
Thanks! A video comparison is forthcoming...
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Brett C
> To: "fred@scoutbugle.com"
> Subject: Re: I want to buy a bugle
> Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:02:53 -0700
>
> Since our last email, I bought a "bargain" bugle from Amazon, and now I'm
back. :) The bargain bugle looks nice enough, but for reasons I don't fully
understand it doesn't sound good, and is harder to hit high notes on than the
cornet. To reproduce the bugle's sound on my son's cornet, I have to use
fingerings 1-3, 1-2, 1-3, and 1 for the first 4 notes, with the 3rd valve slide
pulled way out.
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 6:49 PM, Fred@ScoutBugle.com wrote:
>
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Brett C
> To: Sales@scoutbugle.com
> Subject: I want to buy a bugle
> Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:54:09 -0700
>
> My son recently became the bugler for his Scout troop. However, the troop
doesn't own a bugle, so the head Scoutmaster asked me to buy one for troop use
(I used to play trumpet and bugle myself, so I'm at least mildly qualified). I
need to get it pretty quickly, since summer camp is late July and my son needs a
bit of time to practice.
> -> He can start practicing on his cornet RIGHT NOW - If you plan to use the
"G" bugle he can simulate that bugle by pressing down the 1-2 valve combination.
>
> I like your website and the information you have on your bugles. Your
"Centennial" model is currently looking very attractive, but also fairly
expensive relative to the $30-$50 "bargains" I found on ebay and amazon. Can you
help me form a compelling argument for why your bugles are worth it? ; Some more
specific questions:
>
> -> The problem with the bargains is there's minimal quality control, you (and
usually the seller) has no idea what you're getting. Could you get a nice bugle,
sure, not that hard to make and there's a chance of getting a good one...there's
also a chance you'll get a true piece of junk. I get e-mail all the time from
these "manufacturers" I would love to be able to sell a $50 bugle on the
site..but once they send a sample I almost laugh at the poor quality.
> Is there any warranty on your bugles? I know they don't have moving parts, but
are there welds between tubes that might pop, or finish that might peel, etc? If
I spend $200 of the troop's money, I'm sure they'd like one that will last.
> I really don't have a formal warranty and the logic is simple, it's only as
good as the person who backs it up, and since in either case that's me if
there's any problems it would be more of a "what's a reasonable solution." If
folks aren't happy in the first week or two, that's a no brainer...if it's after
a year that becomes questionable.
Bottom line is only TWO centennials have been
returned. One was a fellow who acted like an expert who sent a nasty e-mail
about how bad one of the prototype batches played and how it ruined a
performance, etc, etc, etc. Well after a week of staring at the unopened return
box I finally screwed up the courage to open it (since I already had a few
hundred paid for and in the works and if these things were going to be returned
I was in a big hurt.) I played it, OH NO, THIS SUCKS, then realized (after about
3 seconds) that the cork fell out of the spit valve!! Not an uncommon problem
and easy enough to discover and fix, something this "expert" failed to do. The
new buyer of that horn LOVED IT.
>
> The second fellow was a Trumpet major who decided after buying the Centennial
that he just HAD TO have a Kanstul horn. Status or something. Since you're from
California you'll understand this: <Comment Deleted>.
>
> Bottom line is if it's reasonable, I'll take care of you...it might mean
covering $25 for a local fellow to do a quick solder job. I try to keep the site
a Scouting site by acting like a good Scouter when dealing with folks.
Sort of letting the "Scout Law" be your guide.
>
> This is tough to answer, but how resistant are they to dings and bending? I've
seen a lot of flattened bells over the years...
> Not Very. These are lightweight brass and musical instruments made to make
music.
> How robust are the grab bag and bugle case? Will they stand up to camping
trips? Are they washable?
> Gig bag is just a nylon bag with light padding. The case is basically
Styrofoam with a cover for protection...It'll do reasonably well, and I have
"sit tested" it. It'll protect against drops etc. I've shipped quite a few
already with the horn in the case (with a thin outer box and just a few peanuts
to fill up some dead space.... NOT ONE DAMAGED HORN REPORTED SINCE SHIPPING IN
THESE CASES....a couple of hundred horns. Not really washable. In the case these
should do reasonably well, but if placed under a bunch of heavy gear which gets
thrown on in...well. I don't have that case.
>
> Myself, and a fellow out in Fresno are working on that "drop from a mountain"
protection...but it's still on the drawing board and it might be too heavy to be
practical...but we're playing with ideas for the ultimate back packing bugle
case.
> My son currently plays a cornet. I assume the transition to bugle will be
pretty easy, though I think you make a point on the website about the Centennial
being compatible with trumpet mouthpieces instead of cornet mouthpieces. Is this
significant?
> He will have no problem once he compensates for the differences between "G"
and B-flat (which shouldn't take long). The mouthpiece issue is only important
in that he can't use his cornet mouthpiece, but the lips won't tell the
difference.
>
> -fred
> Thanks for your help!
>
> -Brett
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