Barrington - Flugel Horn
Disclaimer: Please note any reviews on this site are purely of my own opinion.
I recommend you check other sites or Google for additional information on products when trying to make a purchase decision.
These are some horns you can buy from a US online retailer.
I'm pretty sure that these are a private 'in-house' brand.
I purchased one a while ago to test out and I thought I'd give it a go as the reviews were all shining about this horn.
Basically, the old adage applies here - "you get what you pay for"
This is a Taiwanese manufactured horn that has some good an bad elements to it.
It could have been a great horn with just a few little tweaks here and there - but is really let down by cutting corners where it counts the most.
PROS:
The Look: This horn looks pretty nice. Simple design - and finished in tri-tone colours.
It really looks like a more expensive horn than it is. The Bell section is finished in a nice copper tone.
Sound: You can actually achieve a pretty good sound on this horn - enough to blow down a ballad or two with your local band or combo group and sound nice for sure.
It's more towards the 'fluffy' style of flugel than your dark brooding style.
Complete Package: It came with a lightweight case, cloth, mouthpiece and even white gloves for marching.
CONS:
Valves: The valve on this horn really are pretty bad.
They are monel valve and the finishing is average at best - inner valve casings look like they were finished in a hurry, and I did notice a slight raised edge in one of the valve casings - didn't affect performance enough to warrant a return - but still noticeable.
Under the valve cap felts I looked and found that they way they adjust the height was to put thim cardboard rings. This was a little surprising given the rest of the horn was nice. Solution was to add some new felts.
Don't expect to play down any quick passages with these valve either - they just aint that fast.
Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece the horn comes with is a cross between a cornet and a flugel mouthpiece - the result is not really a great sound - you'd be better off buying and additional mouthpiece with the horn if you don't have one already.
Mine also came tarnished - not a good sign.
Parts: Try Googling Barrington and see what you come up with.......I wonder in a few years if people that bought these are wishing they should have saved their dollars and bought a second hand flugel at a good price rather than this. I don't see any spare parts options out there.
HOW MUCH WOULD I EXPECT TO PAY?
Online these horns currently sell for $449 USD at the time of writing.
They were selling as low as $269 USD - which is a steal at the price for a student or someone after a flugel for the odd ballad.
Don't expect these to come down in price though as they are now established and have had good reviews from a lot of people (just not from this reviewer).
OVERALL RATING:
Good Design, Cheap price, Not for anyone who intends to play the Flugel on a regular basis.
If they had just invested an extra $20 to $50 in a decent Valve set and trim kit this horn would have been a must have.
As it is - would make an ok student or doubling instrument.
If you're serious about your flugel playing either get a second hand Yamaha or pick up a new pro horn.
Disclaimer: Please note any reviews on this site are purely of my own opinion.
I recommend you check other sites or Google for additional information on products when trying to make a purchase decision.
These are some horns you can buy from a US online retailer.
I'm pretty sure that these are a private 'in-house' brand.
I purchased one a while ago to test out and I thought I'd give it a go as the reviews were all shining about this horn.
Basically, the old adage applies here - "you get what you pay for"
This is a Taiwanese manufactured horn that has some good an bad elements to it.
It could have been a great horn with just a few little tweaks here and there - but is really let down by cutting corners where it counts the most.
PROS:
The Look: This horn looks pretty nice. Simple design - and finished in tri-tone colours.
It really looks like a more expensive horn than it is. The Bell section is finished in a nice copper tone.
Sound: You can actually achieve a pretty good sound on this horn - enough to blow down a ballad or two with your local band or combo group and sound nice for sure.
It's more towards the 'fluffy' style of flugel than your dark brooding style.
Complete Package: It came with a lightweight case, cloth, mouthpiece and even white gloves for marching.
CONS:
Valves: The valve on this horn really are pretty bad.
They are monel valve and the finishing is average at best - inner valve casings look like they were finished in a hurry, and I did notice a slight raised edge in one of the valve casings - didn't affect performance enough to warrant a return - but still noticeable.
Under the valve cap felts I looked and found that they way they adjust the height was to put thim cardboard rings. This was a little surprising given the rest of the horn was nice. Solution was to add some new felts.
Don't expect to play down any quick passages with these valve either - they just aint that fast.
Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece the horn comes with is a cross between a cornet and a flugel mouthpiece - the result is not really a great sound - you'd be better off buying and additional mouthpiece with the horn if you don't have one already.
Mine also came tarnished - not a good sign.
Parts: Try Googling Barrington and see what you come up with.......I wonder in a few years if people that bought these are wishing they should have saved their dollars and bought a second hand flugel at a good price rather than this. I don't see any spare parts options out there.
HOW MUCH WOULD I EXPECT TO PAY?
Online these horns currently sell for $449 USD at the time of writing.
They were selling as low as $269 USD - which is a steal at the price for a student or someone after a flugel for the odd ballad.
Don't expect these to come down in price though as they are now established and have had good reviews from a lot of people (just not from this reviewer).
OVERALL RATING:
Good Design, Cheap price, Not for anyone who intends to play the Flugel on a regular basis.
If they had just invested an extra $20 to $50 in a decent Valve set and trim kit this horn would have been a must have.
As it is - would make an ok student or doubling instrument.
If you're serious about your flugel playing either get a second hand Yamaha or pick up a new pro horn.
