Created as a specialty trumpet in Germany around 1820 and used mostly by military brass bands, the BASS TRUMPET is the same length as a trombone but using valves. Wagner even used it in his Der Ring des Nebilungen. It has a very Metallic and Hard sound and therefore not as good a choice for TRUMPET PLAYERS who generally use it for a doubler in LATIN, POP or JAZZ ensembles. The reason TRUMPET PLAYERS use it in these types of ensembles is obvious…..they want a TROMBONE SOUND without hiring a TROMBONE PLAYER or having to use a SLIDE. However because of THE BASS TRUMPETS DESIGN it does not get the rich full sound of a TROMBONE. Is there a better DESIGNED INSTRUMENT for the job? And is it as easy to use as the BASS TRUMPET?

INTRODUCING THE KANSTUL 955 FLUGELBONE. The BETTER DESIGNED INSTRUMENT. It is truly a CONCERT SOUNDING TENOR TROMBONE DESIGNED TO BE HELD LIKE A TRUMPET with 3 valves. But that is where the similarities stop when compared to the BASS TRUMPET. Pitched one octave lower(just like a TROMBONE) than your Bb TRUMPET it is DESIGNED in a more Conical fashion with a TRUE TENOR TROMBONE BORE OF .500 AND A TRUE TENOR TROMBONE BELL OF 8 1/2″. Compared to the BASS TRUMPETS .485 BORE AND 7 1/2″ BELL and more TRUMPET LIKE DESIGN you can see why THE BASS TRUMPET is no match for the KANSTUL 955 FLUGELBONE.

THE KANSTUL 955 FLUGELBONE is also easier to HOLD than THE BASS TRUMPET. Again that has to do with DESIGN. THE BASS TRUMPET tends to be BELL HEAVY due to it’s unusually LONG DESIGN. The FLUGELBONE is more CONICAL and COMPACT like a CORNET making it easier to handle. It is the PERFECT INSTRUMENT for any TRUMPET PLAYER who needs a doubling instrument for his ensemble or even the MARCHING BAND looking for a more manuverable TROMBONE.

It comes standard with a 12C mouthpiece which tends to be easier for TRUMPET PLAYERS to use. However we do offer it like all KANSTUL INSTRUMENTS WE SELL with YOUR CHOICE of any KANSTUL ONE-PIECE MOUTHPIECE. And you always have the option to MAKE IT YOUR KANSTUL by calling me to discuss your different options.

To The Champion Of The Valve Trombone Sound In Music,

Jack Kanstul

A GOOD MOUTHPIECE can make a BAD instrument play BETTER and A BAD MOUTHPIECE can make a GOOD instrument play WORSE. This scenario helps us to see HOW IMPORTANT the selection of the RIGHT MOUTHPIECE is for your instrument. How does one determine the difference between a GOOD or BAD MOUTHPIECE? And which MOUTHPIECE is RIGHT for you?

To answer the first question about DIFFERENCE between GOOD or BAD MOUTHPIECES it comes down to Two Things: THE DESIGN and THE CRAFTSMANSHIP. To help us understand the design element a simple illustration may help. There are different sizes to BRASSWIND INSTRUMENTS like TRUMPET to TUBA. You would not think of using a TUBA MOUTHPIECE (if it could fit) in your TRUMPET anymore than you would think of using a TRUMPET MOUTHPIECE in your TUBA. The latter would fit but not right and that is the point. THE DESIGN is wrong for the size of the instrument. It needs to be MATCHED to the size of the instrument. The second point is it needs to be CRAFTED RIGHT. That is the machining of the metal, it’s dimensions and tapers need to be smooth and accurate to the finest degree. This is no easy task.

Now we come to the fun part: WHICH MOUTHPIECE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? FIRST we need to know WHAT A MOUTHPIECE DOES. Basically it is used to help your EMBOUCHURE to SET UP PROPERLY to make a SOUND in that RESONATING TUBE called a BRASSWIND INSTRUMENT. Sound Easy? Not Really! As there can be literally THOUSANDS of combinations. The key words here are SET UP PROPERLY. And it get’s more complicated in that NOT EVERYONE PLAYS with the same EMBOUCHURE. Some use a more SMILE APPROACH and others a more PUCKER APPROACH and everything in-between. Also you have differences in the ORAL CAVITY of the player which will make a difference in which size of CUP, wider-narrower…deeper-shallower, FEELS THE BEST. HOW CAN LASER TECHNOLOGY HELP?

ENTER KANSTUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. My father, Zigmant Kanstul, has developed a REVOLUTIONARY approach to MOUTHPIECE MANUFACTURING. Using a RUBY LASER PROBE he has been able to make an exact copy of any mouthpiece OUTSIDE and most importantly INSIDE. Yes right down to the BACKBORE. Then using a MODULAR SYSTEM of design it allows you to match ANY MOUTHPIECE CUP to ANY MOUTHPIECE BACKBORE of MOST MANUFACTURES MOUTHPIECES. Also to help in this regard you can use his amazing MOUTHPIECE COMPARATOR which allows you to overlap one over the other to see the differences.

To give you guidance in all of this I offer my knowledge and assistance. Having been raised and trained by the best in the industry I have insights into BRASS PEDAGOGY. I can help you to select the right combination for you and your playing situation. So give me a call.

To The Music And Selection Of The Right Mouthpiece,

Jack Kanstul

Ever heard the saying,” Good Things come in Small Packages?” Nothing could be truer when it comes to the KANSTUL 905 POCKET TRUMPET. Weighing in at just 2 lbs. 9 1/2 in. it has to be the smallest instrument my father makes. But don’t let it’s small size fool you, it is not a toy but a Professional Quality HAND-MADE TRUMPET like all KANSTUL BRASSWINDS. But how does it get that Quality Kanstul Sound when other pocket trumpets do not? And who plays them?

To answer the first question it comes down to one word - ARTISTRY. No one knows this TAPERED TUBE business like my father, Zigmant Kanstul. When you make something this small you have to know how to WRAP THE PACKAGE very carefully or it is going to play OFF KEY and not BLOW FREELY. This is when you can tell the artist/craftsman knows his craft. When he can take something down to this size and still make it play right.

So who plays something like this? Is it just a Novelty? Actually many players who travel and want a Quality Kanstul Trumpet that’s easy to carry do. Also it makes for great showmanship on stage. People really stand up and take notice. It has been used by Dixieland, Jazz and Commercial Recording Artists. And like all KANSTUL TRUMPETS it plays great!

So don’t be afraid to be the first player in your neck of the woods to OWN YOUR OWN Kanstul Pocket Trumpet. And you don’t have to put this one in your POCKET, as it comes with it’s own beautiful Gladstone Case with the Kanstul Logo on it and YOUR CHOICE of any Kanstul ONE-PIECE MOUTHPIECE. Or get REALLY WILD and MAKE IT YOUR KANSTUL. I’ve put together some HOT combinations for my customers. With my exclusive Lifetime Warranty you can’t go wrong getting YOUR KANSTUL from Jack Kanstul.

To The “Really Wild” Music,

Jack Kanstul

FACIEBAT ANNO - Latin for “Manufactured In The Year Of.”  This unique marking appeared on the bell of a Classic Trumpet born in The City - NEW YORK. To all who love the TRUMPET and collect Vintage Trumpets the search for this Classic continues. Many wonder why it played so well and if it could possibly be crafted again. Enter the ARTISTRY of the craftsman - Zigmant Kanstul - and THE NEW KANSTUL 1537 TRUMPET was born.

One reason it played so different is because of it’s LIGHTWEIGHT nature. KANSTUL has been able to duplicate that process and give to the Trumpet World again that Classic Sound. With probably  the worlds most Versatile Bell - 37 - and matched with a Dead On - 25 - Mouthpipe, added to a Perfectly Balanced Bore - .460 - and all the Beautiful Detail you would expect in a CLASSIC, you have a horn born from yesteryear - THE NEW 1537 KANSTUL TRUMPET.

Players from NEW YORK CITY to LOS ANGELES are now enjoying the Classic Sound of the 1537 KANSTUL TRUMPET. Here are some of their comments: “Feels like a real 37, not like the new ones. Has a bigger sound. You can play lead on it or any music.” “Very nice horn, solid tone, nice slotting, beautiful low register. Good intonation as well.” “Blows freely. Good intonation in upper register. Nice sound quality.” European players as well are enjoying the unique sound of the 1537 KANSTUL TRUMPET.

Kanstul Music offers this incredible trumpet on our unique program called TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. This allows the musician to hear and feel the difference for themselves. The 1537 KANSTUL TRUMPET  comes with a quality case and YOUR CHOICE of any KANSTUL ONE-PIECE MOUTHPIECE. Or you can personalize it even more with our custom program - MAKE IT YOUR KANSTUL. The choice is yours.

To The Music

Jack Kanstul

DRUM & BUGLE CORPS. The name say’s it all. However much has changed in that arena over the years. What is the difference between a BUGLE and a TRUMPET? Some would say it means the same thing. However, while a TRUMPET is more Cylindrical in nature a BUGLE is closer to the CORNET family being more Conical in nature. Does that make a difference in the Sound?  And why was a BUGLE originally pitched in the KEY OF G? To answer both of these questions we need to examine the military use of the BUGLE.

The purpose of the BUGLE for military use was to wake up the troops and for signaling of different calls for daily routine and in battle. Obviously they wanted these signals to be heard out in an Open Field. The BUGLES more Conical nature helped to spread the sound rather then the TRUMPETS Cylindrical more piercing sound. Also, placing it in a LOWER KEY like G, which is a minor third lower than Bb, helped in this regard making it LOUDER!!!    ENTER THE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS.

The modern day DRUM & BUGLE CORPS has come a long way from the humble beginings of the no valve BUGLE. In order to make music and not just calls valves needed to be added. The first valve added was horizontal. This lowered the instrument one whole step and added another series of overtones to be played, thus more notes. Then came the horizontal rotor. It was refered to has an F# rotor or allowing the BUGLE to be lowered one half step from the KEY OF G which it was pitched in. You might think of it has having the first two valves on your trumpet. Valve number one and valve number two(the rotor). Now with the different valve combinations you had 4 different sets of overtone series. All that was left was to add the third valve for all seven overtone series and a complete chromatic scale. Now you had all the makings of being able to play any musical piece.  Of course, as all this was going on, the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was adding more instrumentation such as Baritone, French Horn, Contra Bass, which was also allowing for more music to be made. But keeping it all in the UNIQUE KEY OF G, which again is a minor third lower than Bb and therefore—LOUDER!!!

ENTER MARCHING BRASS. As the development of the modern DRUM & BUGLE CORPS was happening another development was happening right along side of it. BELL FRONT marching band instruments pitched in the band key’s of Bb and F. These were originally created by my father, Zigmant Kanstul at the F.E. OLDS & SON BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY. Little did my father realize at the time the major effect his creation would have on the DRUM & BUGLE CORPS movement.

KANSTUL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS offers the most complete line of CUSTOM MARCHING BRASS in the World. And KANSTUL MUSIC offers this line exclusively to the MARCHING BAND COMMUNITY. Give me, Jack Kanstul, a call for knowledgable answers to your questions. I was raised in the activity and can help you in your selection of the right instrumentation. We offer Financing and Timely Delivery of all Kanstul Instruments.

To The Music,

Jack Kanstul