Schilke vs. Thomann vs. Blessing Flugelhorn Shootout

I have a wide array of flugelhorns, and I love them all. From $400.00 to almost $4,000.00 it’s a significant price range but I’ll let you decide which one sounds better.
#schilke #thomann #blessing #flugelhorn #brass

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I made a Part 2 if anyone is interested kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoupZ2OIjstsrck

[@tomchojnowski9215]

The low c on the blessing is squirrelly

[@maconins123]

Beautiful playing

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Thanks very much :)

[@Kennygrooms]

Schilke sounded the best (warmest) and no discernable intonation issues.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

it really is a wonderful horn for sure... it's my favorite to play and even just hold in my hands.

[@captainblack1917]

I just ordered a Thomann Fluegel based on your review.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Hey very cool man... I really enjoy both of mine !! I hope you have the same experience :) Thanks for the comment.

[@barnabas5106]

hi Garot I've ended up buying the flugelhorn 900 Jazz . it is fine for me and for where I am at with the playing. thanks for sharing video barry

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

OH great to hear !! I know you will enjoy it, I still have the one that I stripped all the finish off of as well and it serves me well to this day !! I'm actually considering waiting it "tuba" white, like the marching band horns... so much fun can be had with inexpensive horns that you would never dream of doing to the ultra expensive horns !! lol Now lets see some videos of you playing !!!

[@da11king]

They all sound very good. I am getting my first flugelhorn, I am on a super tight budget and I am not a pro. So I went with the Thomann FH600 as my intro horn. Hopefully, I will be satisfied as intend on returning it to Germany for the same price it cost lol

[@GordonHudson]

The Thomann "Jazz" is a great flugel. I know people who play them professionally. I play a Courtois. It's the same model Maynard Ferguson played from the 80s onwards (even though he was endorsing Holton). Its a really expensive horn, but I got it very cheap because the plating is worn on the bell. Small bore French style instrument. I owned the old 1980s blessing which was a large bore flugel. I loved that horn, but decided I preferred the small bore French sound. The only problem with the Courtois is that it is huge. It has a wide wrap and a very large bell so it won't fit in any gig bags. Interesting mouthpiece thing: In the late 80s when I was doing a lot of playing all the pros in the UK seemed to be using either Giardinelli or Phil Parker flugel mouthpieces. I still have a Parker. Its a half way house between the Bach and the Wick. Unfortunately they no longer make that range of mouthpieces. They were half the price of Bach mouthpieces at the time, supposed to be a budget thing but everyone liked them. They only made them in Yamaha shank which means they technically don't fit the Courtois, but I find the bach ones go too far into the Courtois receiver. I don't know what is really going on there.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

ya i have so many mouthpieces now it's kind of ridiculous lol That said I have a few that I play most of the time but still enjoy have a wide selection for when I'm feeling stale or just want to revisit something and give it another try. I have really moved to playing the Schilke most of the time now, though I do still record a lot with the Couesnon that I have as well as the Thomann on occasion as well... Flugel mouthpieces are just a mystery to me... so many varieties and so many differences in receivers, it really would have been great if at some point they just standardized on them like they had the trumpet but I guess that adds to the fun of playing Flugel :)

[@GordonHudson]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I had a Flip Oaks Wild Thing flugel and it was French taper. As I was using Monette mouthpieces I had to send the leadpipe to Monette so they could guarantee a fit on the mouthpiece. It relies on that last bit of proper taper to make it lock in.

[@lwskiner]

I believe the Courtois flugels were distributed by LeBlanc/Holton and that is why Maynard played one, the four valve type.

[@nickwright9064]

Lovely playing. I'm afraid to say (cost wise), the Schilke sounded absolutely wonderful.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

yes it's a beauty for sure, even something about how it feels in the hand is amazing !!

[@godseiern8022]

Thanks for nice demo. The Thomann have the softest creamy midrange clean sound.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

for the price, it's really a nice horn and plays and sounds very nice !!

[@Matraka2000]

Great video. Have you tried the Thomann FH-1000L Flugelhorn? I searching for buying it.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Thanks so much for your comment. No I have not played that horn but I have looked at it several times and it looks amazing IMO as well. If you end up getting one please let me know your thoughts on it !! -Garot

[@Matraka2000]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I finally bought the Thomann 1000L and it is amazing and satisfied but the mouthpiece that comes with it does not convince me so I probably get the monette FL6. But in general the flugel got a warm sound. By the way what line song is that? Or is a improv?

[@selpingos]

I have the Thomann as well but my Flugel has some intonation problems on the first valve

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Sorry to hear that. Mine has one issue with the 2nd valve cap where the threading is a bit loose so it can make a clicking sound if it's not very tightly screwed on with heavy grease on the threads, but it plays very nice.

[@selpingos]

@@GarotMichaelConklin actually the flugel is really nice. Intonation problems can be remedied by a good tech guy though.

[@pebblebeach8517]

You play all those horns so well ☝️

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Thanks very much !! Schilke ended up sending me some new leadpipes and that horn now plays so well... what a great company to take some feedback and then really do the right thing !! Thanks for the comment :)

[@robrtx65]

Did the new leadpipes solve the intonation issues that you were having with the Schilke? Are these the leadpipes that are now supplied with new 1040/1041 FL horns? Thanks and great video BTW.@@GarotMichaelConklin

[@yahbarrahyisrael1921]

Hey Mike, I like the Schilke best, but the Thomann sounds really good as well. Your sound is awesome. I play Trumpet and Flugelhorn, but my Trumpet is much easier to play.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

interesting as I am just the opposite, I find the flugel much easier to play??? strange right !!

[@kellyhansen6496]

I really couldn't tell a difference between the horns and I'm a horn player. Great sound coming from all of them.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

that was my thought as well, so going from super affordable to super expensive, there isn't a ton of difference in the sound... now if we get into mouthpiece selection then we are somewhere completely different lol I would also argue that the "feel" of the horns is pretty different when you move around the price range, that Schilke just feels so luxurious man... it's unreal!

[@raihan5405]

Your songs are soo good

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

You have no idea how wonderful that is to hear... thank you so very much for taking the time to stop by and say that... it means the world :)

[@raihan5405]

@@GarotMichaelConklin no problem man ... I love that type of music.. lazy daze , I'm right here etc .. i love it ... Keep doing ... Cheers🎉

[@grg183]

Great sound! Any opinion on the Yamaha YFH-631G ?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I owned the 8310 for a number of years about a decade ago, have also had a XENO trumpet and love Yamaha... This schilke came up unexpectedly and I just jumped on it... it's a strange beast for sure. On the 631, I would expect the same high quality as everything else from Yamaha. IMO instruments today are far superior across the board as opposed to when I was coming up if you didn't buy a name brand you got a total piece of junk. I'm sure you would love the 631

[@grg183]

@@GarotMichaelConklin Thanks. I'm also considering a Carol Brass CFL-6200-GSS-Bb-SLB but almost certainly will go with the Yamaha 631

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

@@grg183 Wow that Carol horn looks amazing, I'm looking at it right now on Thomann's website... I've heard really good things about them as well and I have looked at them several times myself, for $1,200.00 that is an impressive looking horn !! lol now you have me looking at this and considering yet another horn !!

[@pebblebeach8517]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I’ve owned a Carol Brass Flugelhorn it’s by far the best horn I’ve ever owned... Lightning fast valves and so easy to access high registers.

[@ashuchin5902]

What was that song you played at the end? I took a liking for it.❤

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

It’s a part of just this thing I made up as part of my warm up :)

[@saschaartz8196]

Have you played the Thomann 1000 model already? If so, how does it compare to the 900 jazz?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

No I have not, I was planning to get one some time back but I ended up coming across several other horns, like the Yamaha 731 and the Couesnon that I have now so I haven't revisited that horn.

[@lwskiner]

Are the Thomann flugelhorns easy to get as far as delivery time and are there any hidden expenses with shipping from another country? Thanks.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Those are good questions. I did not have any delays on anything, in fact they shipped and arrived VERY fast, less than 2 weeks for sure and there was nothing "else" like a bill from FedEx for import/duty fees....

[@sebthi7890]

it is funny, i have exactly these two mouthpieces 🤣 You are right they are totally different. Intonation is easier with the Bach. Dennis Wick is more horn sound.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I totally agree with your assessment

[@carolyndiaz2027]

What is your opinion on the Bach FH600 Aristocrat series Flugelhorn?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I have not played an FH600 but have played Bach products all my life so I'm sure it's a quality horn. I have found more diversity in the mouthpiece selection overall than any horn, as in this video, these 3 horns are wildly different in manufacture, country or origin and of course price point, but they really don't sound that different all using the same mouthpiece, which was why I put in the Bach 2FL at the end just to show (may not be audibly as obvious in the recording as it is in reality) how different just a change in mouthpiece can be... Hope that helps and thanks for the comment :)

[@carolyndiaz2027]

@@GarotMichaelConklin Thank you!

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

I have an Adams. The first-line E is sharp, and the fourth-line D is flat. But I'm told that all flugelhorns have this issue to some degree. Some are better than others.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I don't know that I've had a flat E but for sure a sharp D and C#... that is probably true of every horn that is out there lol

[@jefft022]

Garot, I am a trumpet player looking to purchase a fluegel. After watching your video, I decided to purchase a Thomann like you played here. I am trying to order online, but am having trouble with the purchase going through. Did you have any issues with this? Any advice on the best route would be greatly appreciated.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I have had some issues with Thomann when I wanted to order a Yamaha Flugelhorn from them as they were not able to ship it to me in the USA. So perhaps there are some restrictions out there that prevents them from shipping Globally. Perhaps send them an email and they can assist or at least tell you what the issue might be.

[@thegoodlightllc4093]

Care to share your mic setup and levels for the horn recordings?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

that is a great idea for a video but in case you'd like to know right now, here it is !! I have a Shure SM7B mic going into a Triton Audio line booster into a Focusrite 18i20 with phantom power and (I think) a 20dB pad engaged. At some point I have plans to run it through a WA76 comp pre Focusrite. After that I have a variety of post processing that happens in the DAW with plugins as well as an external loopback through a pair of WA EQP-WA tube EQs and a WA Bus Comp. I like to finish off with the FabFilter ES and Comp as well. Hope that helps :)

[@frederikhye-hestvang3827]

Hi Garot! Thanks for the comparison. I'm moving into my first flugel, and consider the two Thomanns your'e discussin (900 vs 1000). Should I just go for 1000 directly? Do you have any experience with the soundfresh soundfreak mouthpieces? I'm really looking for an airy mellow sound on my accessory horn. Best, Frederik

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Hi Frederik, thanks for the comment. So I think the Thomann FH1000 would be very much like the Blessing in this video as they look nearly identical. That said, that is quite different from the FH900-J at least in terms of physical "feel" as you can see the difference in the construction details between the two. I have no idea how or if that might change the tone of the horn, as you can hear that the FH900 and the Schilke in the video sound pretty close in my opinion anyway. I don't think you will be disappointed in either so you won't make a "bad" choice :) I have not tried the Soundfresh but the video reminds me of the DiOrio flugelhorn mouthpiece I have with that airy, breathy sound, and I love that so I might actually grab one of these myself and see what it can do as I love love love that tone as well :)

[@austincaldwell1]

Hi Garot your sound is great! I am a trumpet and cornet player looking to add a flugel to my collection. Im looking to stay around $500 and right now, im torn between the Elkhart fhr 100 designed by Bach and the Thomann. The thomann sounds good and dark. I think the deciding factor for me will be intonation. A gentleman from the UK reviewed the Elkhart and states intonation is spot on until above C over the staff. Im not to worried there as im rarely up there. How do you feel about the intonation on the Thomann?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Unfortunately for this conversation, I think the Thomann's intonation is also very good, one of the best I have. I too seldom go above high C on the flugelhorn so I would imagine it will flatten out up there, also to some degree the deep mouthpieces tend to help flatten thought out up high as well. I have seen some of the Yamaha 636/737 models on eBay/Reverb for a bit higher than your price point but sub-$1,000 range and those are outstanding as well. Best of luck and let me know what you end up with !

[@rickberry4477]

Isn’t the 636 and 737 trumpet models?

[@Kennygrooms]

Can you put tape on a Bach taper and make it fit a French taper?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

fit is a relative term with this one as I believe that the french taper isn't a taper at all, it's just straight. My Couesnon didn't have the original receiver, it came already equipped with an aftermarket or converted large/standard taper receiver.

[@paulmullins4676]

The Thomann seems like amazing deal. What are its downsides?

[@kn-qz7by]

Good comparison. Did you find one of them noticeably freer+blowing than the others?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

For me I have never really "felt" that from the mouthpiece alone, it has always come more from the horn than the mouthpiece. The difference in the mouthpiece for me that is most distinctive is the rim (obviously) and how the cup shape/diameneter/depth changes my "confidence" when I start to play hard passages.

[@kn-qz7by]

@@GarotMichaelConklin Are you able to say what makes a freer-blowing trumpet or flugelhorn?

[@jaehyuklee2317]

What do you recommend for beginner!? I used to play bach trumpet but had no experience on flugel

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

to some degree it depends on your skill level. The complete truth of the price points and classification of horns IMO is that a "student" horn is not only typically less expensive, but actually designed to be easier for a new player to play. I have a lot of horns from entry level to hand made customs and I honestly, still to this day, play the student level horns better because if I am truly honest with myself, my skill level is still that of a student so I need the "help" that is afforded in those student built horns.

[@jaehyuklee2317]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I totally agree with you. Yeah on my skill level it is actually hard to tell the difference between entry level trumpet and my bach trumpet lol. I will try the thomann 900 :D apprecaite it!

[@elsonharewood7933]

I like the Blessing it has cool tone, but think Shilke is mellower. By the way those prices you quote sound so good for my pocket, like a bargain. Did have to bargain or you just snapped them up at a good price offered?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

they were all "that price" so in looking back I was very fortunate, as things are much more expensive today !!

[@elsonharewood7933]

@@GarotMichaelConklin oh I see, you got them a long time ago. I'm hoping to get one soon and a pro or intermediate model trumpet in a year or two. As friend of mine got me an used one year old Beach TR300 student model in 1993 for $500. It sounds and looks good still but I'm looking to play in a band at church so I'm inclined to step up my game equipment-wise.

[@77Kaczoszka77]

For me blessing was most intriguing 🙂

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

The are very nice horns indeed :)

[@kirstybeilharz1064]

Schilke sounds more in tune than the Blessing to my ears (with the Dennis Wick mouthpiece), but the intonation is less good with the Bach mouthpiece at the end, however the tone was nice and warm. For my taste the most accurate intention wins. Your tone is beautiful with all of them.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I have moved on to a few news (to me) horns but sill have the Schilke, I don't think I could ever sell that one... but I will say that the 1971 Couesnon horn I recently acquired is pretty much my go to for all things these days... it really does have that classic buttery horn tone that everyone is looking for... thanks for the comments :)

[@migueltortoza]

Schilke ❤

[@selpingos]

Are you getting the reverb from the room your mike

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I think it might be coming from the Focusrite iTrack Pocket that I typically used to record live stuff like this without setting up the entire DAW :)

[@edstud1]

Great video, I need a flugel, but don't have much in my budget!

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

there are many choices out there for nearly any budget !! I'm sure you will find one that will work for you :)

[@landenjohnson5328]

what shank does the thomann flugelhorn use

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Technically I believe it's the Yamaha, so Large Morse Taper, but I have used the Small Morse Tapers in there as well and they are fine !!

[@playonkorg]

Ik denk dat de Schilke meer tonaal klinkt en je er meer controle over lijkt te hebben, you seem to get more sound differences from the Schilke and therefore be able to play with more emotion. Ik hou niet van de Blessing terwijl de Thomann erg goed klinkt in de prijsklasse. Heel erg bedankt meneer Conklin voor uw demo, als jazz cornetspeler wil ik een bugel kopen voor Realbook (BlueBossa etc) muziek.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Thank you that is very insightful, the Schilke has much greater flexibility no matter the mouthpiece. That is certainly one if it's best qualities.

[@playonkorg]

@@GarotMichaelConklin In sound (hard to explaine) ,the Schilke has a more "warmer ticker mid tone" , while the other 2 are sounding thinner with a a clearer swish (air) high. could it be that the mouthpiece for the Thomann needs to be deeper for a warmer sound to compensate for the use of less qualitative material?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

@@playonkorg Yes I noticed the Blessing was the most "fluffy" sounding to me... though it's hard to tell on a phone recording there is a lot more depth and character with the Schilke for sure but I have some issues keeping it in tune...

[@playonkorg]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I red 'issues keeping it in tune.' that in reviews, a hard point with Schilke. Ok, I want to make a choice between Thomann's and Carol Brass bells with good intonations.The FH900 - FH1000 - CFL6200 - CFL7200. In any case, your vid helped me a lot.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

@@playonkorg Great to hear and I honestly think the intonation issues with the Schilke are all "me" not the horn, it may actually be to professional horn for me in that my skill lever and / or embouchure are just not good enough to work with a horn of this caliber. I have heard very good things about the Carol Brass horns in general and have looked at them several times. The Thomann horns are remarkable in their price to quality (again in my own opinion) but they are by no means a "pro" feeling horn if you compare it to a Schilke lol ... Also remember that I play lofi jazz so everything I am doing is recorded, so I really have no opinion on any of these horns in a live setting with other musicians ... Thanks again for check out the video :)

[@lfoster7601]

Personally, I'd rank the sound quality as Thomann, Schilke, Blessing. The Thomann has a lovely fat mellow sound, the Schilke similar with a little more top end buzz, but the Blessing seemed thin. Which is quite interesting if you are right that the Blessing and Thomann are possibly made by same factory...

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

crazy right, that Thomann is just a great sounding horn !!

[@lfoster7601]

@@GarotMichaelConklin I'm a long time (50+ years) cornet / trumpet p[layer who learned on a tenor Horn. I always reckoned Flugel was my instrument, but never got an opportunity. Few years back I bought a cheap 2nd hand Gear4Music Flugel off eBay. Intonation and sound superb, plays great. trigger needs occasional work, but other than that, lovely to play. And I was right, it is my proper instrument!

[@adhanda2017]

Which brand plays the most in tune?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I've actually had the most problems with the Schilke, but it's such a great sounding horn that it's hard to say anything bad about it.

[@adhanda2017]

@@GarotMichaelConklin :-(

[@erlingdahl1849]

is the thomann of yours the matte varnished version or the unvarnished one?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

I actually had one of each, I ended up keeping the no vanish / raw brass version and I scratched the finish myself. It was purely an aesthetic choice for me, both horns played identically.

[@erlingdahl1849]

@@GarotMichaelConklin the one you showed in this video is the raw brass one?

[@erlingdahl1849]

@@GarotMichaelConklin and how well does the horn hold up 1 year after? I am thinking of buying the one you showed in this video, but I am kinda nervous about buying a flugelhorn from a cheap manufacturer like Thomann

[@Birdman1334]

Keep the SCHILKEand sell the blessing. May want to chage MPC. try a good used one before hopping on a new one with a gold cup and rim.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

yes the Schilke is never leaving me, in fact I even have some factory upgrades coming soon !! Thanks for the input... What mouthpieces would you suggest trying?

[@Birdman1334]

@@GarotMichaelConklin What is comfotable for U.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

@@Birdman1334 Ah ok... wasn't sure if you had some suggestions. I appear to use the Bach 2FL most of the time, though I do have a selection from Dennis Wick, Parduba and Curry as well. Thanks again :)

[@Birdman1334]

I dropped the $250 for the Monette Classic B6S1 and love it.

[@tjtj3829]

To me your. Schilke has the best tone you should try putting all the original Hardware back on and maybe that will help your intonation.. I've only been playing trumpet a short time my brother bought me one last year for Christmas I'm in my 40s but I love instruments piano guitar and bass. If my idea on your flugelhorn works with the hardware you should reward Me by sending me that silver blessings flugelhorn or selling it to me? It's very hard to find one in my area unless I order it?

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Great suggestion though all of this is original Schilke hardware, even the XL bottom caps :) I don't have any of the new Blessings, but I do have an old Getzen built Blessing that is pretty cool, more of a collectors piece than a player though... I have really taken to the Schilke of late but also acquired a 1971 Couesnon horn and it is wonderful as well ;)

[@tjtj3829]

@@GarotMichaelConklin Thomann is out of a lot of flugelhorns. Im sure u know that?

[@tjtj3829]

@@GarotMichaelConklin Allora has a nice flugelhorn. I may get that one on ebay. Ever play try that one ?

[@tjtj3829]

@@GarotMichaelConklin let me know if you want to sell that blessings silver brushed Flugelhorn?

[@petem4665]

The Schilke with the Denis Wick mouthpiece sounds the best, hands down.

[@GarotMichaelConklin]

Thanks for that Pete !! much appreciated :)

[@rubenproost2552]

Dentist wig?

[@rickberry4477]

Jupiter 1100 w rose brass bell. Demo models can be gotten for 800