OLD Benge
Si2216
I have an old Benge Claude Gordon Bb with "resno tempered bell custom
built by E. Benge,Los Angeles Cal." on the bell.Serial no. is12097.Can
anyone out there tell me anything about this wonderful
horn--age,value,desirability/collectibility,etc or are there any players
using the same horn?It is nice, light with great valve action and easy
playin' .
Wramsdell
I have a Claud Gordon Benge also. I bought it around 1982 with SN 40291.
As I remember, CG Benges have a dual bore, although I can't remember the
particular sizes. I too love this horn. Iit has a bright sound and a good
upper register. It was what all the high note palyers wanted in my neck
of the woods when I was in high school and college.
William Ramsdell
car...@us.net
I've got a Benge 3XPlus Custome myself with a 15737 serial number. If
the serial numbers indicated date of manufacture and ours were
concurrent models, yours could be older than mine (which was put
together in the late sixties/early seveties). I bought mine off the
ride player in the 3 o'clock lab band at NTSU in 1979. Its a big bore
horn (464) and had many strong players who said they like the feel
(little back pressure). I know nothing about collecters, but I've
been offered about twice what a new Bach Strat costs now for mine...
but I'll never give this one up!
r/Jamie
Robert Eye
My L.A. Benge model 6 was made in 1974 and has a SN 12427. SN 14000
numbers were made in 1975 and 18000 in 1976, so your horn with a 15xxx
number was made in either 1975 or 1976. SN up to 10000 were made prior
to 1973 (prior to and including the first two years that King owned
Benge), 10000+ in 1973, 12000+ in 1974, etc. Go to
http://www.whc.net/rjones/callet.html to find a more complete listing of
Benge SN by year. These do not cover the Chicago and Burbank years,
although you'll know if you have a Chicago or Burbank Benge; they just
cover the King years up until the acquisition of Benge (and King) by
UMI.
I concur about the playability of the Benge horns. I used to own a
Bach Strad. I traded it in for the Benge in 1975 (just prior to
college) and I have never looked back. FYI: Donald Benge makes the
Burbank Trumpet from the original Burbank Benge designs; they are made
at Zig Kanstul's facility in Anaheim, California - if I were going to
buy a new horn, this would be it.
Regards,
Bob Eye
r-...@ti.com
Jammmmmm
There are many players who swear by this horn for lead playing. They have
a distinctive sound and play pretty easy in the upper register. I have
owned two, and let both of them go, as I prefer my Calicchio 1S2, but If I
had to choose something else to play on, I'd take the CG. The CG is a
larger horn than the 3x+. They probably made more of that (3x+) horn than
any other. The new Benges, IMHO, suck- when compared to the LA ones.
They are heavier and a bit stuffy. The extreme light weight of those old
horns is what gave them their feel. The real old Chigago Benges aren't
all that hot, but fetch a hefty price from some collectors. They were
improved versions of the old fabled French Bessons (note they both have
the "backwards" 2nd valve slide, as does the more recent Selmer CG) . If
you really like the old light weight Benges, try a Burbank, they are true
to the old Benge designs, although for some reason I think they have
stopped making their version of the CG. I believe it was a 5*.
Robert Eye
Benge (UMI) stopped making their version of the Claude Gordon horn
because Selemer started making a CG horn (NOT the same design, I think)
well before Claude's death. In fact, the Benge CG was never made by
the Benge family (although they may have worked with Claude); rather, it
was made by Benge after King bought out Benge in 1971.
The Benge CG was a 0.470" bore horn with a 0.464" "choke" in the bell
tail; hencethe idea that it is a "dual" bore instrument. The current
UMI Benge model 7 has the same specs.
Burbank Trumpets (NOT Benges made when they were in Burbank) has a model
6 that they list as a 0.470" bore (my model 6 L.A. Benge is a 0.468"
bore). I have played a model 3 Burbank and it plays very well. They
are made by Donald Benge usinbg the original Burbank Benge designs, and
are manufactured at the Kanstul factory in Anaheim, Calif. They also
make a model 3+, a model 5, and a model 6. They do not make a CG horn
for the same reason UMI Benge does not. Try a model 6 in the Burbank if
you are interested in a large bore horn.
Regards,
Bob Eye
r-...@ti.com
