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Thread: Bell Engraving*

  1. #1

    Bell Engraving*

    This is a good chance to discuss bell engraving. It had become almost a lost art for a while in the brass world. Now you can actually get such a thing on a new horn, and a few years ago I noticed that Brasswind had that as an option during horn overhauls (not sure if it is still offered).

    So first, would you like to have elaborate engraving on a horn?

    Second, DO you have such a thing (old or new) in your collection? Photos would be fun!

    And third, please mention if you know of this as an option from other new horn makers.

    Here is a photo from Musikmesse in Europe. Adams is offering this now, although I don't know if it would look right on my brushed finish. It looks pretty special on this bright finish horn, though. Shown in the photo is Olivier Haas, an Adams artist, but I think that is a display horn he's playing.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails AdamsEngravedBell-OlivierHaas.jpg  
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Central North Carolina
    Posts
    2,368
    I admire the look, and I admire the art. But it's not something I'd ever get for myself -- any more than I would go (or ever would have gone) that direction with engraved firearms. I see those things as primarily for hanging on a wall or in a display case -- not for actually using. To me, it's like engraving my favorite hammer. It neither makes it a better hammer, nor does it make a hammer into a piece of fine jewelry.

    Don't get me wrong: I don't look down on anyone who does this. It's just not something I'd do. But I also wouldn't avoid buying an instrument that was engraved. I'm just pretty utilitarian in these things.
    Gary Merrill
    Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
    Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
    Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
    1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
    Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
    1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)

  3. I love custom engraving. Bob Childs has a custom engraved new Besson Prestige 2052, completely gold plated. Roland Froescher had a York Eminence in lacquer (and black nickel trim) that had quite a bit of custom engraving. The only thing I have o any f my horns is my name engrave on the 1st valve side of my Sterling.

    Doug
    Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
    Concord Band
    Winchendon Winds
    Townsend Military Band

  4. #4
    Hmm . . . wonder where I could get some nekkid ladies, like old Mr. Towsley had on his gold-plated double-bell Conn. Just a thought . . .
    David Bjornstad

    1923 Conn New Wonder 86I, Bach 6 1/2 AL
    2018 Wessex EP100 Dolce, Denis Wick 4ABL
    2013 Jinbao JBEP-1111L, Denis Wick 4AM
    2015 Jinbao JBBR-1240, Denis Wick clone mouthpiece of unknown designation
    Cullman (AL) Community Band (Euph Section Leader)
    Brass Band of Huntsville (2nd Bari)

  5. #5
    Check out http://www.artisticengraving.com/tubas-sousaphones (the BSO tuba bell in the lower right corner is particularly neat).

    Frank
    Frank Manola

    Pan American Eb, Meinl Weston 20, Wessex "Solo" EEb, King 2341 tubas
    Besson New Standard, TE 1150 compensating euphs
    Park Street Brass
    Old South UMC Brass & Organ, Reading MA
    Wakefield Retired Men's Club Band
    Windjammers Unlimited

  6. #6
    Thanks, Frank. It's nice to see an independent company offering this, too. There are a couple of fun videos on how it's done here:

    http://www.artisticengraving.com/
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  7. #7

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by ghmerrill View Post
    I admire the look, and I admire the art. But it's not something I'd ever get for myself -- any more than I would go (or ever would have gone) that direction with engraved firearms. I see those things as primarily for hanging on a wall or in a display case -- not for actually using. To me, it's like engraving my favorite hammer. It neither makes it a better hammer, nor does it make a hammer into a piece of fine jewelry.

    Don't get me wrong: I don't look down on anyone who does this. It's just not something I'd do. But I also wouldn't avoid buying an instrument that was engraved. I'm just pretty utilitarian in these things.
    Did you just call your horn a "hammer"?
    My horn: Yamaha 642II Neo. My mouthpieces: Yamaha 51D, Yamaha 53SH, Denis Wick SM4X Ultra, Doug Elliot 104 J8

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Central North Carolina
    Posts
    2,368
    Quote Originally Posted by Anson View Post
    Did you just call your horn a "hammer"?
    Yes. I thought that calling it an "axe" would be trite.
    Gary Merrill
    Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
    Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
    Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
    1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
    Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
    1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by ghmerrill View Post
    I admire the look, and I admire the art. But it's not something I'd ever get for myself -- any more than I would go (or ever would have gone) that direction with engraved firearms. I see those things as primarily for hanging on a wall or in a display case -- not for actually using. To me, it's like engraving my favorite hammer. It neither makes it a better hammer, nor does it make a hammer into a piece of fine jewelry.

    Don't get me wrong: I don't look down on anyone who does this. It's just not something I'd do. But I also wouldn't avoid buying an instrument that was engraved. I'm just pretty utilitarian in these things.
    ^^^This. I tend to worry more about how much practice time I get in rather than engraving. Reminds me of a video I saw on FB of a guy who wanted Maynard Ferguson to engrave - with one of those buzz-engravers - his signature on the bell of the guy's horn. Maynard did so, but I'm pretty sure it didn't make the guy a better player.
    U.S. Army, Retired (built mid-1950s)
    Adams E2 Euph (built 2017)
    Boosey & Co. Imperial Euph (built 1941)
    Edwards B454 Bass Trombone (built 2012)
    Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Eb tuba (built 1958)
    Kanstul 33-T lBBb tuba (built 2010)

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