I found one of those packed far in the back of the instrument room in high school and marched it for one of our home game halftime shows. I went back to reg mellophone for the Saturday competition. 🤣
WOW, that is crazy. They are still around here and there. I’m sure you got lots of strange looks when they saw you playing that horn. You don’t see too many of these anymore. Thanks very much for watching.
Thanks for this video. I bought one of these almost a year ago. I love the sound of it, although I think I like the sound of my Conn single French horn just a bit better. It has a softer tone than my Conn 14-C alto horn. Although mine was advertised as having a mouthpiece, it didn't so I use a horn mouthpiece, usually with an adapter (the same way I do with my Conn "French horn alto"). When I see the counterweight on it, I can't help thinking Conn just grabbed this off one of their trombones. I've never been quite sure where to put my left hand--I often put it underneath the main tubing to support its weight.
Sounds like you have a nice collection of horns. This horn is definitely quite awkward to hold. I would hate having to march with it for a long period of time. I don’t think the counterweight does much good. But I’m not as young and strong, as I used to be either.🤣🤣 Enjoy playing your instruments. Glad you enjoyed watching the video. Thanks very much.
@brassfromthepast5149 I play, too. I have the oldest mellophonium 16E in my possession. It was the 3rd one made in March, 1956, from what the serial number is. 611353. th-cam.com/video/4VGFpc_2vpw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=UtLYuPysbYPrK32T
I have not watched any of you videos in a while, but this one was a treat. My bugler is now dead set to join marching band in high school next year (I am totally supporting that😆) I am always trying to encourage him to try other brasses, too, but he is rather fixated on the trumpet and occasionally the hunting horn with some coaxing. Is switching to different horns hard? Question coming from a non-horn player, but some musical background (violin/viola and choir)
That is great news. I believe that he will really enjoy marching band. It is very rewarding to be in a marching band. Not only do you have to memorize and play the music but you have to be able to do all the formations. He may eventually begin to try some other brass instruments. Most other brass instruments with valves are easy to pick up and play except for the differences in mouthpieces and the way that the horn plays. As far as the closeness of each interval. A French horn is much harder to play than a trumpet because the intervals are much closer together and harder to find. However a euphonium is easier to play because the intervals are further apart but the mouthpiece is much larger. And then of course you have the trombone which is totally different because it has a slide. And that is almost like learning a totally different kind of instrument. But it sounds like your scout is definitely hooked on playing the trumpet. And that is great. Thanks again for watching.
Sorry for such a delay in responding to your question. I believe it is a Bach melophone 7C mouthpiece. But I will have to try to dig out this horn to make sure. I’ll get back with you as soon as possible. Thank you very much for watching.
@@brassfromthepast5149 7C sounds like a Cornet MP. *shrug* I have a Bach 6, and the Scodwell. The Bach 6 plays far better in my 1911 circular Mello, than it does in the Mellophonium. The Scodwell plays better in the Mellophonium as you'd expect, but a 7C cornet MP play best of any of them below about G in the staff.
@@veiledzorba I finally dug out my Mellophonium and found that I used a Bach mellophone #7 mouthpiece. I thought that there was a number 7 in there somewhere. Hope this helps you.
Thank you very much. I’m glad that you enjoyed watching the video. It does sound great on a saxophone but I thought it would be interesting to play it on this funny looking horn. Thanks for watching.
I wonder if it’s possible to use a horn style mouthpiece, and what the sound implication would be. I sort of want one of these, only because you don’t see them anymore. I think its main use, honestly, might be to play in Eb and read alto sax music as a brass player without having to transpose. Perhaps not its intended use. But the one most useful to players outside of marching band.
Horn player here. It is possible to put a horn adapter in any instrument with a trumpet-size receiver. It makes the instrument a lot warmer, and, IMO, easier to keep in tune. You do lose the brassiness, and it won't have the trombone-esque zing that you hear in this video. I have a Reynolds concert mellophone and a Blessing marching mellophone. I use a trumpet mouthpiece for jazz (Reynolds) and marching music (Bach Megatone 1), and a horn mouthpiece (custom) for concert band and French Romantic piston horn music.
The Conn 1 mouthpiece that shipped with this horn is pretty horn-like, just with a larger diameter and wider rim. But the shape is quite similar to a horn mouthpiece. The 16E is pretty well obsolete. It is a bear to play in tune or above the staff. But it does have a unique sound, and I still manage to find uses for mine pretty often.
@@benjaminbrockway5998 The 16E is not rare, as they were used by many high school and college marching bands back in the day. What IS rare is finding one for sale in good condition, as most that turn up are beat up old school instruments. But Conn made a ton of 16Es, they just aren't used for anything anymore as better instruments replaced them. As far as "bell-front valved alto brass instruments that aren't a marching mellophone" go, the 16E is by far the easiest to find.
I found one of those packed far in the back of the instrument room in high school and marched it for one of our home game halftime shows. I went back to reg mellophone for the Saturday competition. 🤣
WOW, that is crazy. They are still around here and there. I’m sure you got lots of strange looks when they saw you playing that horn. You don’t see too many of these anymore. Thanks very much for watching.
I did the same thing, intonation isn’t great but Tone is gorgeous
Real show instrument !
Great demonstration ❤
I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for this video. I bought one of these almost a year ago. I love the sound of it, although I think I like the sound of my Conn single French horn just a bit better. It has a softer tone than my Conn 14-C alto horn. Although mine was advertised as having a mouthpiece, it didn't so I use a horn mouthpiece, usually with an adapter (the same way I do with my Conn "French horn alto"). When I see the counterweight on it, I can't help thinking Conn just grabbed this off one of their trombones. I've never been quite sure where to put my left hand--I often put it underneath the main tubing to support its weight.
Sounds like you have a nice collection of horns. This horn is definitely quite awkward to hold. I would hate having to march with it for a long period of time. I don’t think the counterweight does much good. But I’m not as young and strong, as I used to be either.🤣🤣 Enjoy playing your instruments. Glad you enjoyed watching the video. Thanks very much.
WOWWW MAGIC ❤❤❤❤
Thank you very much. I’m glad that you enjoyed watching the video.
@@brassfromthepast5149 thanks to you, you are a fantastic trumpet player, I admire and respect you infinitely 🙏😊😊.
Awesome demonstration ❤❤
Thanks very much, I really appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed watching the video.
Very nice playing. Kudos! 😊
Thank you very much. I’m glad that you enjoyed watching the video.
@brassfromthepast5149 I play, too. I have the oldest mellophonium 16E in my possession. It was the 3rd one made in March, 1956, from what the serial number is. 611353.
th-cam.com/video/4VGFpc_2vpw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=UtLYuPysbYPrK32T
We had a couple of these in our marching band, late 70s. Brass is best!
That is cool. They were many around back then and many bands used them. Thanks very much for watching.
What a fantastic video, dear friend and Trumpet buddy. Good preparation for Easter!
I don’t know if it was a very good tune to prepare for Easter but I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
@@brassfromthepast5149 I wish you a good preparation to Easter and, a very Happy Easter too.
Very interesting musical instrument👍
Thank you very much and thank you for watching.
I have not watched any of you videos in a while, but this one was a treat. My bugler is now dead set to join marching band in high school next year (I am totally supporting that😆) I am always trying to encourage him to try other brasses, too, but he is rather fixated on the trumpet and occasionally the hunting horn with some coaxing. Is switching to different horns hard? Question coming from a non-horn player, but some musical background (violin/viola and choir)
That is great news. I believe that he will really enjoy marching band. It is very rewarding to be in a marching band. Not only do you have to memorize and play the music but you have to be able to do all the formations. He may eventually begin to try some other brass instruments. Most other brass instruments with valves are easy to pick up and play except for the differences in mouthpieces and the way that the horn plays. As far as the closeness of each interval. A French horn is much harder to play than a trumpet because the intervals are much closer together and harder to find. However a euphonium is easier to play because the intervals are further apart but the mouthpiece is much larger. And then of course you have the trombone which is totally different because it has a slide. And that is almost like learning a totally different kind of instrument. But it sounds like your scout is definitely hooked on playing the trumpet. And that is great. Thanks again for watching.
What mouthpiece are you using here? Scodwell, Bach, Conn #1, other ? Well played!
Sorry for such a delay in responding to your question. I believe it is a Bach melophone 7C mouthpiece. But I will have to try to dig out this horn to make sure. I’ll get back with you as soon as possible. Thank you very much for watching.
@@brassfromthepast5149 7C sounds like a Cornet MP. *shrug* I have a Bach 6, and the Scodwell. The Bach 6 plays far better in my 1911 circular Mello, than it does in the Mellophonium. The Scodwell plays better in the Mellophonium as you'd expect, but a 7C cornet MP play best of any of them below about G in the staff.
@@veiledzorba I finally dug out my Mellophonium and found that I used a Bach mellophone #7 mouthpiece. I thought that there was a number 7 in there somewhere. Hope this helps you.
@@brassfromthepast5149 You play it well, Sir!
a very unique looking horn, and great sound. I love the tune, but I must say it sounds better on a sax :)
Thank you very much. I’m glad that you enjoyed watching the video. It does sound great on a saxophone but I thought it would be interesting to play it on this funny looking horn. Thanks for watching.
I want one ridiculously bad, any advice on how to buy on secondhand
They show up on eBay pretty often.
You can find them on eBay every now and then. Just do a search for mellophone or mellophonium. Thank you very much for watching.
I wonder if it’s possible to use a horn style mouthpiece, and what the sound implication would be. I sort of want one of these, only because you don’t see them anymore. I think its main use, honestly, might be to play in Eb and read alto sax music as a brass player without having to transpose. Perhaps not its intended use. But the one most useful to players outside of marching band.
One thing that might be better for this is a "solo horn" - essentially a bell-forward alto horn. All these instruments are so absurdly rare, though...
Horn player here. It is possible to put a horn adapter in any instrument with a trumpet-size receiver. It makes the instrument a lot warmer, and, IMO, easier to keep in tune. You do lose the brassiness, and it won't have the trombone-esque zing that you hear in this video. I have a Reynolds concert mellophone and a Blessing marching mellophone. I use a trumpet mouthpiece for jazz (Reynolds) and marching music (Bach Megatone 1), and a horn mouthpiece (custom) for concert band and French Romantic piston horn music.
@@Bill_Oddie_Face_Mask The 16E has a cornet shank, which is too small to fit an adapter for a horn mouthpiece.
The Conn 1 mouthpiece that shipped with this horn is pretty horn-like, just with a larger diameter and wider rim. But the shape is quite similar to a horn mouthpiece.
The 16E is pretty well obsolete. It is a bear to play in tune or above the staff. But it does have a unique sound, and I still manage to find uses for mine pretty often.
@@benjaminbrockway5998 The 16E is not rare, as they were used by many high school and college marching bands back in the day. What IS rare is finding one for sale in good condition, as most that turn up are beat up old school instruments. But Conn made a ton of 16Es, they just aren't used for anything anymore as better instruments replaced them. As far as "bell-front valved alto brass instruments that aren't a marching mellophone" go, the 16E is by far the easiest to find.
I have one, but it's not got the silver disc with the conn name on it.
That is very odd, it should have that on it. I wonder why it doesn’t. Thank you very much for watching.
@@brassfromthepast5149 Maybe it's a knock-off; as the bell doesn't stick out as far.