Posted by Leland on March 09, 2002 at 03:01:34:
In Reply to: mark i contrabass tuba in g posted by james on March 09, 2002 at 00:40:45:
This is DEG's first model ("Magnum") of two-piston contrabass bugle. Yes, it was used in marching, and although being not fully chromatic (think about how many other nonchromatic musical instruments there are), corps still played any music on them via custom arrangements.
These started showing up around 1980 when rules allowed for two upright pistons rather than a single thumb-driven piston plus half-step rotor. Fully chromatic G bugles (an odd category itself) weren't allowed until 1990, and the rules change for 2000 allowed so-called "concert pitch" Bb and F brasses. Other manufacturers of two-valve bugles included Olds and King, along with a few designs from Kanstul. But, no, this particular horn is not one of the truly big ones. I own a King K-90 contrabass, and, well, have no desire for this DEG. ;-)
An aside -- try to define a "concert pitch trumpet." Is it in Bb, or is it C, or Eb, D, A, etc.?