Thomann FH-900J Raw JAZZ Bb-Flugelhorn

It pains me to have to write this review as I played someone else's FH-900 J at a jam session last year and was blown away by the beautiful tone, amazing intonation and ease of playing. Having placed an order in Dec 2017, I waited with patiently for the instrument to arrive back in stock and ship in April 2018.

Sadly, when it finally arrived, I found the flugel played significantly flat across the entire range, even with the tuning rod pushed right in. I had no option to return the instrument to Thomann and request a replacement. However, I was then informed by the service department that the entire batch suffers from the same issue (even though they continue to be sold as I write this review) and hence a replacement was not a viable option. They offered to shorten the mouthpiece receiver but I was informed this would only partially alleviate the problem. Alternatively they advised using a cornet mouthpiece, which is clearly unacceptable as the dark flugel sound requires a good flugel mouthpiece! So, with reluctance, I have accepted a refund.

Other than the tuning issues, the instrument was basically fine. The finish was not as stunning as in the promotional pictures, a uniform unlacquered colour rather than the subtle variations between different pipes in the promotional images. But it basically played well, ever so slightly flatter in the upper register (not unusual for a flugel).

But the bottom line is that, however good the flugel is in other respects, if it plays consistently flat then it is useless for ensemble playing, hence my overall rating.

i love love LOVE this froodle. my main flug for years was/is a getzen eterna, had it since forever, absolutely beautiful instrument, did everything i wanted it to do, i could be playing lead trumpet for ages and as soon as i picked it up it was 'instant flugel', so if i'm honest i bought this one for a bit of a laugh, rather than spending £3k on a taylor i wanted something that looked a bit beaten up and could call it a 'jazz' flugel.

honestly i love it. i love what it looks like, it's weight & balance, i love the raw finish, the different sized valve bottoms - sooo cool, sooo clever, to the uninitiated you can kid them it makes a difference to the tone, a little bit of 'headology' - the 3rd valve trigger, and lordy, what it sounds like, oh dear heavens, rich, dark (a chocolate flugel?), full sound, easily a match for the getzen (the getzen is silver so maybe a little brighter), the valves are fine (after a bit of 'playing in'), i can't praise it highly enough. and i love turning up with it on gigs and seeing the "pfft, what a pile of junk, can't be any good..." and then playing it and seeing the jaws drop. seriously, it sings.

value for money? you've got to be joking! i had a couple of people query how such a cheap instrument could sound so good (hadn't the heart to tell them a lot of it is down to the person playing it...), and after standing next to me on gigs with it (and even lending to it one guy) three other people have bought one.

if you're not sure, take advantage of thomann's returns policy: buy one, play it, and not just tootling in the back bedroom, play it properly, love it, keep it, you won't be disappointed.

I am a flugelhorn player inside and out. The trumpet is second to playing the flugelhorn in my life. However, I can play both with equal proficiency. I was nervous with this purchase due to not having the privilege to play it before I purchase it. But I took an chance and I am very pleased to say I have hit the jackpot with this one! I wanted a piston flugelhorn that was more flugel than the cerveny flugelhorns I have been playing on for years. Something that was more dark and cloudy for more expression in the music I play. This flugelhorn is everything I could have wanted and more. The overall voice(sound) is cloudy and very flugel. I played it legato and presto and I am very happy to have this in my flugelhorn family. It is number one with all of my legato/beautiful music I play. My Cerveny rotary valve is for my Baroque music, but this is for serenading and controlling expressions within the music that changes dynamics from soft,gentle, and expressive. I use a Bach B5 flugel and a Denis Wick 4FL and I am singing to the heavens with dark and cloudy love!! Overall response, features, SOUND, and quality is top quality to me. I would pay 2 to 3 thousand easy if I know how it played, but this price is fantastic!

I buy this flugelhorn as a second instrument.
It's an add to my trumpet.

1. Delivery.
Quick as usual. Well protected. A "case" (I'll come back to that) in a box in a box. Nothing was missing. A little to much plastic bags for me. the case was in a plastic bag and the FH was in 2 plastic bags. The planet don't thanks me for that.

2. Sound
The Fh is reactive and already oil (fine intention).
Sound just like a flugelhorn. I like the sound. Round and different from my trumpet. The mechanics are good and quick.
I was expecting a good product and it's what I got.

3. Visually
The "rust" on the mechanics is great, It look like a old, horn who lived many adventures. On the horn itself, it's different, it look..bha...it's like someone puted some paint and move on. The picture on the website like better. Knowing that, I woulded probably buy mat version ( maybe).

3. Case and accessory
For 444€, with case and accessory, I prefer to pay 440€ on the horn and the rest on the case, that's fine for me. The box for the shipping look stronger. They're oil and grease with it.