Kanstul Brass Serial Numbers

This is the American rendition of the classic French Besson trumpets. It has tremendous projection and a lively texture to the tone that is both brilliant and warm.

The medium large bore makes it highly efficient, but never “stuffy”. It is very flexible and agile in its response, allowing for great expressiveness, while maintaining a solid tone core and good intonation.

Vintage Instruments can usually be dated by serial number. Trombones will have the serial number either on the back of the hand slide or on the neck receiver where it attaches to the handslide. Sometimes the serial number will be on both the handslide and the neck receiver. Vintage King Trombones, H.N. White Era will often have the serial number on the tuning slide, but not always. An Index to Serial Number Lists. The following is presented to assist in locating serial number lists and/or other information useful in dating Brass Instruments. Tell us, If you know of listings not presented here. Early ones had 4 or 5 digits serial numbers and are definitely Kanstul made. Later ones had 6 or more digit serials and not all are Kanstul made. The lack of a serial number tells you nothing as maybe they just forgot to stamp it in the factory. The following are serial numbers of King-Cleveland Brass instruments from 1893 to 1980. The Allied people say that the following information was compiled from serial number records which were not complete. Because of this, it is to be used as a guide or rough estimate of when a King or Cleveland model instrument was manufactured. The Kanstul Story In 1981, Zigmant Kanstul founded Kanstul Musical Instruments, building fine brasswinds both under his own name and for venerable marques like F. But the story didn’t start there. Zig’s career as a brassmaker began in 1952, at F.E.

MSRP $3,140 in lacquer finish, $3,335 in silverplate

Key: Bb
Bore: .460″
Bell: Hand Hammered One Piece Yellow Brass – 4 3/4″ Diameter
Mouthpipe: ML
Valves: Monel
Valve Guides: Metal
Slides: Brass
Water Keys: One Traditional
Intonation: 1st Slide Saddle, 3rd Slide Ring
Finish: Bright Silver Plate

Hand Hammered One Piece Yellow Brass Bell
Hand Lapped Pistons
Top Sprung Pistons
3rd Slide Stop
Distinctive Reverse 2nd Slide

My Chicago Bb is very responsive in all registers and at all dynamic levels. The intonation is outstanding.
A great horn in any performance setting.

In 1981, Zigmant Kanstul founded Kanstul Musical Instruments, building fine brasswinds both under his own name and for venerable marques like F. Besson. But the story didn’t start there. Zig’s career as a brassmaker began in 1952, at F.E. Olds & Son in Los Angeles. There, he apprenticed and honed his skills under the direction of Foster A. Reynolds, a giant in the history of brasswind design and manufacturing. In 1970, after 18 years at Olds, eventually leading R&D and production, Zig left to assume the position of Vice President at King Musical Instruments, in charge of the Benge Trumpet factory. He subsequently became Vice President of Manufacturing for C.G. Conn. more

And it has been a long run.

67 years ago, Zig Kanstul first began crafting brasswinds, and though the master himself passed in 2016, our family has carried on the tradition of building a broad line of brass instruments with an unrelenting focus on the sound.

However, we came to a point where it was no longer viable for us to continue.

We want to thank all the players who have made music on our horns over the years, from the casual players, the band members, the drum corps sections—to the professionals in the pop, rock, jazz, symphonic, mariachi, and Hollywood soundtrack genres—and everyone in between.

We’d also like to thank our indispensable design collaborators who over the years worked with Zig to create so many horns that made history.

Also, thanks to our dealers and resellers, and of course our private-label partners who have kept so many iconic instrument designs available to the serious playing community.

This website will remain online for the foreseeable future, as an archive of Kanstul history and product information. Content on this website is for reference purposes only. Our doors are closed permanently and we will no longer be responding to phone calls or emails. Inquiries regarding archive status may be sent to scott@eyemotive.com.

This website was designed, built and maintained by Eyemotive.

The most complete line of brasswinds
made in the USA

We have always taken a “player-centric” approach to the design of our brasswinds, building for the needs of players in all categories of performance. Our entire selection of instruments is based on Zig’s unique understanding of the science of resonance in the tapered tube and its application to musicality in every type of brass voicing and playing situation, from the piccolo trumpet to the 5/4 tuba. Our commitment to the art of fine brassmaking resonates in every instrument we build.

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LIVE AT THE FACTORY

1603+ Wallace Roney Model

THE SOUND OF THE GREATS

The Last of the Great Masters

A STORY OF AMERICAN BRASSWIND MASTERY

A Tribute to Zig

FRIENDS GATHER FOR A MUSICAL SALUTE

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“This is absolutely the best horn I’ve ever played—it has the playing characteristics of the classic horn given to me by Miles. It plays immaculately, like the best Committee you could find. In this trumpet I hear the sound of the greats, and the sound of the future”

“(The Model 1088 Bass Trumpet) looks terrific, sounds amazing, and feels great! The tone is rich & full throughout all registers, and the intonation is superb. I can slam into the upper register with ease, or play delicately with a brilliant tone, and little kickback.”

Plays like a go-kart…it just goes!

”When the legendary Peggy King and Steve Love, audio specialist for Wynton Marsalis Cape May Jazz Concert, tell you “…you have the greatest trumpet sound I have ever heard,” you know you have an incredible trumpet. For someone who has owned great horns—even a gold-plated Martin Committee owned by Wallace Roney—I tell you the Kanstul “Committee” Model 1603+ may be the greatest trumpet ever made. And, as if it were frosting on the cake, the valves are also lightning fast and smooth as silk.”