The Wild Thing Cornet

If you are looking for something a bit different from the usual makes in the cornet stakes, why not let your hair down and go a bit 'Wild'?

Flip Oakes Wildthing Cornet

A few months ago, Jacob Staer, one of the younger players in the Tanunda Town Band, South Australia walked in with a new cornet. We were all pretty amazed by it: for starters, he had purchased it, sight unseen and without playing it, over the internet from America.

We were all super skeptical of course, but have now come to realise that it's actually a very nice instrument. And wow – what a name!

The cornet was created by Flip Oakes after many years of research and design and he states that many players are calling it the ultimate cornet.

Oakes considers the "Wild Thing" to be the most open and free blowing cornet ever made, and makes the following comments about the instrument:

It has an incredibly fast response and allows great flexibility and superb intonation. This truly unique new concept in design produces a sound that is very open and dark with a huge core, yet retains its shape.

The Wild Thing Cornet presents the "Romance of the cornet" reflected in the cornets of the turn of the 20th century. It has the same gentle flowing curves that will remind you of the 'Grand Old Cornets' of the past with one major exception: using today's technology and Flip Oakes' unique design, he has added a playing quality that has never before been achieved in any cornet.

The Wild Thing Cornet will take you back to the days when cornets ruled and trumpets were fanfare instruments!

The ‘Wild Thing' design:

• Available in silver and gold plate;
• Third slide finger ring and adjustable slide stop;
• Monel pistons / Digital Valve Alignment;
• First valve slide thumb saddle;
• Three traditional style water keys;

And...

• Specially designed leadpipe and bell to give fast response, flexibility and great intonation;
• The most conical cornet made today to enhances the truest, traditional cornet sound;
• Extended length slide included for playing in extreme heat where more tuning range is needed;
• Open wrapped, conical, one piece, hand hammered bell;
• Deluxe Black Leather Bound Hard-Shell Case;
• Flip Oakes WT Mouthpiece (the size of your choice).

The instrument certainly looks stunning (it's the gold plated one) and comments from people who have tried it are indeed complimentary: it has a dark and mellow tone, the pitch and intonation is well centered, but above all is the distinctive sound.

The only negative point seems to be that the larger bell means that conventional mutes don't fit (although Flip Oakes produces mutes to fit). It's indeed new for Australia – there are only 10 to 12 customers in Australia, and only a few in New Zealand as well.

Most of us are not brave enough to try something different and just stick with the conventional brands, so well done Jacob for giving it a shot!

Veronica Bowman

Internet: http://www.flipoakes.com

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