DMITRI MATHENY plays the ART FARMER FLUGELHORN originally created for his mentor, jazz master ART FARMER One of the instruments played by Farmer on his classic recordings of the late 1960s and early '70s, the instrument is a hybrid created by three master brass instrument makers WEIGHT 2.5 lbs. BELL 6.5 inches in diameter, 17-1/8 inches in length, heavy wall copper-plated brass, designed by Zigmant Kanstul LEADPIPE solid nickel, 0.421 large bore, manufactured by French Besson for Boosey & Hawkes, based on the classic 1890 Paris Exposition design VALVES lacquered brass exterior, top sprung monel pistons with metal interior casings, manufactured by English Besson based on a design by Couesnon & Company MODIFICATIONS Farmer made a number of cosmetic modifications to the horn such as adding tuning triggers to the first and third valve slides and making custom valve caps inlaid with 1916-D Mercury dimes, an idea borrowed from symphonic French horn players of the era MUTES to expand his timbral palette with additional tones and colors, Matheny uses Jo-Ral tenor trombone mutes designed by Joe Alessi, as well as an assortment of hats, bottles and plungers CUSTOM ENGRAVING although weathered with age and oxidation, the name of the instrument's original owner is still visible, engraved on the flugelhorn's copper bell MOUTHPIECES Matheny uses Vincent Bach mouthpieces
