Description
This Benge CG Claude Gordon Sn/ 33970 was manufactured in approximately 1983. Probably one of the last horns to leave the benge factory in Anaheim before moving to Eastlake Ohio. (Benge USA)
This professional-grade instrument is a specialized version of the Benge 6X large-bore trumpet, designed specifically for commercial and lead players who need an open feel with high-register brilliance. Key Specifications of the CG Model
• Bore Size: Large bore of .468″ through the valve block.
• Unique “Choke”: It features a narrowing to .464″ at the bell tail. This design provides the slight resistance needed to help players hold back air for sustained high notes.
• Resno-Tempered Bell: Often features a very thin gauge of brass to provide extra resonance and “sizzle”.
• Identifying Marks: Look for the “CG” initials stamped on the valve casing.
Historical Context
While many of these horns are stamped “Los Angeles,” instruments in this serial range were typically manufactured at the Anaheim, California plant after the company was purchased by King in the early 1970s. Claude Gordon eventually moved his design to Selmer/Bach in the mid-1980s because Benge reportedly refused to produce an even larger .470 bore that he preferred. The Benge CG was a collaborative design between the renowned trumpet virtuoso and educator
Claude Gordon and the Benge Trumpet Company. The design process involved several key figures and was modeled after Gordon’s own preferences for high-performance lead playing:
• Claude Gordon
: He provided the core design philosophy, seeking to replicate the feel and response of his favorite pre-WWII French Besson Meha trumpet. He specifically designed the leadpipe for the model in collaboration with his friend Dominic Calicchio a legendary custom trumpet builder in Hollywood.
• Zig Kanstul
: While Gordon provided the specifications, Zig Kanstul (who managed the Benge plant during the Anaheim era) was instrumental in the manufacturing process. It was
Kanstul who streamlined the production of the CG’s signature ultra-thin bell by ordering thinner gauge brass directly rather than having workers manually buff down standard bells.
• The Design “Compromise
Gordon originally wanted a .470 extra-large bore for the instrument. However, because Benge lacked the specific tooling for that size at the time, they used a .468 large bore block with a .464 “choke” at the bell tail to create the specific resistanceGordon desired.
This partnership lasted until the early 1980s, when Gordon eventually moved his design to Selmer (Bach) to finally produce the .470 bore model he had originally envisioned
