Frank Bichon is the larger than life founder of a family owned music business that has developed a worldwide reputation for its respected range of woodwind accessories.
Started in 1985 the BG brand now encompasses over 300 different products which are sold in over 80 countries, a third of which can be found under the brand name of instrument manufacturers.
The company’s products are also endorsed by leading musicians across the globe, including the renowned ‘Les Trompettes de Lyon’ brass ensemble.
Bichon is a colourful character, full of passion and enthusiasm, curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit - a heady cocktail that brought him on a visit to the British Open in 2019 to find out more about the brass band movement.
He was seemingly impressed by what he both saw and heard, and now the company produces a range of brass instrument accessories – from protective pouches, mouthpieces cases and care cloths, to straps, holder bags and stands for cornet through to tuba and even Sousaphone.
Cleanliness
At this particular challenging time for brass musicians, maintaining good personal health (and that of others) by reducing the potential for exacerbating passing any infection by playing your instrument has become increasingly important.
As the Methodist preacher John Wesley once said from the pulpit – ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ – although it’s not known if he played in a brass band.
Each can be bought individually, although there is also what they call a ‘Complete Care in one package’, with this trumpet combo pack which is made up of the ‘All Slides’ lead pipe swab, a valve casing swab and a mouthpiece swab.
BG has produced a range of cleaning equipment that includes two different valve casing swabs, a mouthpiece swab, a universal slide swab, a valve port swab, valve casing brush, care cloth, pocket swab and mouthpiece brush.
Each can be bought individually, although there is also what they call a ‘Complete Care in one package’, with this trumpet combo pack which is made up of the ‘All Slides’ lead pipe swab, a valve casing swab and a mouthpiece swab.
High quality
They are made from a high quality micro-fibre of bamboo and silk, which they state has a high and fast absorption capacity. All are washer safe (placed in a small net) which they also boast gives them a lifespan of up to 5 years.
The valve casing swab (A31T2) has a malleable plastic chord enabling you to pull a foam-filled micro-fibre covered soft tube through the valve casing absorbing the grime and oily film of grease in each piston casing.
Each can be bought individually, although there is also what they call a ‘Complete Care in one package’, with this trumpet combo pack which is made up of the ‘All Slides’ lead pipe swab, a valve casing swab and a mouthpiece swab.
The mouthpiece swab (A31T4) has a slightly more rigid chord to enable you to pull the small cloth through your mouthpiece and pull it back and forth to clean it.
Meanwhile, the large ‘All Slides’ lead pipe swab (T31T3) is larger and comes with a longer chord with metal drop weight to help passage through tubing.
Although the product doesn’t come with an instruction leaflet it only takes a little bit of common sense to work out how to use them.
Regular use
However, despite the quality you would be hard pressed to think they would really last five years of regular use after being washed time after time at a high temperature to get them clean and free of any lingering germs, although there are links to the BG website and their YouTube presentations.
In addition, the stitching on the mouthpiece and universal slide swab looks like something that wouldn’t be out of place on a fancy bit of French lingerie (and the swabs are about the same size too).
The main stumbling block though seems to be the price – especially when you consider that its one of those purchase that people tend to make when they visit brass band trade stands etc. The RRP is just a snip under £60.00.
Over 5 years that works out good value for money, but as a one off purchase off with plenty of cheaper alternatives around in the market place, it could find itself sitting on the shelf rather than in someone’s instrument case.
Iwan Fox
To find out more go to:
https://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/bg-france/bg-kits-and-accessories/bg-discovery-pack-trumpet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=80&v=EidojsxTt8o
