I decided to wait a month or so before writing a review. Let me begin with the fact that I am a beginning bugler. I played a trumpet back in high school, but that's it. I am a US Marine, an Officer, and an Army Paratrooper. I bought this bugle because there is a vast shortage of buglers for military funerals. My plan is to learn to play various bugle calls so that I may volunteer to play taps at veterans funerals. It's a small way of giving something back to my brothers in arms. Now to the review. 1) This bugle is keyed in G, and the tuning is spot on. This is a high quality instrument. Pull the tuning slide out to the stop and the key changes to F. Again, spot on. 2) The metal work (mine is brass) is excellent. The bell tapers beautifully and the mouthpiece socket is nicely reinforced. 3) The bugle sling rings are correct and well manufactured. 4) The brand name etching is functional, reading simply "US Regulation". Personally, I would have liked to have seen something more reminiscent of a 1930's scrolling as was found on older bugles, and would have paid a higher price for this added touch. This of course does not detract from this bugle's intended purpose. 5) The gig bag is everything it should be and if you want to protect your investment, this is an absolute must. 6). The mouthpiece is correct, well made and polished. This is a critical part of any bugle, so I'm happy this one is high quality and properly turned. 7) The instruction book is easy to follow and gets the beginner off to a successful start. In my personal library is a copy of the 1935 USMC manual for bugle, and there is nothing contradictory found in Mr. Palmer's manual that comes with this bugle. 8). I am making great progress in my practice, am having more FUN than you can imagine. By the fall, I expect to be ready as a volunteer bugler, so that a serviceman's family will have the benefit of an actual bugler playing Taps at their loved one's funeral, instead of having to tolerate a recording. No trooper should suffer such an indignity, so I'm doing something about it in my own small way. 9) Best $200 I ever spent! 10) If you have a question, ask. I will write you back. Sincerely, Captain John Wagner, IN, USAR, currently serving with the WW2 Airborne Demonstration Team at Frederick Army Airfield. Airborne All The Way!