Any trumpet players in this site?

Originally posted by wormwood
get a clarinet and respect your roots. klezmer kicks ass! 🙂

Nothing like a sweet, jolly mazurka, uh!

🙂

Originally posted by Seitse
Hey Dan, nice you drop by. That brand you mention is all new for me.

I think I'll give up the eBay fever and visit local stores to see and play there.

So how do you plan ot get back into music?

The cornet will be for fun.. I'm a strumming old rocker still play guitar and sing at the pub occassionally.. I doubt if I'll ever pull out the horn there haha.... not for more than three seconds anyway.. there is a local brass band but I'd take a lot of work to get good enough to show up there to try for fifth cornet ;-0

ps Boosey and Hawkes were the top English brass instrument makers for years.. though I have no idea of history..
found this.. of interest to musos http://www.musictrader.com/boosey.html

Originally posted by Seitse
Any insight on the Conn-Selmer brand?

I won't fall for those cheap Made in India 'tristar' or the 'stagg' or
those funky names. So, why not go for the trustworthy brands and
play safe?

Please contribute with your insight.

I am a trumpet teacher, and so I see a lot of models and stryles during my day.

This question is actually difficult to answer with the little information you have given. What sort of ability level is the person who is going to play the instrument? Also, are you looking at brand new instruments or 2nd hand? The answers to these make it much easier to find out what your needs are for the instrument - and would make your choice much easier.

There are so many types of trumpet around, and some manufacturers specialise at the beginner end, and others at the professional end. Also, many manufacturers have a particular speciality. Conn make many beginner and student models, and I have to agree with Suzianne in that these cheaper ones do sound flat - sometimes excruciatingly so. However, Conn are a class leader for many professionals in the trombone. The Conn 88 model of trombone are one of the top models and many pros play on these (and are only beaten by the more expensive Rath, and perhaps Vincent Bach too). Selmer on the other hand specialise in woodwind instruments - and are class leaders for saxophones. I would advise against anyone buying trumpets made by both Conn and Selmer. It is not their speciality, and you can get much better value for your money elsewhere.

Now, Yamaha make a full range of pretty much any instrument you can think of, but in this case, their trumpets usually well made, and are reliable (this is well worth a bit more money in my opinion). Their bottom of the range intruments like the 1335 should be avoided though, as there are better (and cheaper) models for beginers but the mid-range and pro instruments are popular and excellent. The 4335 and 6335 are excellent choices for the slightly more serious beginner or advanced beginner.

If you are looking for an adult instrument or are an advanced player though, it is a different story entirely. Yamaha Xeno intruments are great, but I would always recommend the Bach Strad instruments as they are the best "all-round" trumpets. Here in England, there is a big shortage of Vincent Bach instruments and as a result there are many more American brands coming over here, and it might be worth looking into Stromvi or others as you may get a bargain. I have 2 Strads, and I couldn't do without them - unless I win the lottery, in which case I'd get a custom made Smith-Watkins (I really want one of these), or perhaps one of those shaped Monetti ones like Wynton Marsalis. Perhaps I should buy a ticket....

One final note, I would always advise against buying anything from Ebay or online without being able to try the intruments first. I have had many pupils do this thinking that they are getting a bargain, but after a year, the cheapness starts to show you are left with a dog of an intrument that is no use to anyone. I would always buy my instruments from a shop in the west of England called John Packers Woodwind and Brass (www.johnpacker.co.uk), where you can try anything before you by. In my opinion is the best brass shop in Europe.

Well, I hope I have been of some help - feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Right, now where is my nearest lottery ticket seller....

Originally posted by joneschr
If this is for a new player, buy the cheapest you can find. It won't make a difference, and I guarantee you that by the time the pupil will appreciate the difference the old horn will be so dented mangled and tarnished that they'll need a new horn anyway.

This is great advice too.

An absolute beginner needs only to have a set of pipes that don't leak air. However, it they show promise after a year or so, then it is always worth investing in a more reliable instrument. Improvement will be swifter and easier too.

Originally posted by Hindstein
I am a trumpet teacher, and so I see a lot of models and stryles during my day.

This question is actually difficult to answer with the little information you have given. What sort of ability level is the person who is going to play the instrument? Also, are you looking at brand new instruments or 2nd hand? The answers to these make it much easier to ...[text shortened]... o PM me if you have any questions.
Right, now where is my nearest lottery ticket seller....

Pure gold, Hindstein, thanks! I'll PM you immediately.