Taiwanese Trumpets

HaveTrumpet

Just going to offer a quick shoutout to Taiwanese trumpets. I travel through the region and have been collecting a mix of instruments. I now have a jupiter pic and flugelhorn, about six Carolbrass, two Mauriats, and another local maker (Harmonie). Fun instruments!

administrator

Which one is your favorite?

GeorgeB

@havetrumpet

I own a Custom Manchester Brass Bb made for Austin Custom Brass. I've owned it for close to 4 years. A great band horn with good intonation and fast valves. It was made in Taiwan by the same manufacturer that also made Carol Brass trumpets.

Dr GO

I have yet to taiwan out.

Newell Post

@dr-go I think I'll Taiwan on, instead.

flugelgirl

My Puje has a Carol valve block and plays very well. It’s also rare that I see a problem with a Jupiter valve block, unless the oil on it is too thick. The tolerances on new Jupiter are pretty tight. I actually keep a Jupiter intermediate under my bench for practice when I don’t bring a horn to work - it’s no replacement for my Adams, but it does play very well! Jupiter 1100 series are more of a stripped down pro model than a dressed-up student, and do quite well as a lower priced model.

administrator

@flugelgirl said in Taiwanese Trumpets:

My Puje has a Carol valve block and plays very well. It’s also rare that I see a problem with a Jupiter valve block, unless the oil on it is too thick. The tolerances on new Jupiter are pretty tight. I actually keep a Jupiter intermediate under my bench for practice when I don’t bring a horn to work - it’s no replacement for my Adams, but it does play very well! Jupiter 1100 series are more of a stripped down pro model than a dressed-up student, and do quite well as a lower priced model.

Would you recommend a Taiwanese trumpet over, say a Bundy, for a new student?

flugelgirl

@administrator Most times, yes! I do find that that the intermediate are far better than the student models in most cases, such as Jupiter 1100 series and the Antigua we recently got in stock which are also made in Taiwan. They are definitely far superior to the Conn-Selmer student models that I have gone through in the past few years. I was quite impressed with Carolbrass’s student cornet they released at NAMM 2020.

ConnDirectorFan

@havetrumpet Is Harmonie made with their own valves, or do they source from another maker? I'll see if I can find anything on them

tjcombo

@havetrumpet I've been a fan of Carol for a while. My brother bought a second hand early model Legend heavyweight whilst working in the region that I now have. I also have a Carol flugel and recently acquired a Bb mini pocket.
Valves on all three are excellent. I use Hetmans #1 on all.
The odd horn out in this picture is an el-cheapo pocket that I used to take when traveling which will be retired. The mini-pocket is an interesting critter. It plays pretty much like a full-sized trumpet although intonation below the staff is not great (and no, the bell on the Legend isn't bent, iPhone camera lenses are no substitute for the full sized thing)

chelpres

@tjcombo Couldn't agree more on your opinion of the Legend Heavy weight. As they say in the classics, it's a nut buster. On a value for money basis, they, the Carol Brass, cannot be beaten.

tjcombo

@chelpres 100% agree. I have a number of horns, but generally gravitate back to one of two - either the Carol or a 1947 Olds Super which is probably my all-time fave.

HaveTrumpet

One reason I got into them is that I can try out different aspects. I'm a comeback player was just really curious how different instruments perform. The Mauriat 600 is heavier, the 655 is a large bore, one of the Carols has a lot of nickel and plays bright, etc.

I also found as a doubler I just really enjoy the flugelhorn and the piccolo. Honestly a lot of us who play are doing this just for fun, so we have a different relationship to gear than professionals, who need something standard that can be tweaked.

I haven't compared the Jupiter professional vs intermediate line, but am curious. I really like the 1100 flugelhorn and found it easy to adjust to. I'm curious how their 1600 line plays.

Harmonie does make their own valves, I believe. On the local facebook market there are two for sale and I've met Canadian players in Taiwan who really like them. Mine I bought 2nd hand and I like it. I'm curious what their market/model is; I think they make for the domestic market under their own name and also design horns for international makers.

ConnDirectorFan

@havetrumpet Interesting; thanks. The only 1600 series Jupiter I've played is the 1600I Roger Ingram trumpet. Nice player, great high register and projection, but the horn brand-new came with gritty valves [good thing it was insurance money paying!] that hung up a lot. After getting them lapped and cleaned, they work all right - I prefer my King Liberty or Conn 61B a bit more at times for their brightness, but the 1600I isn't too bad.

HaveTrumpet

@conndirectorfan That would be annoying. Breaking valves in can be a hassle. Someone had recommended wiping and reoiling often and more bathing the first few weeks.

How does the blow on the Liberty compare to the Ingrim? I have a liberty also (at my parents' house) and it is that more-old style, smaller bore sound. Except for the one large bore, my trumpets are all ML, so I've thought of trying something smaller.

ConnDirectorFan

@havetrumpet I was told the same...things about how to care for it/break it in, but honestly it was moot. It took a lot more work than just that to get the Jupiter valves working. I bought it using insurance money [and the repairs were under warranty] so I can't complain too much, but the demo I had played years prior had been set up better.

The Liberty just feels easier to play - the blow isn't significantly different [I don't really notice a difference since they're not as extreme as Conn 6B and 5A], but the response is quicker. The Ingram is a bit more predictable, more balanced, but the Liberty's brightness and high register zing is hard to beat! On the other hand, I've been using an Amati-Kraslice OEM "Arioso Super" [model B-2580] a lot more, too.
The Arioso is a bit mechanically clunky but relatively open, ML-ML+ ish
Hopefully that answers the question [best way I can put it]

Curlydoc

Any experiences with John Packer instruments?

administrator

@curlydoc said in Taiwanese Trumpets:

Any experiences with John Packer instruments?

I've heard good things, but no experience myself.

Bill Pfund trumpets are made in PRC and then he modifies them in his workshop. Good horns at an affordable price.

grune

@curlydoc I blew a few JP models a music fest. heavy horns, very average, nothing stands out to commend them. I found the price too high against competitors.