Travel Trumpet

Newell Post

OK, so next September, I need to make a trip that will have me away from home for 3 weeks. Part of the time will be in France, so it means lots of planes, trains, and automobiles. I always travel light, and I don't want to haul around more than the minimum. What I really want is a plastic pocket trumpet about the size of the Carol Brass mini trumpet just to use for embouchure exercise.
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I have an inexpensive pocket trumpet (Dillon), but it is still a little larger and heavier than ideal. I also have a plastic cornet (Tromba). It is lighter, but still larger than ideal to stuff in a suitcase. (And the valves are horrible.) I know about buzzing and various exercisers, but a horn I can actually play always works better for me. I don't care about what it sounds like, I just want embouchure exercise.

Has anybody ever seen a very small plastic pocket trumpet (just for travel) that takes a standard mouthpiece?

Thanks.

barliman2001

@newell-post Stay away from the plastic stuff. I had one - offered by Thomann - for exactly that purpose. After three days, the bell was broken in half and the valves did not work any more, so the original purpose was defeated. Practice mutes did not stick... horrible.
Since then, I acquired an Arnold & Sons cheapo pocket trumpet (clone of the original small-bell Jupiter) for less than 200 bucks. Quite playable, even has a nice sound. All the usual practice mutes fit and keep in; and it comes in a sturdy, small and light case that every airline will accept as additional cabin baggage (it's about the size of a small ladies' handbag and has not only a shoulder strap, but backpack straps as well.) Great thing. And you can have it in about ten different colours, which means that if you happen onto a jam session, you can participate and draw all the girls' glances...

barliman2001

@barliman2001 Thomann have discontinued the plastic pocket trumpet. They are now offering that Arnold & Sons as a stencil under their own brand name: https://www.thomann.de/de/thomann_tr5_red_bbtaschentrompete.htm
It's a set including case, mouthpiece (not a bad 7C), valve oil, cleaning cloth and - of course - a pair of white gloves!!
Even though it comes with the gloves, it is about the most playable pocket trumpet in the cheapest and most travel-friendly package - and I've had a few, starting from the first Jupiter pockets about 30 years ago via two different Roy Benson PTSOs (pocket trumpet shaped objects), a Stomvi Forte (the best sounding so far, but rather big for a pocket trumpet, and an unconscionably big case)

Kehaulani

I won't address this generally, but just give you my experience.

I traveled from U.S. to Germany and back, and traveled around within Germany, with a Carol Brass pocket trumpet.

Carol Brass makes a pocket trumpet with a normal-sized bell so your mutes should fit it. I only took a Yamaha Silent Mute, which fits flush with the bell so I didn't need any extra space for it.

The taking up of space and the extra weight were negligeable. I put the horn, without a case, in my suitcase. It was well insulated and saved you the extra annoyance of carrying another piece of luggage around.

BTW, with the Carol, I never felt this was a compromise instrument, like using a plastic instrument, for example. It sounds and plays just fine on its own.

J. Jericho

@barliman2001 Other than the color, the Thomann looks exactly like a Dillon. I think it's from the same Chinese manufacturer. When I travel, my Dillon case fits inside my carry-on luggage, along with a small practice mute, my laptop, and miscellaneous other things. The combination is not light, thanks to the laptop, but it is compact.

The only thing smaller than a pocket trumpet is a hose trumpet, but intonation suffers, you have no valves to practice with, and no matter how much the hose is cleaned, mold seems to love the environment inside.

Dr GO

I got my Allora pocket trumpet for travel ease AND cost in case it was lost, or in my case, confiscated as I was taking it to Saudi Arabia at a time when music was outlawed. I was astonished how light it was! Made out of light weight black lacquered nickel. I still play it today as a novelty horn when backing up women singers as for some reason, the ladies really love it.

Dr GO

@j-jericho said in Travel Trumpet:

@barliman2001 ...no matter how much the hose is cleaned, mold seems to love the environment...

Yeah, the ladies go for my hose as well! Cause I'm a fungi!

Kehaulani

Does a Hose Trumpet, fit any practice mute?

administrator

I remember being VERY impressed with CarolBrass pocket trumpets. They played very similar to a full-size Bb and were not squirrely at all. I recommend CarolBrass, they are a great value and quality instruments.

Newell Post

Thanks, all. Yeah, I usually travel with my Dillon pocket trumpet wrapped up in a towel and stuffed into the suitcase. I have a mini practice mute that fits the small bell and works well. It's all, well, sort of OK, but could be better.

Anybody have any experience with the Carol mini trumpet? It looks a little smaller than the pocket.

Newell Post

And the answer is..... (Well, maybe it's the answer. I'll let you know after the trip.) ..... the Carol Brass mini trumpet. See pictures below next to the Dillon pocket trumpet. The Carol is slightly smaller and the case it fits in is much smaller than the Dillon. The Carol should fit in my suitcase much better. It also came with this larger bell adapter thing. It looks weird, but it really does help with the tone, especially in combination with a larger mouthpiece (1.5C). That combination sounds almost normal, although the intonation is off more than a normal trumpet, especially in the notes below middle C, for some reason.

Newell Post

The fit and finish of the Carol is excellent, BTW. The valves are very smooth and the slides are just right. The third slide that should move smoothly does and the others are not too loose.

administrator

Good choice.

J. Jericho

That bell adapter is an interesting touch.