Which trumpet to buy?
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Your administrator is looking to get back into trumpet playing. From the following choices, assuming I can afford whatever I purchase, which do you recommend?
-- Brand new Blackburn (I visit the shop and make my order there)
-- Brand new Yamaha artist series (I buy from local music shop)
-- Brand new Bach 190 (I buy from local music shop)
-- Used Blackburn (hopefully with trial period, but no guarantee)
-- Used Yamaha artist series (lightly used)
-- Used Bach 190 (lightly used)I'm looking for a general do-it-all horn and I am absolutely not interested in fussing with it. Just need something that is easy to play, especially for somebody with limited time on their hands. If you recommend another brand, please let me know.
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@administrator Forget all the overpriced Bachs, or whatever. If you want something in the Bach style - and better lacquer quality - go for the B&S Challenger I or II series. If you want something lighter than Bach - and even longer lasting - the Stomvi Elite range is superb. And if you do insist on something from Asia - either find yourself a good used Jupiter STR1010 (comes with two bells, and can be easily retrofitted with Schilke bells) or go for the XO 1600 Roger Ingram model.
Or you can tell Ivan Hunter exactly how you want your instrument to be, and he'll adjust one from his own range exactly to your liking. www.jaegerbrass.com. After his move to Germany, his workshop is back in business. -
The Harrelson Summit with a 7 bell and 4 lead pipe, does it all. Very responsive to the way you deliver air. It can play rich dark sounds but with more of an attack, effortless play clear bright lead notes. The lowest resistance trumpet I have ever played, so easy to play is an understatement.
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Well, you've got a problem. boy.
I would give a stock answer and tell you play them all and get the one that rings your bell. You might find that, after you've made your choice, you say, "Maybe I should've gotten the , , , "
I can't speak to all, but I got a Bach 190-37. It was ideal. Had a beautiful, rich sound, played well and was meticulously made. I had to trade it for someting lighter. Know that this is not a negative. It is not a heavy horn. I have had two major strokes and am weak on my left side and just decided to get something lighter. And know that I I have never been a Bach product person, so this is really saying something about the horn.
BTAIM, back to my original suggestion. Take the ne you most well respomd to.
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Try a bunch of horns (including those not on your list) and let the right one find you.
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@vulgano-brother said in Which trumpet to buy?:
Try a bunch of horns (including those not on your list) and let the right one find you.
I tried a bunch of horns and many found me, each one right in their own way... kinda like trumpet polygamy.
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@administrator said in Which trumpet to buy?:
-- Used Bach 190 (lightly used) (probably) You can try before you buy and probably save some money over the new price.
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All good ideas. I won't buy before I play.
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"Simply easier to play" is Stomvi's ad line, LOL
I played a Bach for decades and wanted something more amenable for what I play now. I went to ITG in 2018 and played over 30 horns. I really thought I was going to end up with a Schilke HC2, HC1, X3, etc. - maybe a Bach large bore Commercial, or maybe even one of the Claude Gordon models. I was blown away when I tried an Eclipse Celeste CLS with the big 6O leadpipe, but I can't justify that kind of expense. I was also surprised to find the most popular Yamaha and Jupiter signature horns a little too tight for me. So I wound up at the Stomvi table, tried everything, and the S3 Big Bell was by far the most responsive horn I had ever played. K.O. Skinsnes is also a great cat to talk to. I'm sure a lot of it is just a better match to me and my mouthpiece, but I have tried a number of horns just in the last year and only a few have ever even pulled up close to it.
Of the choices you mentioned, your best bet by far is to go work with Blackburn if you're right there. I've heard nothing but great things about and out of those horns, and the cats I know that have worked with them at the shop all had a great experience. The leadpipe is probably one of the biggest factors the way I perceive how a horn plays; Blackburn is one of the few that is as famous for leadpipe designs as whole horns.
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Many years ago, I got to meet Bill Chase before one of their concerts, along with a group of other people. As part of the Q&A somebody asked him what horns they used. As I recall, the answer was: 1 Schilke (for Bill), 1 Connstellation, 1 Benge, and one I don't remember. Maybe a Committee or a Selmer something or other. In any event, that trumpet-centric group had 4 top-notch players that all used different horns. There isn't one right answer.
Bb: Bach 180S37G (05), Mercedes (80)
Vintage: Committee (54), Recording (59), Super (49), Getzen Severinsen (66)
C: Kanstul 1510, Constellation
D/Eb: Getzen Eterna
Cornet: Schilke XA1, Yamaha Neo Eb
Flugel: Kanstul 1525, Yamaha 625
Conch shell in F -
@newell-post said in Which trumpet to buy?:
Many years ago, I got to meet Bill Chase before one of their concerts, along with a group of other people. As part of the Q&A somebody asked him what horns they used. As I recall, the answer was: 1 Schilke (for Bill), 1 Connstellation, 1 Benge, and one I don't remember. Maybe a Committee or a Selmer something or other. In any event, that trumpet-centric group had 4 top-notch players that all used different horns. There isn't one right answer.
There is only the right answer for the right player.
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What Barlimen2001 says rings true. One horn does not rule them all. So get to a conference or trumpet hang and try what you see, and maybe, just maybe, you will find the horn for you.
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@administrator
It seems like nobody here will give you the straight answer you were looking for.
I think your problem is, if your budget will permit buying a new Artist Series horn, you clearly have a lot of options.If you're still interested in a sort of tally of votes, if I had to take a chance on one of those you listed, I'd start with the Yamaha. I've heard more than one player say things like "I used to play Bach, back when I was a full-time pro. But now I'm playing as a hobby, I don't have the time to practice as much, so I switched to Yamaha." Usually the draw of the Bach was the sound. But the Yamaha was just easier to play. It matches my own experience, too.
I have a feeling that that story says more about the qualities of Bach than of Yamaha, though. I think there are other, equally "easy to play" brands on the market. I just haven't explored them, personally.
Used or new? Depends on what you get your hands on, I'd say. If in the U.S, it seems like the world is your oyster when it comes to used brass, so I'd start there.
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Ref. the new vs. used consideration, it's just like cars, which I'll spare you the hackneyed comparison, but you know what it is.
I've had them both. If you go used, the most important thing to me, are the security features. I.e. some sellers have a very fair return policy, so you may not be stuck with something that you don't like. OTOH, in principle it;s caveat emptor, all sales final. I wouldn't normally buy a used horn unconditionally.
With new you get a warrantee, return policy and a pretty good chance that it is error free. Right now, I have a cornet from 1929, a 70s trumpet and a brand new flugelhorn. Just don't buy in the dark and with good intentions. CYA.
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As a tech that works for a retailer and goes through hundreds of horns per year, here’s my thoughts:
Bach 190s aren’t really better than the 180s, they’re just different. The 37s and 43s are still wildly inconsistent and you just have to pick one you like. The only difference is in specific models - the Artisan, LR19043B Mariachi, and Commercial models tend to be much more consistent, and will play much closer to another horn of the same model.
The Yamaha artist series are very consistent when new. When used, there may be a difference, especially between generations 1 or 2, or if they have had any damage. Yamahas always feel different after damage and repair.
Take a look at our inventory - I go through everything and can answer any questions you might have. We also have a very generous return policy.
www.brassandwinds.com -
I have opined before that you may or may not find your idea of the best horn -- you have to be patient and it will find you
Thirty or forty years ago I was playing a Selmer Paris and wanted something better....I went to our local music store and played several "pro' horns. I selected a Bach 37. Payed it for the next 20 to 25 years. A Schilke X3 was available at the store and that has been why horn since. I still play the Bach, but do not like its weight. I bought my Courois Flugelhorn unseen on Craigs List. There are better (cosmetically) flugels out there, but I can make the Courtois sound the way I like -- it found me.
Schilke x3
Bach Strad 37
Courtois Flugel -
@fels
PSI am teaching my 10 year old grandson who is now playing the Selmer Paris
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@fels said in Which trumpet to buy?:
I have opined before that you may or may not find your idea of the best horn -- you have to be patient and it will find you
Thirty or forty years ago I was playing a Selmer Paris and wanted something better....I went to our local music store and played several "pro' horns. I selected a Bach 37. Payed it for the next 20 to 25 years. A Schilke X3 was available at the store and that has been why horn since. I still play the Bach, but do not like its weight. I bought my Courois Flugelhorn unseen on Craigs List. There are better (cosmetically) flugels out there, but I can make the Courtois sound the way I like -- it found me.
Courtois instruments seem to have a way of finding one... my 154R flugel came my way after a trade fair in Munich, when the Courtois people had a few more cases left over than they could possibly fit in their truck. I was hanging about there and admiring the way they tried to solve the problem, and when I asked whether I could help them in any way, they just told me to "take my pick". And so I walked away with a brand-new case with - as I found out later - a brand spanking new Courtois 154R flugel in it - for free. Haven't looked at another flugel since then - it's that good. Few years later, Votruba's in Vienna told me they had taken in a Courtois Balanced in part-exchange for a new instrument. Would not sell as it was cosmetically bad, so they let me have it for € 150... it's my main big band axe now. And only recently an old friend told me he's thinning his herd and letting go another almost unplayed Courtois Balanced - he likes "heavy" horns, the harder the better - and that will be mine as soon as I pay the postage...
