Most bang for your buck!

Getting away from Chinese tools...with or without American brand names. Sometimes a really quality trumpet can be plucked out of a time warp in the bastard horn section of ebay. I got a Grand Rapids Instrument company trumpet once off of ebay that I really like the construction quality and sound of. When I played one of my "really good" horns swapping back and forth with this horn it was holding it's own in how it played and sounded. The horn was made probably late 20's since the name goes out of the Grand Rapids directory around 1930. York was connected to the brand by the way.

So sometime later I got a stencil called the Bandmaster sold by Sears as a top of the line model. Turned out to be exactly the same horn....just the slide reversed on the middle valve case. Plays just as well. Built like a tank. Easy to play and I really like the sound.

Is it as good as one of the trumpets you semi or actual professionals play? Probably not ... but to me I know enough to tell a good horn from a so so or crap horn.

I was turning pages in one of the standards books and was playing different horns and picked the Grand Rapids up for a change yesterday and was comparing it to a King Super 20..... and I couldn't tell the difference between them in sound quality.

As to bang for the buck I paid $60 for the USA line Grand Rapids and about the same for the other one.

USA line.jpg

Jolter

@ROWUK said in Most bang for your buck!:

We ALWAYS have to consider what we are using the instruments for. An amateur in a town band will certainly have different NECESSITIES than the working pro. If I read the comments by many amateurs on the internet, I wonder how they really play. The comments do not match the requirements. Many times we have a luxury issue - more money than common sense. We cannot necessarily equate price with performance but there is a bottom line for quality.

Hi there! Nice to see so many familiar names from Trumpetmaster on here!

I think we can consider the possibility, rather than always buying the best, a player should buy the appropriate quality instruments, just like an electrician with his tools. A not-so-great amateur choosing between a Bach 180/37, a Bach Artisan or a consult with Dave Monette will not be better off paying the extra $1000 for the Artisan nor the extra $5k (or whatever the price is) for the Monette. He will be overpaying for higher quality than he needs, just like I would if I were to buy pro-grade power tools that I only use once a year. (For trumpets, the amateur should still be looking at different makes and models to find one suitable for his playing, of course, but my point is to search at an appropriate price point.)

If I'm correct, your advice to always buy the best, still holds true for the advanced player. What do you think about that attempt at a synthesis?

@Kehaulani said in Most bang for your buck!:

To contrast, I am a Martial Artist. The older and funkier your Black Belt looks, the more wear and tear it, and you, have had. I remember during a workshop once, even seeing a guy beating his belt on the sidewalk, to look older.

The musical circles I've hung with wear their worn instruments with pride, not as museum showcase pieces.

I remember hearing a story that an old Karate master's black belt will eventually wear to the point of looking white, like a beginner's. There is some important symbolism in there, I'm sure.

Hi Administrator,
While I prefer the MF Horn, IMO the best brand for the buck is the Bach 37/180 Stradivarius. Not too thin as to give off a too bright of a sound and if taken care of will maintain their value and, can go up in value. I have two strads, one from the 1970's and the other from the 1980's and they are great horns. Resale value probably should be considered when looking for the best bang for your buck.

@Jolter said in Most bang for your buck!:

The older and funkier your Black Belt looks, the more wear and tear it, and you, have had.

In trumpet terms, when the brass starts showing and the trumpet looks worn we call it "well loved".

Mr. Spock

I'd say pre-owned carol brass is hard to beat on performance to price ratio. Early Elkhart Bachs (prior to 1975) are usually tremendous horns that can be had at a good price too. Connstellations are great if you can get an Elkhart-made horn for under $900.