FreshBrewed

I completely agree with Robin. Play as many as possible. In addition to hitting the music stores in your area, I would also suggest the local pawn shops. In the last year, I have found a Getzen Eterna, Getzen Shepard's crook and a Callet in pawn shops and paid lesss than $1,000 for all three combined, to include repairs needed. Good luck in your search!

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Mike
Eclipse MHY Bell
1949 Olds Ambassador

Listening has nothing to do with moving your mouth!

blu_knote

... Good advise... let me elaborate on the situation a little furthur. I sold my Bach Omega (which I wasn't totally happy with when comparing to others I've had the opportunity to play) as well as my Stomvi Flugel to put a DOWN PAYMENT on my wifes wedding ring. The ring is now paid for but I find myself missing my horns tremendously. I have been playing for about fifteen years and I can't and won't stop now!! So I wanted to get a trumpet for general playing and start my collection later. I have tried the Xeno and of chorus several different strads, as well as kanstul marachi and chicago horns and I like them all. My question was related more to trumpet stats, bore sizes, lead pipes, one piece and two piece bells, etc. How much difference DO the specs make? I have found the mouthpiece that works for me, I just need my trumpet.
I will take your advise and play as many as I can, but if you had no trumpet and went for a significant amount of time without playing, your passion would cause you to be an impulsive shopper. This is my biggest fear because whatever I get, I will be thrilled to be playing again but I don't want to settle for something less than the best (... and I know... the best is one persons opinion and I will get a number of different suggestions as I already have.)
I do appreciate everyones input and look forward to more

Thanks, Daniel

Richard Oliver

With a new wifey, Congrats!, renting for a bit isn't the craziest thing in the world.

The manufacturers publish the specs because it helps them sell trumpets. Also, if one gets all gearheaded-up, it's fun to know more and more.

Brutal truth is sound trumps everything. And I wish there were a straight line joining specs and sound for all players. But what fun would that be?

Your question, "how much difference do the specs make?" is a good one. I don't know "the" answer. "An answer" is not as much they have interested me. Good ears go a long way coupled with patient investigation. Heck, the good ears don't even have to be ours.

Dave Mickley

All that I can add is to PLAY the horn and forget the specs. I went from a very nice .462 to a C7 which is a step bore with no acclimation period at all. I played a friends large bore and it felt stuffy to me, I have tried numerous Shew horns [both 6's and 8's] and they are way to stuffy FOR ME. We all play differently and just because someone else says a horn is open and free blowing doesn't mean it will be open for you. My wife and I both play and we have only agreed on one horn and we can't play on each other's mouthpiece. So all the advice that I can give is to take your mouthpiece, a tuner and a friend [ to listen in front of the horn] and try all the horns you can. Try several of the same horns, we both liked the Yamaha Mike Vax and the shop had 3 of them but only one played to our liking so she left with a new horn. Yamaha is known for its consistancy but in this case all three horns played differently. So play-play-play until you find the horn that is right for YOU. Dave

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formerly known as old geezer Dave
C7
Yam. 231 Fl. 15383
King Master Cornet 295628
Weril Cornet Lo 7535

flugelgirl

With no horn at all, there are so many options...personally, though, if I were in your shoes I'd either rent something acceptable for a little while, or even better - grab yourself something that works from a pawn shop to practice on while you shop. Then take your time, and PLAY EVERYTHING! I always play everything I can get my hands on whether I'm in the market for a new horn or not. Not only does that let you make the most informed choice for your own horn, but it also lets you help others with your perceptions of the horns you've played. Besides, it's just plain fun! You're right, though- if you don't have an interim horn, than you're going to be impulsive and grab the first thing you like, when you may end up liking lots of horns for lots of reasons before you find *yours*! The right one always speaks to you, though - if you played it 2 months ago and can't stop thinking about it, try it again because it's probably the right one!

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Reeves V Raptor
Yamaha 8335RGM
50's Calicchio
Marcienkewicz Rembrandt flugel
Schilke P5-4
French Besson Classic C
Weril Regium Eb/D

ed haley

I have not posted before so this is just a toe in the water. About what trumpet is best:Over a great many years I have played a Conn Coprion which I traded to a pawn shop for a much-patched Besson Meha which I finally traded for a better Besson which I had siver plated and then traded in for a Yamaha which I then sold for a customized modular Edwards and now I play a custom made(?) horn made Bob de Nicola. That is a history of 60 years. I like small bands, even duos with guitar. I love the sound of a good cornet - I have a beautiful Besson Meha and a good playing Buescher. I think you can make yourself crazy chasing the perfect horn and the perfect mouthpiece. Like most players I collected a ton of mouthpieces which I have now given away. Except for a Bach 7 trumpet and 7c cornet mp. I read somewhere that some British symphony player said that Americans worry too much about mp's. Could be. The fact is that we all know that playing a horn is just about the hardest thing there is to do and only a very few get really good at it.There are so many horns made now that you can spend a lifetime trying them all.And chasing the perfect horn.