oldlou

My response will probably 'go against the grain' with some of the other respondents here, but, I will give reasons for my opinion.


As you are a music teacher and a professional, it should be relatively easy to find some accomplished trumpeter to evaluate whatever trumpet the prospective trumpeter is looking at to buy. That resolves the worry about a scam.


The very finest used trumpet available, if in good condition and at a decent price is the best solution for the 'wannabee' trumpeter. I have in my 'accumilation' some student grade cornets and trumpets that I have picked up at yard sales, etc., and would never foist one of them off on a newby. In my opinion, the best is seldom good enough in the quest for expertise. A lesser quality horn will only force the new student to work much harder in his/her attempts to succeed. The other reason for a high grade used horn is the built in resale value. New horns lose value at a rate much like a new car. A fine quality used horn will usually hold its value, or increase in value over time.


OLDLOU>>

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Couturier trumpet
York Master Model trumpet
York Elite trumpet
York Airflow cornet
King super 20 Master Model cornet
King Liberty trumpet
Reynolds Professional cornet
Bohm & Meinl professional trumpet
Besson 10-10 trumpet with Holton M.F. bell
Olds Special cornet Los Angeles
B&H Sovereign cornet
G.R.Band Instr. cornet
Getzen Super Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Getzen Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Many others no room to list

Peter99

Get him a Bach, those are the best student trumpets. It is a very good idea to let him buzz mouse piece first.

carltonsstudent

Suggest you try Pawn Shops for a good student horn. We go looking for horns for our new students and recently found one in a pawn shop. It plays really well in tune and has good valves. Poor valves are one of the most discouraging things about any trumpet, so always watch out for that. The pawn shop owner had the trumpet priced at $175 but was glad to get rid of it for $75. We have a bunch of used mouthpieces so we experiment a bit before we recommend which they should buy. Usually start with a Bach 7C or a near relative.

veery715

I echo rowuk. RENT first. It will likely be a Bach, Yammie, or Getzen student horn. Doesn't make much difference - lessons are most important. If it sticks then a horn purchase later will be done with a much better understanding of what is what. If it doesn't you won't have to sell anything, except maybe the mouthpiece.
Let the teacher vet the rental horn. If it isn't up to snuff exchange it for another. The music store offering the rentals wants you to be happy - a potential sale for them is in the offing.

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Music = Love

MFfan

I agree with you! I have a Barrington rose brass trumpet from WWBW I bought in the spring. They retail for $219 now. Good quality instrument all round, made in Taiwan. Don't miss my Strad (22yrs of use) one bit. Use a 7c or 7 with Bach heavy caps and it plays very well, and really opened my eyes after 50 yrs playing US or European made horns, as to what is out there if one keeps an open mind.

misty.sj

I am so glad to hear that you like the Barrington. I have only just purchased that horn (for $179!!) from WWBW but have been totally worried that I did the wrong thing, because I can't find much info about that company. I didn't want to drop a lot on a horn because I am just coming back to it after not having picked up a trumpet since 1997 (I played French horn on scholarship in college from 1996 to 2000, after playing trumpet starting in 1990). My trumpet was a really cheap used Blessing so I didn't think it was wise to spend lots of money and just could not pass up $179 for a new trumpet. If it's total crap I guess I can return it to WWBW. :)

Claude Gnocchi

China IS making some excellent trumpets - I have many, many horns; cheap and expensive, and one of my favorites and a great playing horn is an Andreas Eastman 420G,,,,GREAT horn and less than $400!!!! Talk to Roger Kiper at Washington Music in DC......

commakozzi

Check craigslist.org in your area. Make contact with that seller and go check out the horn, and just make sure it actually works. A beginner doesn't need anything great.

flugelgirl

A used horn is a great bet, but my favorite newer student model is the Yamaha Q class - a lot of the same features as the Xenos, designed with Bobby Shew, and a good looker with the matte laquer finish, which is also very low - maintenance. great price at about $350.

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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

bkonstans1

Make sure your student likes trumpet playing and then once he/she does, get him/her a used Getzen student model. Best valves ever, decent tone + response, you can't go wrong.

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Benny

GR/Curry thru Bach
Wick/Marcinkiewicz thru Blessing
to be continued...