frank

Schagerl in Austria offers a pocket trumpet for ca. 700$. And they are supposed to be good...

rhdroc

The horn you refer to looks very similar to the Mini-Max I purchased (several years ago) from Rich Szabo via his website. Charles Colin is now selling them directly from his website. I'm pretty sure they're manufactured by Shimokura (just as the Marcato).

http://www.maxtrumpets.com/

All things considered, it was a nice little horn (with a full-sized bell) EXCEPT for two small problems...

1. Shortly after it arrived, the pinky hook fell off. Looked like it was being held in place with double-side tape

2. The lacquer began to wear far too soon.

I'm still curious about how the UMI Benge and Kanstul pocket trumpets compare.

---<Rick

__________________
Trumpets
Tulsa Calicchio 1sZ/3rL
LA Benge 2X (88XX)

Flugelhorn
Hollywood Calicchio brass flugelhorn

mototrmpt

Rick,
I can't really compare the UMI Benge pocket with the Kanstul because my Benge is an early vintage LA Benge made around 1974 when their shop was in LA. If their trumpets are like their pocket trumpets, I'm pretty sure the mandrells to make the UMI pockets are not the same as the ones in LA.

With that said...both the LA Benge and Kanstul pocket play very very nice. I've brought them to my big band rehearsals and the other trumpet guys have played them and have a ton of fun with them. I would not be shy about actually performing with either horn.

I must first say that I'm not the best at describing the differences in the horns, but I'll try my best. My main horn right now is a Wild Thing which I really, really enjoy. I like it better than my former main horn (Bach 72* 43 lp) and both pocket trumpets, but they all play very well. If need be, I could perform with any of these horns, but I definitely prefer the WT.

Now to your question in comparing the Benge to the Kanstul. The fit and finish on both are excellent as I would expect from a LA Benge or a modern Kanstul trumpet. The LA Benge actually plays slightly better than the Kanstul. It seems to be a bit freer blowing and slots slightly better. My preference would be to play the LA Benge over the Kanstul, but since I usually travel with my pocket and security and damage are always a concern, I take the Kanstul since I don't think I can replace the LA Benge and modern Kanstul's are fairly available.

As far as UMI Benges are concerned, my daughter plays a regular UMI benge trumpet and although it is a nice horn and plays decently, I would certainly not put it in the same category as a LA Benge, a Bach, or a Kanstul.

Before I bought my first pocket trumpet, I looked around and almost purchased a marcato for much less $$$. Now hearing how the finish is wearing and the pinky ring think, I'm glad I paid more money for the Kanstul since I plan on keeping my horns for a very long time. Between the UMI benge to the Kanstul, I would much rather have the kanstul, so I bought one. A short time later I came across someone selling a very good condition LA Benge and I impulsively bought it. I was definitely not disappointed.

My recommendation would be to streach the budget and get a Kanstul pocket.

I hope this helps.

-Lance

rhdroc

Thanks, mototrmpt, for your reflections!! Since there's little chance of getting a vintage Benge pocket (the ones you do find, go sooooo fast), I think I try the Kanstul. Including your comments, I've heard nothing but good things about them. My wife was going to get me pocket for Christmas - instead I got the proverbal lump of coal She said the UMI Benges went for $900-$1000 and the Kanstuls went for about $1100 -$1250, depending on the finish.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post(s), Marcinkiewicz is supposed to make an excellent pocket trumpet. Based on what I've heard about them, I have no reason to doubt their excellence BUT, priced in the $3400 - $3850 range, I'll probably not see one anytime soon!!

http://www.marcinkiewicz.com/instrum...ket/pocket.htm

http://www.marcinkiewicz.com/instrum...ket/pocket.htm

---<Rick

__________________
Trumpets
Tulsa Calicchio 1sZ/3rL
LA Benge 2X (88XX)

Flugelhorn
Hollywood Calicchio brass flugelhorn