Hi
You can do A LOT with $1000 in the trumpet world, and good luck on your project!
Your band director sounds like a doorknob, and thats putting it lightly. A couple of years ago before I got my Martin Committee I was playing a Maestro Intermediate. I have been playing for 15 years and have 'the sound' and when people were blown away by my sound when I was playing the Maestro, and asked me what I played, I said a Maestro Intermediate. You should have seen the expression on thier faces! They were probably thinking you play a piece of junk like that and you sound that good? Just goes to show its the musician not the equipment.
As a student long ago I bought old used horns and I'd refrain from telling a student from buying a new horn untill he/she is sure that what they want to persue. Buying from a local dealer is a good idea but here is a GREAT example of a place that you can but great student horns for under $300.
http://www.justtrumpets.com/
Martin Committee makes the greatest horns as far as I am concerned and you might find an old beater of a Committee on Ebay for $100 to $150. With $850 to $900 in restoration you can do A LOT! Remember Van, your end result is going to be to restore a horn to new condition, so start out with a beat up great horn with the intention of returning it to its former glory. Are you doing the restoration yourself or hiring an outside professional? If its the latter heres some guys that do GREAT work. This one lists prices
http://www.doctorvalve.com/Services.html
Check out this site where people are writing reviews on thier Martin Committees. You have to scrol down a bit to see them in the page.
http://www.wwbw.com/Martin-Brass-Com....music?t=4#tab
If you just want to buy a used horn on Ebay for $1000 you can get a GREAT vintage or new Martin used Committee, and tell your band director where to put his little B&S intermediate theorie
Good Luck Van, Keep us aprised
Rick AKA Trumpet Man
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Heavens2kadonka Mr. Laureano,
I had been telling my students that if they wanted a trumpet, not to order it from WWBW, or buy from the local store (which has nothing). I told them that I knew some very personable dealers online that would get you a great horn at a very reasonable price.
The band director at the school I teach came up to me about two weeks ago, saying something to the effect of "I shouldn't fill my students' heads with this hogwash." He said that for $1050, a B&S Intermediate is the best that can be got, essentially stating that I was a moron for thinking otherwise. It didn't help that he started this little confrontation by telling me that my Olds Ambassador that I am loaning to a student was "A piece of junk." It also doesn't help that he's a euphonium player.
I'm still bristling thinking about it.
I may be only 18 years old, just really taking off the training wheels out in the big scary world. He may be a 43 year old band director with a Masters degree, and years of experience on the road, with directing and performing experience out of his ears. However, I just don't think the man is correct in assuming what comes out of the WWBW catalogue is the absolute best deal available.
Thats why I have to create this booklet. I cannot stand for people like that to push young players into the horns that are immediately available, when they could have done better.
Why just do something when it can be done better? Isn't that the whole ideal behind music?
Van |