Hello, everyone!

I am looking to by a student trumpet for an adult beginner.

I like the look of the Bach Prelude TR700 but don't really know much about trumpets.

Can anyone advise me on good makes/bad makes?

I am looking to spend around £100/£150 £250/$300.

Is it ok to buy on the internet?

Many thanks,

Wendy

Hmmmm ... I started playing on a Getzen 390 trumpet and this turned out to be a good choice, so I decided to stick with Getzen trumpets for a while. They aren't that expensive either. And I wouldn't buy a horn on the internet as a beginner - there are too many f*cked-up horns on the internet which aren't worth looking at. Of course you can also find great horns there, but you should have some experience with brass instruments before getting yourself a horn via the internet.

Are you in the UK, if you're looking at £££?

I'm a big fan of Yamaha. As an adult beginner, I bought a 4335GS, and I still haven't outgrown it. That's more than you've said you want to spend (it's about £400) but I've heard good things about the 2335, and you might be able to pick one up cheap second hand. If you are, in fact, in the UK, I can give you some names of good shops in different parts of the country. Windblowers in Nottingham is the best I've been to, and it's pretty easy to get to from anywhere, if you don't mind travelling a bit. They're fantastic people - extremely helpful.

The prelude has long term problems if you don't know much about maintainance.
The Bach TR500 on the other hand is a great horn and easy to care for.
All Yamaha horns are good though.

But....

Despite what most people will tell you. The Selman 700n Nickel Platted horn is a great horn for a beginner to advance player and it's dirt cheap. You can get one on ebay. I have 2 of them, one for practicing, and one for jazz.

Get a knowledgable player to go with you to a store and try some stuff out. In the beginning you NEED help.

My advice is to FORGET the advice about the Selman (I have had contact with 12 of these horns - ALL with valve and construction problems). You can get lucky, and with that brand, you need it.

For the money that you specify, a used Yamaha, Getzen, Bach, Boosey&Hawkes or Jupiter if in decent shape will never limit your possibilities.

Wendy:

I have some links on my web site to some very good deals on quality, new trumpets.

I am not sure if the vendors sell outside of the US, however.

Check here: Bethany Brass Services

Good luck,

Greg

I believe, somewhere on this site there was a rating of beginning instruments. From what I have seen and heard in the ratings Yamaha was number one. However, I agree with Robin take someone with you who is educated and can help you.

I'm a huge Getzen fan, but in the EU, check out Kuhnel & Hoyer and B&S. All three of these brands are extremely well-built and will last for decades.