Schwab

This thread comes from a suggestion to put up a list of decent, inexpensive horns that would be great for a beginner or someone on a budget. Many older pro horns can be had for the same price as a poor quality student trumpet from parts unknown.

Please keep the discussion to a minimum so it will be easy to see the different horns.

List from the thread for easier viewing:

Olds Ambassador
Selmer Bundy
Reynolds Medalist
Older Conn Directors (1950's-'60's)
Conn Connquests
Buescher Aristocrats Serial Numbers 250,000-400,000
Buescher 400 Serial Numbers 250,000 and above
Elkhart Built by Buescher
Yamaha 2300 series
Holton Collegiate
Holton Super Collegiate
vintage English Besson
H.N. White (King) Cleveland Superior

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Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

GoodMusic@PA

Selmer Bundy, can be found on ebay for about $100.

Pakatak

Reynolds Medalist. My school has one that is pretty much held together by electrical tape and is in horrible condition in my school's storage closet, and it still plays better than almost everyone's horns. Unfortunately, the look of worn lacquer and electrical tape is unappealing, but I don't know why...

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Trumpet
Yamaha YTR 6335HS
Mouthpieces
B&S 5C
Wedge 5DC w/ Wedge M Backbore

St.Louis Blues

Conn Directors, in fact I have one for sale!

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VetPsychWars

Buescher Aristocrats with serial numbers below about 400,000. Hard-nickel plated nickel silver valves, very tight fit. Buescher 400 trumpets are also a good choice but may cost more than $200. If you can get one for less, do so!

Buescher trumpets with serial numbers below about 250,000 not recommended because they accept a mouthpiece with a non-standard shank. Cornets, on the other hand, are fine.

Tom

VetPsychWars

Followup: Trumpets marked "Elkhart Built by Buescher" are also recommended. Any serial number range is fine. That was the value range in the 50s but are still good horns.

Tom

horner

Jupiter - I have a 600m, it cost £300, was better than the Yamaha pro model i tried and i have been using it for 7 years. Its not let me down so far.

(100th post, yay! lol)

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Jupiter 600m Trumpet Bb
Bach Strad Flugel Bb
Getzen Eterna Cornet Bb
Getzen Eterna Cornet Eb

"You can't play anything on the horn that Louis hasn't played already-even modern" -- Miles Davis
"Music is a journey. Jazz is getting lost"
"If it sounds good, it IS good!"-- Duke Ellington
"There are no wrong notes" -- Miles Davis

Pedal C

I've always liked the Yamaha student horns. About three years ago, I played the newest Jupiter student horns and thought they were very nice.

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"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs

veery715

I'll second the Yammie's 2300 series, often less than $100, Conn Directors and Olds Ambassadors, all used. Also Holton Collegiate and Super Collegiate.
I don't think you can buy a decent student horn new for less than $500.
veery

ChopsGone

Love those Ambassadors/Medalists. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the quality of some of the Indiana instruments, and Reynolds WWII military instruments - both bargains at today's prices. There are a lot of Conns beyond the Director series which can occasionally be had cheaply. Vintage Boosey, Hawkes, B&H, both nationalities of Besson - some get pretty pricey, others are going for much less than their quality should bring. Decent and inexpensive just about forces the decision to go for a used horn, although there are a few much-improved models from China to be considered if shiny and new are considerations. In current USA production, the lower lines of Getzen are probably better bets than most of the competition, since they're often heavily discounted.

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Vintage Olds and Reynolds, yes sir, yes sir, one gazoo full.

Calicchios, Besson, Kanstul Bessons, Selmers, etc.

F.E. forgive me, even a Bach Strad (but I like the others much better)