trump321

I know how horrible they are (and I really enjoy reading about how terrible they are on TH and TM), but I bought one on ebay out of morbid curiosity and dire need of a C trumpet/trumpet shaped lamp base. My wife and I both play trumpet and we only have one C trumpet between us. We had a minor gig that required us both to have one. To be fair, I did try to find one that seemed better than a Tristar or Cecilo (if there is such a thing) and bought a Berkeley.

It arrived yesterday in its own cheap plastic case. When we opened the case, the trumpet, a Bb tuning slide, and an unmarked mouthpiece were all wrapped in plastic. Upon closer inspection, the quality control leaves something to be desired, although the finish was nearly impeccable. That said, it was much better than we expected from a new $50 trumpet. When we got it, the third valve wouldn't move. We managed to get it out and found some lapping compound left over inside. We cleaned it out and oiled it liberally and it was fine.

We didn't expect much out of it playing-wise, but it actually wasn't that bad. It doesn't play like my 229 Strad with Blackburn conversion of course, but I actually think it played and sounded better than a Jupiter 604 we tried at the local music store. (Incidentally, they were charging $1800 for the Jupiter!) It's fairly easy to play and has a pretty good tone. It wasn't dead sounding or overly bright at all. The bell is slightly larger than my 229 bell at 5 inches. Compression is mostly ok, but there is quite a bit of air leaking from the 2nd valve slide.

Overall, it's pretty good for a $50 trumpet. I wouldn't recommend everyone go out and replace their Xeno, Strad, etc. but as a backup or temporary horn it'll work just fine. For a Chinese horn, Berkeley is about the only one I'd touch! For any who are interested, here is the ebay link to the one I bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220095699276

Has anybody else tried one of these things?

Manny Laureano

I enjoyed the modifiers to most of the adjectives you used to describe the $50 horn you got:

"nearly impeccable"
" [not] that bad"
"fairly easy"
"pretty good"

I just thought it was funny, that's all. They made me laugh. I hope you see the humor in it.

ML

trump321

lol You have a point. Still, that's about as much as I can manage for it...its an okay horn, but nothing spectacular, and that was what I was trying to convey. If you only knew the expectations we had for it...we were thrilled that it played at all! Overall, it was worth about the $100 (including the outrageous shipping) we paid for it.

krossum

I sure enjoyed playing the Bb version...

Kelly Rossum - Movement for Trumpet in Three Pieces

peace.
-Kelly

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“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

Vulgano Brother

Here is a question -- is a $1500 trumpet 30 times as good, or a $3500 trumpet 70 times as good as yours? You might just have the best trumpet in the world! (Do they have an Anja model, too?)

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Solar Bell

I'm going to buy three of them, two from column 1, and one from column 3.

With the column 3 choice I get an eggroll, or a spring roll.

-cw-

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Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

Adam Smith

Kelly, That was Hillarious.

midwestchops

not that i would say everyone should go out and buy this "crap", but most is the player. my trumpet prof. witnessed a russian symphony with outstanding trumpet players that sounded amazing and they were playing some of the crappiest horns she had ever seen. think how they would be with a nice horn

TheApostlePaul

I'm a little worried. According to the ad they know how much money I have!

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The Head Banger Theologian

trumpetnick

...How about free pint? Chuck, That's so you Beautiful shiny pro trumpet...

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Spada Bach B flat 72, leadpipe 2L/DWMM1.5C
Spada Bach C 256, leadpipe 2LQ/DWMM1.5C
1956 Olds Ambassador Cornet
Spada Custom Piccolo

If you don't know where you are going, you 'll end up someplace else