asc1969

I just found a listing on Craigslist.com for a "like new" King 601 Bb trumpet. There are four pics with the hardshell case that look good but one can't tell too much about its condition because the shots are not large enough. The asking price is $150. I'm not sure how much new Kings go for however if the trumpet is actually in "like new" condition as advertised, I think I'd be interested. Without having much expertise in the area of good vs. bad quality trumpets, my question is how do any of the experienced players on this site feel about the King brand of instruments? Should I even entertain the thought? Keep in mind I'm just starting out and have been blowing on a '50's Boosey and Hawkes student trumpet made in England.

Thanks

michaelm2

The King 601 is one of the better student trumpets I've played. It has a .462 bore. If it is actually like new it is easily worth $150. If you don't like it you souldn't have any trouble getting your money back in resale.

Mike

screamingmorris

The King 601 is a *good* trumpet for beginners in middle school and in high school, but it is not commonly used in college (except maybe as a second trumpet for college marching band, much as college guys use their Bach Strads indoors but keep a Bach 300 for college marching band).

Like the Holton 602 and the Bach 300 and the Yamaha 2320 / 2335, the manufacturer's suggested retail price is around $950 for lacquered finish (an extra $100 for silver finish), with Internet discounters selling new ones for around $650.

I have seen used King 601's typically sell for around $100 on eBay, although ones in bad shape sell for less, ones in excellent shape sell for much more.
But yours might be worth the asking price of $150 because:
1. Yours is in like-new condition, which definitely adds to value
2. Yours is probably near you so that you can try it out before buying it, whereas with eBay you have to buy it and have it delivered before you see what condition it is *really* in

I wouldn't hesitate to have a King 601 as my first trumpet.
King and Holton and Bach are made by the same company: Conn-Selmer.
The 601 is not the lowest level trumpet in the King line, it is one step above the 600, so it is indeed the rough equivalent of a Holton 602 or a Yamaha 2320 / 2335 or a Bach 300 in terms of quality and initial price when new, although each of those models has its own feel and sound.
The King and the Holton models just don't sell for as much as the Bach and Yamaha when used, even though their new price is the same, because there just isn't as much demand as for the used Yamaha and Bach.
I suspect that the King 601 is like my Holton 602 in that it has a slightly more open feel to it and a slightly brighter sound to it than the Yamaha and Bach, making it great for jazz band.

I wouold print out eBay ads showing King 601's selling for less than $150 and see if that would convince the seller to drop the price to $125, even if it is really as like-new as he says.
But $150 is not a bad price if it really is like-new.

Here is the result of an eBay search of "completed" sales of King 601's showing final sale prices ranging from $50 to $330:

http://instruments.search-completed....arch=1&guest=1

If that link doesn't work, go to any eBay page, click advanced search near the top of the page, then tell it to search for King 601 and click that you want to see "completed" sales only.

- morris

tpter1

I usually recommend the 601 as the first horn a student should buy. Why? 3rd slide that moves, first slide saddle (and usualy a 1st slide that moves too). I like the idea of curved (indented) fingerbuttons because it promotes good finger position and placement. Also, it is a solid and durable horn that you can "throw into a brick wall" (so to speak) and still be ok. The valve action is nice and smooth.

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

Eclipsehornplayer

If I remember my early band days correctly this is the strongest point for suggesting this horn.

I went to school with some real knuckleheads and man did their horns take some abuse.

__________________
Eclipse MHY Bb Trumpet with interchangable leadpipes
Bach 229 25A C Trumpet
Getzen Capri Bb Cornet
GR & Monette mouthpieces

asc1969

Thanks everyone for your comments. I did get a response back from the seller thanking me for my interest and he did confirm that there are no dings or dents on the trumpet and that the valves "seemed" to be in great working order. He looks to only be just over an hour away from my home town so I would definitely like to go and look/play the horn prior to negotiating. Your comments are appreciated and do help me in making a decision. Thanks again!

Vulgano Brother

King used to make some fantastic valves that actually lined up -- keep us posted on the horn.

__________________
www.letsbuildhope.org

asc1969

I'll definitely keep you posted. The owner sent me another e-mail response to questions I had for him regarding the condition of the valves and the instrument as a whole. He stated that he was not actively pursuing the sale of the horn due to being very involved with the remodel of his home but that if I wanted to come view the horn and try it out, he was available most evenings and on the weekend. I think I'll be taking a quick trip to the Bay Area this Saturday.

asc1969

Well I went to the seller's home today and ended up coming home with the horn. It was in excellent condition and I belive well worth the $150 I paid. I couldn't find a scratch on it. My wife, however, pointed out that there is a small, minor scrape about 1/4" in length on the inside of the bell. Other than that, it looked brand new. The case was also in prestine condition. I did have to give the valves a bit of oil but they seem to work well now. The seller explained that he bought the horn for his daughter, who has changed her mind several times since the year and a half ago purchase, about what instrument she wants to play. He's purchased this as well as a sax and she played this for about six months before returning it to its case, never to be touched again.

Believe it or not I actually like the tone on the Boosey & Hawkes student trumpet (that's missing a third valve slide ring) that my father-in-law gave me a little more than this King. But I'm waaaaay too new at this to even worry about that right now. I'm just happy to have a decent beginner horn to use for the next couple of years while I'm learning this frustrating art.

Thanks again everyone for the input.