Anyone have a good idea of a good cornet that I could buy. Right now I
have the yamaha xeno but it upperregister is really tight and not free breathing. I heard some vintage conns where good but what about some others

What is your budget ?

What type of music are you looking to play with your cornet (jazz, dixie, brass band, solo, orchestral, etc...) ?

What cornet players do you like or listen to alot ?

How many hours a week do you play cornet ?

The above questions will help us help you.

Lot of buzz lately about the various vintage Olds cornets from the 1930s-40s....
Might want to look into one of those? Great horns.

There are also a couple of Buescher 400 cornets on ebay at the moment. Everyone who's played mine thought it was outstanding.

Tom

Originally Posted by cobragamer

Right now I have the yamaha xeno but it upper register is really tight and not free breathing.

Xeno cornet are usually of good quality, though they tend to have too bright sound for my taste. It may be wiser to let a tech check your cornet. There may be an alignement or other issues that can be solved, so you would not need a new cornet. Or maybe it is not the horn's fault...

I have a Bach Strad 184 large bore short model cornet that is my favorite horn. Whenever I get tired or jaded playing trumpet, this horn puts me back in line. I also just got a Conn Director coprion bell cornet circa 1960 which I'm putting through its' paces. It is almost like a small flugelhorn when using a Monette Flumpet mouthpiece.

I have a Getzen Capri cornet which I totally love. However, I don't know what you exactly call the "upper register" but keep in mind that a cornet isn't made for screaming à la Maynard Ferguson... ;)

Stéphane

In another price range than my Getzen Capri, you might also consider these options:

NYTC GS Cornet
Taylor Cornets
Smith-Watkins Cornets

Stéphane

If you don't mind playing an "intermediate level" cornet and have the patience to look for one, a Conn 76A Connquest short cornet from the 1960's is a killer horn, especially in the upper register. It's really easy to play and has a big sound (.485 bore), and shares the same unique tubing configuration of the Olds Recording cornet. I also have a Bach 184 large bore short cornet - it's a better cornet than the Conn, but takes more effort in the upper register.

I play in a british style brass band and a wind band that plays 1800s and earlt 1900s traditional music like rosemund and colonol bogey