soloft

I was wondering if pocket trumpets are even worth it for a trumpet player who is only playing in a university band? The only reason I am considering it is because the local music store is trying to sell one for dirt cheap ($200). They had it since they opened, and i was the first to play it in about 4 months, so they told me they would knock down the price just to get rid of it. It sounded ok and didn't have much resistance to it while I played, I was just wondering if there was any practical use for it or whether it would just be for novelty.

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Bach Stradivarius Model 37 Cornet
Bach Omega Trumpet
Fav. Solos
The Carnival of Venice-Arban
The Grand Canyon-Earl D. Irons
Napoli
Fav. Pieces
Shostakovich Symphony 5-Finale
Ballet Sacra-David Holsinger
With Heart and Voice-David Holsinger
The Pines of Rome
Percussion Espagnole

bagmangood

If you have the money to burn and don't plan on using it as your main horn...
They can be fun for a gag or if you travel, you don't have to bring a full-size horn to practice on
Just so you know, often-times the valves will stop working within a year (low quality construction)...

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Bb: Courtois 305 "Elite"
C: Bach C180-239 (Akwright conversion),
Cornet: Conn Wonder (1900)
Picc: Selmer Paris, ~1971

rowuk

$200 is not cheap for a horn like this, it is full retail "normal" for the cheap, chinese pocket Trumpet.

it only makes sense if you have a real use for it. It does not hav the tone or projection of a "real" horn. Mine is limited to use when i am on business trips and want to throw something in the suitcase with my silent brass.

I have tried it in ensembles: too much work.

I moved the thread here as it is equipment related, not general trumpet. You'll get more responses here.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

talcito

Carol makes a great pocket trumpet.......the sell for about $500. You could play this horn anywere and it feels incredible.

If you are not gong to play it save the cash and take some lessons with the best teacher you coud find.

The Dutch Guy

the pockets are all garbage. every full sized horn of the same price plays a lot better that the pocket trumpet. there are some pockets that play pretty nice (benge for example) but they cost a lot more, and still don't live up to regular sized trumpets of the same price.

there are no real uses for those things, unless you REALLY need something of that size.

rowuk

A pretty bold (and untrue) statement!

Mine cost 200 euros and it is just fine. No signs of garbage. I played 10 before picking this one. Only one of the 10 was sub standard. The point for me wasn't comparing it to a big horn. It was getting a player for business trips. It was no problem. The valves, intonation, finish and sound are fine. Garbage is something considerably different.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

The Dutch Guy

I was referring to the sound mostly. that's the most important thing about a trumpet.
the valves and finish can be perfect, and so can intonation, but in my experience, the sound that comes out of the horn is allways worse than that from a regular sized horn of the same price. especially the higher notes. (If you've got one that proves me wrong, please give me the brand and model name, and I'll get one myself)

jdostie

I have a Jupiter 416 that sounds and works fine. It doesn't sound like my Benge, but it's fine to keep in the car for when I can steal some time to practice. Now I can take a little time in the morning, a little time at lunch, and then when I get home I've got some of my routine taken care of - less of a problem figuring out "how can I find enough time to practice - and rest between parts of the routine too - and not play so late that I disturb my wife or neighbors.

I have a best brass mute that I use with it, and it's almost silent - I practiced in a hotel room last week with no worry of whether I was disturbing anyone. I prefer to play without a mute, but the combination of pocket trumpet and nice quite practice mute works well for the traveler.

gbdeamer

Ahh, the wisdom of youth. Labeling pocket trumpets as garbage is a bit silly. While I doubt that many people would use one as their primary horn, a decent pocket trumpet can serve any number os uses. I use mine on business trips and in the car for practice. Mel Broiles used one exclusively when he played the Star Spangled Banner at professional sports events. I've seen funk bands use them just to ad some "real" brass to some songs. It comes down to using the right tool for the job, and sometimes the pocket trumpet fits.

Because YOU haven't come across a need to use or appreciate one in your 18 (or 19) years on earth, it doesn't mean that nobody else has.

If you're looking for a couple of "good" ones to pick up try these:

Van Cleave Professional Trumpets - MVPR Bb Pocket Trumpet

http://www.marcinkiewicz.com/instruments/rembrandt/bflat/pocket/pocket.htm

wiseone2

The Pocket Max is a good horn, I played one yesterday. Nice gig bag is available for this horn
http://www.maxtrumpets.com/trumpet.swf
Wilmer

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S.Suark 1951