Hi,

I have decided I would like to try playing a musical instrument again, I broke my pinky on my left hand a few years ago and I have trouble with stringed instruments and sort of gave up because I could not play the guitar and other instruments. I noticed that I could play certain brass instruments because I could use my right hand to play the notes.
I have decided that I would like to give trumpets a try.

I have been looking for the cheapest trumpets I could find, this is what I found

http://www.kkmusicstore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12&gclid=CJ7ns7GmjJkCFQrAGgodIHEPng

http://www.instrumentalsavings.com/Trumpet-s/193.htm?gclid=CLO31bKmjJkCFQG7Ggod9GstmQ

The ones I have questions about are down the page and cost between 150 and 200

They are cecilio and Mendini, I already read there at the forums that rosetti is not that great a brand. On the second page there are a few other brands like roy benson and del sol.
Are any of these brands ok, or are they all bad. If someone could point out on the two pages I post what good brand is, please do so it would be greatly appreciated.

I am looking for cheap, because if for some reason I change my mind and quite playing for some reason I will not have wasted too much money, if I pass the return policy date.

I also found out that there are different trumpets like Bb, C, F, Eb, can someone explain this to me, the types of music that each of these trumpets are used for, like jazz, classical etc. Also if they are used for solos, slow sad songs, fast loud songs etc.

Thanks

hey, this is an interesting question. personally, i would recommend buying a used bach or yamaha trumpet. You can typically find these in your local music store in your price range. also, the most common trumpet type is B flat (pretty much the default for beginners) it is what most hs band players play. The other types are typically for orchestral play. hope this helps.

I've never heard of Cecilio, Medini, or Del Sol. I would stick with brands like Bach and Yamaha, and possibly Conn, if you can find a used one.

I don't play trumpet, but I have heard of Cecilio flutes and piccolos. All I know is that they don't have good reviews.

Just remember, usually buying a nice instrument used is better than buying a cheapo instrument new. It can be very discouraging to learn on a low grade instrument that makes everything you play sound disgusting. I learned bassoon on a plastic selmer, and I didn't get very far until I got a used wooden schrieber. Now I kick butt. I wouldn't have made it as far as I have if I'd had to continue to attempt to improve my musical skills on the plastic bassoon.

<Added>

Oh, and I would stick with a B flat trumpet.
It's kind of like the difference between an A clarinet and a B flat clarinet, you need different music for each one, and beginners music for the A Clarinet is not very easy to find. (I assume, once again, I don't play Clarinet or Trumpet, but you would at least have to transpose music to have things sound right)

Oh yeah, I forgot about that part. Definitely start with a Bb trumpet. Music will be easier to find, and Bbs are used in more ensembles. C trumpets are most commonly used in American orchestral works, along with the Bb. And the F and Eb ones? Don't even bother with those. You will probably never need to use one. So stick with the Bb. It will be much more beneficial to you to start on.

Also, trumpets can be used to play all kinds of music. You can play fast, loud, slow, melodic, pop, jazz, whatever. Instruments are instruments, and you can play whatever you want on them. There is no law saying that "a trumpet player MUST only play marches".
Think about it, flutes and bassoons are used in jazz and pop music commonly, even though those instruments weren't made to play that genre of music.

It is often possible to buy a decent used horn on ebay if you know what you are looking for. I agree that used brand name horns (Bach, Yamaha) are usually a better value than a new horn in your price range. Do not overlook some vintage Conns such as a 22B that are good horn to start with and do not cost an arm and a leg.

The other option is to rent for a month or two and have some lessons before making the investment. Then your teacher might be able to guide you in a horn purchase.

Cheers,
Dave Harrison
www.wedgemouthpiece.com

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

Well I have been looking for used trumpets but my local music shops don't rent out. I was thinking of checking local pawnshops.

I searched for some more trumpet brands. I found one I have never heard of, I think it is made in the usa. Here is the link

http://www.amazon.com/Wurzbach-Trumpet-Case-Year-Warranty/dp/B001KAE2Z8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1239235281&sr=8-5


I also found some conn selmer trumpets, the prelude model and they are about 300.

http://www.bizrate.com/orchestralinstruments/products__keyword--prelude+conn+selmer.html

http://www.mysimon.com/9015-11130_8-29496575.html

Are these the trumpets that some of you were talking about, or are there better versions of the conn selmer brand. I checked the bach and yamaha but they are generally in the 500 to 600 dollar range.

I hope I can find a cheap trumpet at a pawn shop or may go out of town where I live and check around there. 300 is a little steep for me right now, it sounds more like an investment. I want to try first. I guess I will have to keep looking for places to rent instruments.

Again, thanks for all the great info.

Below are a few student model trumpets currently on ebay in the $200 to $400 price range. Any one of these would be a reasonable starter horn and would be comparable to what you would get as a rental.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bach-TR300-TR-300-Silver-Trumpet-w-Bach-7c-mouthpeice_W0QQitemZ330323127469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBrass_Instruments?hash=item330323127469&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1546%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jupiter-600L-Trumpet-Bb-NEW_W0QQitemZ400035057468QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBrass_Instruments?hash=item400035057468&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1546%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/BACH-TR300-STUDENT-TRUMPET-W-CASE-Good-Condition-USA_W0QQitemZ300308117573QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBrass_Instruments?hash=item300308117573&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1546%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-YTR-2335-Student-Trumpet-YTR2335-3944_W0QQitemZ250410759764QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBrass_Instruments?hash=item250410759764&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50

As always, buyer beware, but at least you can see what is out there.

Cheers,
Dave

Here is a list of decent used horns that you might also consider. If you have a look at some of the other trumpet forums you will find this list and others as well.

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

Cheers,
Dave

I recommend several brands that are good quality at a fair price. Jupiter makes an excellent horn for under a grand in the 1000S. It has a one-piece bell that's normally found only on more expensive professional models. The Jupiter XO is also worth looking into.

As a general rule, unless you see a recognizable brand on a discount site it's not recommended to buy the instrument. Many of them are made in India or China in factories that have no knowledge of musical instrument manufacturing. We sell some Chinese made instruments here at Woodwind & Brasswind, but we playtest them before they're approved for sale, and they are only sold as student level instruments.

John-Andrew Murphy
Trumpet Specialist
The Woodwind & Brasswind
South Bend, IN

Regarding the different trumpets:

Bb - This is what most of us use. It is the largest of the trumpets, and has the largest and darkest sound. This is the trumpet you'd learn on, see in jazz situations, and some orchestral work.

C - In the US, this is the standard horn for orcheestral work. (European orchestras use rotary valve Bb trumpets.) It is pitched a whole tone higher than the Bb, and is in concert pitch, which helps with transposition. The C trumpet is also brighter than the Bb.

Eb/D - Used predominantly in symphonic and legit (classical) solo literature. The Hayden Concerto, for example, is written for Eb trumpet. Wagner, and Strauss composed heavily for E trumpet, and the parts are either played on a D trumpet or C, depending on what the conductor wants to hear.

G/F - Rarely used except for classical literature.

Piccolo - We use this in orchestras, and for playing Baroque music.

The smaller horns (D - Picc) aren't found in jazz situations, though Dan Rosenboom plays his picc with his band PLOTZ! out in Los Angeles.

John-Andrew Murphy
Trumpet Specialist
The Woodwind & Brasswind
South Bend, IN

Have you tried to look at your local www.craigslist ? There are plenty of parents who are selling trumpets that have been used by their children for a year or just for a few months in school, and then they decided to stop. Usually they are brands like King or Bundy, which are quite reputable, and they are sold at prices ranging from $ 100 to $300. I think that there are many good potential deals, because these parents do not want to make a gain, they just want to get back some of the money that they spent initially.