Trumpets! New or used?

[Yonni]

I know many of you have played brass instruments or have been involved in music education in schools and colleges. My son has been learning trumpet for a year on a borrowed instrument. The owner is now wanting it back, so it’s time to buy him his own.

I always thought used was the way to go with brass but I don’t know where I got that idea from. I also believe in buying quality. So I’m thinking of a new Yamaha (probably YTR2330) or a secondhand Yamaha or Bach. This is all new to me. Are there any benefits or quality difference in new versus used? Any other mid-range recommendations? Budget is up to $600 (£450 or €525).

 

[bholder]

I got a weird old used one of ebay for cheap. I can't play it, but I can make dying moose sounds and such.

 

[Kacey Y]

I played trumpet (and a bunch of other brass instruments) through childhood and there's always A LOT of used trumpets out there, since they're frequently rented and purchased for students. Hard to go wrong with a used Bach, even if there's some dents and dings, as long as it's in good functional shape and well lubricated, it will play well and sound good. We had free to use trumpets available when I was in school, that were decades old and needed tons of effort and valve oil to bring back to life, with brass coating worn and chipped off, and they still worked decently, as long as a valve wasn't bent or broken. It's been about 27 years since I last played, so I can't speak to current prices, but I'd say it's not worth investing in a very nice new brass instrument until kiddo has been playing for years and very serious about it. I managed to talk to parents and grandparents into getting me a nice new Bach Stradivarius from the local music shop my senior year of high school, when I was in jazz, concert, and marching band and playing almost every day. It was sold at a loss to buy bass gear for playing in punk bands a few years later.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, a Bach Strad is considered one of the top choices but even used they’re pretty pricey. A Yamaha student trumpet may not be quite the trumpet the Bach is, but it’s reliable and solidly made and certainly one of the better options for students.

 

[mcnach]

I got a weird old used one of ebay for cheap. I can't play it, but I can make dying moose sounds and such.

We could start a zoo together. I make excellent irritated elephant noises with my trombone.

 

[Ostie]

I always see lots of used trumpets and cornets for sale on FB, but if you need one quick then you might have to buy new.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

trumpetherald.com is the talkbass of the trumpet world. They might have something of interest in the Marketplace.

 

[billiard]

I'd look for an older one from the 50's that still works. They pop up on Craigslist often for 100 bucks.

 

[bholder]

I'd look for an older one from the 50's that still works. They pop up on Craigslist often for 100 bucks.

That's basically what I bought. Will have to get it out and try it again some day. Made my lips feel all weird lol....

 

[burgerdj]

As long as there are no dents and the spit valve pads are in good shape, just find the nicest one you can afford. Yamaha and Bach are both great. I have a Conn cornet that my folks bout for me used back in my middle school days. Still sounds great and the lacquer has a lovely patina.

 

[Tj smith]

I’ve always preferred used over new. U can get way more instrument for your money. Also check reverb. My son is about to start music at school and he wants to play the violin so I feel your pain.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I've bought two trumpets for my 8th grade grandson. An early 60's Conn ($400) that I bought from a musician/repair buddy and a new Yamaha that was about $2400 from a local music store. He likes them both but uses the Yamaha for all the school performances.

If he had known a specific model that he wanted (or his teacher recommended), I might have bought the Yamaha from SW or MF. I doubt that he'll outgrow it for a while.
I'll buy a bass used since I know what to look for. But since I don't know anything about trumpets, I couldn't begin to evaluate a used one.

Good Luck with your search.

 

[Stinky_Fingers]

You’ll get better bang for your buck used and an instrument with better build quality and likely better parts, just like with bass. Possible you’d need some work done on it depending on the instrument, but that comes with any instrument.

 

[Methaneman]

I know many of you have played brass instruments or have been involved in music education in schools and colleges. My son has been learning trumpet for a year on a borrowed instrument. The owner is now wanting it back, so it’s time to buy him his own.

I always thought used was the way to go with brass but I don’t know where I got that idea from. I also believe in buying quality. So I’m thinking of a new Yamaha (probably YTR2330) or a secondhand Yamaha or Bach. This is all new to me. Are there any benefits or quality difference in new versus used? Any other mid-range recommendations? Budget is up to $600 (£450 or €525).

Buy used. More bang for the buck.

 

[pbass888]

My son has been playing trumpet since he was 6 (now 16). He rented a brand every school year from the local band instrument store, then every 6 months for a while until he found the one he liked. He then brought if from a local musician ( a yamaha ). He loves the Yamaha tone and plays in the school Jazz ensemble.

 

[salmon256]

A new Yamaha will cost Bach Prices being in the $2000 new.
Just like bass - the myth of a student trumpet is just a price and mass ordering advertisement not an acutal skill thing unless it was like trombone that came with an f attatchment.

If your school doesn't lend, then I would look for a used Yamaha trumpet, that model is a great starter one you share. They use to go around 300 to 500 on Reverb but I imagine more now but I think that would be great, but maybe you should look around some music stores or brass specialty shops. Yamaha is king for band since they can take a beating.

Also if you are going new I always like Woodwind & Brasswind but it seems Music and Arts bought them.

 

[BassBrass]

Trumpet player here. The problem with buying an older used trumpet is you have no idea how it plays unless you have a player test it. When Trent Austin's store was around here, I know of a trumpet player who helped a friend find a horn for his son, and he test played about 20 Bach Strads and came out with ONE that was a real "player" (I've played it, it is a great Bach.) There are Bachs that "fight with you", this is well known.... Many horns are played hard and hung to dry as they say, and need a valve replating that costs about $400-700 these days. The issue is COMPRESSION. That's an important word in brass valve land. Players even get a valve alignment job, there are people (techs) famous for their alignment ability. A newish horn is a tight and adjusted horn. A horn with worn valves is fixable but it's as unplayable as a bass with a bent neck and broken truss rod and discourage the student.

There are LOTS of recently built and gotten rid of horns in mint condition around. Trumpetherald marketplace is Great and the people are great. In your price range I recommend a mint but a once used Carol Brass trumpet. They are as good as a pro Yamaha or most anything else, there are different bells and materials (more or less copper from yellow brass to gold brass to red brass to copper coated...) different bells using Bach's bell standards either a 57 (med) or the Bach 72 (large) and a choice between 2 shapes of tuning crook, Bach shaped D or more of a smooth curve like modern design trumpets, makes for less resistance and darker sound. Carol Brass are made in Taiwan, and somehow they've made a great playing almost custom instrument for less than half a Yamaha. (and I'm a Yamaha player, my (rebuilt valves) late 80s 6340ST is still the lead horn to beat in a brightness competition, but I'd have to get 1600.00 (which is piddling compared to other new pro horns, 3800-8000 is standard)
The Yamaha 203 WAS a great horn, then they changed it for the student market, the 2030 present student horn just isn't worth the price. Used ones are apt to be beat up, I wouldn't buy without trying.

 

[LordRyan]

If buying used get one that has recently been serviced. It wouldn't make sense to buy a hundred dollar trumpet and then have to put hundreds more into having it serviced or overhauled.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

My wife was a first chair trumpet player back in high school. She started out on a family heirloom hand me down coronet.
When that horn wasn't cutting it anymore, she went with a new Yamaha, and she loved it.
Just like their basses, guitars, pianos, etc, Yamaha anything delivers a great quality for value product.

 

[BassBrass]

Just like their basses, guitars, pianos, etc, Yamaha anything delivers a great quality for value product.

Yes but this is their Bach Strad level trumpet (at a great price actually) [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and this is their top jazz/commercial horn YTR-8310ZII - Overview - Yamaha USA