Trumpet Buyer's Guide

The trumpet is the highest voice in the brass family. Within the trumpet family there’s the cornet, flugelhorn and several specialty instruments such as “C” trumpets and piccolo trumpets (mainly used in symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles). For students, the most common is the Bb (B-flat) trumpet. This is the horn that is most commonly used for jazz, concert and marching bands.

featuring

Bach 180S-37 Stradivarius Series Bb Trumpet

Student Trumpets: These trumpets are machine made and built for economy and durability. They play well, but don’t have all the high-end features and craftsmanship found on intermediate and professional models. Most student horns are made with a two-piece bell as opposed to a one-piece. While this affects sound and projection, it also makes for a more affordable instrument. A student horn should fit the bill for most players for the first 2 to 3 years. Teacher-Recommended Student Trumpets

Intermediate Trumpets: After two to three years, a player should consider moving up to an intermediate level trumpet. There are two different types of intermediate horns:

• Student horns with added features such as 1st valve slide/thumb hook, deluxe cases, silver plating and adjustable 3rd valve slide stops. These features improve durability and tuning.
• Intermediate trumpets based on comparable professional horns built with less expensive manufacturing techniques that affect resonance, looks and intonation.

Professional Trumpets: These are high-end instruments made with the finest materials and craftsmanship. Features such as one-piece bell, stainless steel pistons and heavy or lightweight versions are features usually found on professional horns. A professional trumpet is worth the investment for a long-term player of any age. Recommended Professional Trumpets

There are certain accessories you will need to clean and maintain your trumpet. Valve oil, mouthpiece brush and cleaning snake are a few of the items that you will need right from the start to keep your instrument in good working order.

The player pushes down on the valves or “valve piston” to sound different notes. They are the main moving parts of a trumpet. The ease and accuracy with which the valves operate plays a major role in the quality of the horn. The valves on a student instrument are usually nickel-plated. They are hard, durable and tolerant of infrequent cleaning. They are made with slightly looser tolerances so they should always move freely as long as they are regularly cleaned and oiled. Many intermediate horns feature valves made from Monel®. Monel is an alloy that is softer than nickel plate. It’s very resistant to corrosion and it “wears in” for a very comfortable feel. Professional horns are usually made with either Monel valves or Stainless Steel.

The goal is to have valves play quickly and smoothly. This is the result of valves having been properly “lapped” (polished and honed for a smooth, close fit). Intermediate horns often have hand-lapped valves, which is manually performed by an expert to assure perfect function.