Should I write a review or not?

TrumpetAlways · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:28 am Post subject: Should I write a review or not?

I just got me a new CarolBrass trumpet. CTR-3330L-YST-Bb-L.
There was a post a couple of days ago from a gentleman saying no one ever writes anything negative about the CB brand.

ExtraLargeBore · Veteran Member Joined: 15 Oct 2009 Posts: 413

Yes
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C - Bach NY 229 25H #1
Eb/D - Schilke E8L #90210
Piccolo - Schilke P51 (custom 1 valve)
MPS - Bach - 1X 19 throat 117 backbore

VetPsychWars · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:03 pm Post subject:

Just tell the truth as you see it, objectively as possible. Pictures will help.

Tom
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Buescher Lightweight 400
Other Buescher horns 1939--1955
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TrumpetAlways · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject:

Who am I to talk then? Well, been playing since I was five years old. I am now 35. I play trumpet for a living and life is going OK for me right now.

Got the horn 3 days ago. The trumpet was inside a VERY nice and protective case. Along with the horn there was heavy valve caps, a rounded tuning slide for less resistance and all the necessary stuff to keep good maintenance of the trumpet.

Pulled out the second valve slide to look at the alignment. Worst I have seen yet in a trumpet. Maby that wont affect playing. I do not know. I tested the compression:The air leaked out in several places...mostly at the spitvalves

The compression along with the valve alignment is the worst I have seen so far.

How did the trumpet play?

In fact: not bad! But for ME it is too stuffy and the slotting is not good.
You can bend the note as low as you want....it does not "slot" down to the next partial. With the rounded tuning slide the intonation is worse. A little bit better with the scuere one.

The trumpet was very cheep so thats why it is worth its price. As for me: nah, I will not order anything more from CarolBrass.

Capt.Kirk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 5072

Send it back you got a lemon....All companies have some lemons make it out the door some more then other's!

Taylor,Eclipse, Some of Osmuns Custom builds, Tony Scodwells trumpets and Schagerls cheaper models all use valve assemblies built by the Parent Company to CarolBrass.

So I would call the person you bought it from and ask them to ship you another one.

Does it have the Lee Keys or the regular water key's?

I have to admit I never check alignment on the 2nd slide because I never take it off except to clean. The 1st and 3rd slides are the ones I check for alignment and all 4 of my valve assemblies from them have been smooth as glass, great compression, and so on. So given not just my use of their parts byt the likes of Taylo,Schagerl,Scodwell, perfectionist repair tech's and custome builders like Osmuns etc.......If their was a glaring quality control issue we would have heard about.

So call and make plans for a return. You got a dog it would seam!
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The only easy day was yesterday!

VetPsychWars · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject:

TrumpetAlways · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:47 pm Post subject:

I am aware that not all the horns come out the way the company wanted it (although it should if they really tested it) And that is why I was sceptical if I should write a review or not.

shofarguy · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject:

Bargain: When the value of an item or service exceeds the buyer's expectations in relation to purchase price.

In my opinion, the dollar amount is irrelevant. Satisfaction is everything. I figure that I essentially got two horns for the price of one half of a Monette. I wonder if I could possibly be four times happier with one of Dave's instruments....

I'm sure CarolBrass instruments are fine for what they are.
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Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn

There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

lmf · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject:

TrumpetAlways,

Thanks for sharing your review. You did fine! You told us exactly what was wrong with the CarolBrass instrument you received and how it plays for you. You also shared its favorable points which unfortunately didn't outweigh the negative problems you found. If you bought it through a dealer. we hope you might receive a replacement. Let us know how things go with that as the dealer? Such news would mean much to someone considering purchase of a CarolBrass musical instrument in your part of the world.

Don't feel bad about sharing negative things about the instrument as you can only call things as you see and experience them. Had the instrument been made better, you probably would have had a more favorable review. Folks at CarolBrass are to blame for the shoddy workmanship, not the custormer.

It appears that workmanship at CarolBrass is not consistent from one brass instrument to another. CarolBrass will have to tighten up the manufacturing process to make the majority of its customers happy.

Best wishes,

Lloyd

gregplo · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject:

TrumpetAlways · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject:

gregplo, I did never and will not say that the maker of this horn is bad. (Well not unless I try many more and they turn out the same way)

I just reported what I got and what my experiences was with THE HORN I GOT.

The CarolBrass trumpets may be SUPER!! Just that; I did not experience that

gregplo · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:24 pm Post subject:

Michael Drapp · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:34 pm Post subject:

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 3960

Very useful information, thank you! Any more experiences like that or is this limited to Carol Brass horns sold in Europe?

jblo · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:41 pm Post subject:

Not my experience at all with CarolBrass horns. I've got 4, personally, and they have incredible compression. Freakishly tight valves! The alignment of the valves on all 4 is as close as I've ever had factory alignment be - at least visually. I've played maybe 5 or 6 more CarolBrass horns that I don't own and they all had fantastic compression - even the two 1000 model student horns I played.
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Jason Blome

Bb - CarolBrass CTR-7770H-YST-P
Bb - CarolBrass CTR-5205L-YLT-P
Cornet - CarolBrass CCR-7732-YSS-P
C - Palmer Custom
Flug - CarolBrass CFL-6200-GSS-L
Picc - CarolBrass CPC-7730F-YLS-P
Mpc - Warburton 5's and Curry 60's

Zeé · Regular Member Joined: 16 Jul 2011 Posts: 32

Both my CB horns have no leaks, really high valve compression, and perfect-looking alignment when peeking in the slides on downstrokes. I'd send it back & ask if they have another that doesn't suck.

My only gripe is the silver plate on my c trumpet isn't holding up as well as the silver plate on my Bb strad (yeah, I have evil acid hands, but it's all relative.)

I got my c years ago now, though, maybe quality control is starting to become an issue for CB? Thanks for posting.

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 3960

If you got it from Thomann, you have the 30 days return policy.

It is sold at Thomann @ 1111 Euro (20% tax inclusive) ... that is a fairly high price for the list of troubles you have mentioned.

razeontherock · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:50 pm Post subject:

I would hope Carol Brass really WANTS this horn back, to fix or scrap. Really curious how it would play w/o leaks

Brian Moon · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject:

lh · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:02 am Post subject:

Capt.Kirk says: