Pocket trumpet's - are they the same?

monkeymark

Ok. I dont get much time to practice at home but i'm always looking for ways to increase what time I have.

I was thinking about getting a pocket trumpet, just something cheap, so I can keep it in my car and have a toot during lunch break.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
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chapahi · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:59 am Post subject:

Good idea. I've logged a lot of hours over the years in the car with my pocket trumpet. The extra practice boosted my career. I recommend getting ear plugs so you can practice loud and high.

Having played the higher end Benge and Kanstul pocket trumpets, I think the PocketMax is the best deal. It's good for practice and will be fine for a gig or jam session too.
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christophac7 · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:37 am Post subject:

Try reading through these threads for more aboutPocket Trumpets.

I bought my Jupiter Pocket Trumpet (silver plated) a little over 2 years ago for ~$500 as a birthday present from my parents. It is a neat little toy indeed. It is quite fun playing the day away on it, but it has some intonation issues once you start going past E on top of the staff. My main issue I encountered was that it required much less air to play compared to my full-size Bb, so when I brought it with me to North Carolina on a month-long trip, when I came back, my playing on the full-size was very lacking (which wasn't good considering I had to play lead in marching band).

On the lower end, only pocket trumpets I recall are the Jupiter and CarolBrass.

If you have more questions about the Jupiter, feel free to PM me.

-Chris
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gbdeamer · Heavyweight Member Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 1560

I play on my pocket trumpet for at least a few minutes every day during my lunch break.

Even if it's just long tones and scales, I feel like it prepares me for practice/rehearsals/gigs in the evening.

KansasTrumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:04 am Post subject:

ChopsGone · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 1383

I have a CarolBrass, a Dillon, a 1970's Imperial Creations, and until it was packed to move with my granddaughter, a DEG Classic she adopted for vacation practice use. They all play more than well enough to serve as impromptu practice horns. The Dillon is a better horn than the two oldies and is a pretty good trumpet in its own right, but the Carol's a significantly better horn - great valves, good intonation, well-made, plays and sounds like a decent trumpet. The tight wrap causes some ergonomic issues, but nothing you can't overcome - even with arthritis and some nerve problems in my hands, I can handle it with no problem.

If you can afford a Benge or Kanstul, they're reportedly better horns. I've never tried either in a pocket trumpet. But the Carol's definitely worth the price. The lighter springs that you find available for it these days also help.
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Bill Dishman · Heavyweight Member Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 904

The Carol pockets are great. A friend had a Bb he let me try it out. I purchased a C pocket based on the Bb trial. Very fine horn for a good price.

I have a Chinese one labeled Schafer that is not very good but is very cheap. Ok for what it is but I never use it anymore.

For real advice, go to Vintagecornet.com and ask Nick DeCarlis. He has the largest pocket trumpet/cornet collection in the world I believe.

Bill Dishman
Gainesville, Florida

kehaulani · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:15 pm Post subject:

I also have a Carol and I also bought it to play in the car. Didn't take into account Texas weather.

I wouldn't consider this a toy. I believe its playability and the quality of build is good enough to judge it on its own merit. I paid around $600.00 for it, as I recall.
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tommy t. · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject:

This Spring, at a very unlikely time and place (breakfast time at a Navajo coffee shop in Canyon DeChelly) I (69 and travelling with a tent and a bunch of snowboards) met a man (71 and travelling in an RV) and we discovered that we each had a trumpet in our vehicle. Mine was a WT and his was a new Jupiter pocket trumpet that he was trying to teach himself to play. The only tune he knew was "Taps" in the key of G. He played it well enough to recognize; I asked to play it again and I harmonized a moving part under him. It was the first time in his life that he had ever made music with another person. I told him to just play over and over A-G-F-E(hold it)-F-G-A(hold it) and finally when I signal, play a B and hold it 'til I cut off. I played a G minor (concert) blues that was kind of based on Taps and he asks "Did I just play jazz?"

I played the Jupiter and was favorably surprised at the fact that it blew very much like a trumpet. It was in tune enough and responded enough like any of my horns that it would be a reasonable travel trumpet practice instrument.

Playing hours a day for a month, I might worry about developing a feel for its slots that is not the same as the feel on my WT or for developing intonation coping habits that are different than those I usually need. In any case, its a better choice than a Silent Brass or mouthpiece buzzing by itself.

I would suspect that used ones can be picked-up pretty reasonably.

Tommy T.
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kehaulani · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

Very cool story. That's one way music should be shared.
_________________
You can't blow it if you haven't lived it.

"Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis."
Chet Baker

Schilke B7
Martin Committee (1956)
Connstellation 38B (1959)
Hans Hoyer G10 French Horn

Richard III · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:26 pm Post subject:

I play mine everyday. I stop on the way to work. The extra time really helps.

As to brand. I guess you can't get mine anymore. Of course, you can't get my cornet anymore either.
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chapahi · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject:

TrumpetMD · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

I have a Carol pocket trumpet, and use it often in my car at work. For me, it was a great investment.

Mike
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Bach Strad 180-43* Bb (1974), Strad 239 CML (1980)
Olds Ambassador (1957)
Carol CPT-300LR Pocket Trumpet
Getzen 896 Flugelhorn (1974), 940 Piccolo Trumpet, M2003ES Field Trumpet, Deluxe Bass Trumpet
Bach 3C, 3D, 3CFL mouthpieces

monkeymark · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:32 am Post subject:

Thanks guys.
I think i'll start keeping my eye open for one.
My problem is budget. I think my idea of cheap is much lower than a lot of peoples on here. If I stick with it, which I now know I am as I love it, then I can warrant more expense, until then it has to stay real cheap. I knew this from the outset.

I may even consider one of the cheap ebay ones. I know they wont be up to much, but it's better than losing the extra practice hours and even if it only lasts a year then I can upgrade.
_________________
My first reply was witty and
intellectual but I lost it so you
got this one instead.

B&H 400
Besson 600

improver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 948

Dont buy the cheap one! You'll regret it. Its better not to have one than play that crap. Wait till you have the money and get a Carol. Be patient!

rmavillarica · New Member Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 6

I actually bought a Carol pocket trumpet but decided to sell it because I did not want to leave an expensive (for me) pocket trumpet in the car. I was also worried about having an expensive (again, for me) trumpet while travelling around.

I thought I would get an old cornet and have a trumpet receiver put on so it would take a regular mouthpiece. I searched around and, while posting at another forum, found that Ivan Hunter actually has done this. I was able to get an old Holton Collegiate from him with a trumpet receiver. It was quite reasonable.

You may want to send him a message.

I am not, in any way, affiliated with Ivan Hunter. I just have one of his modified cornets that currently plays better that I do.

improver · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 948

Really you sold your Carol because you didnt want to leave it in the car. Why didnt you put it in the trunk. People seldom break into trunks.

KanstulBrass · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:18 am Post subject:

Our pals Lee Thornburg and Walt Johnson each have Kanstul-made pocket trumpets they keep at hand.
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kehaulani · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:12 pm Post subject:

rmavillarica · New Member Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 6

Yes, I sold it because I did not want to have to worry about a spare trumpet that cost more than my main trumpet (I am pretty much just an obsessed beginner).

I do not (or would prefer not to) think about how much was lost. It was a nice silver Carol pocket trumpet with the big bell...