What Cornet Do You Recommend?

tknowlton · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject: What Cornet Do You Recommend?

I am a classical trumpeter. I am 33 years old now and I play my Bach-Malone C trumpet for almost everything. BUT, I started on the cornet 22 years ago as a boy playing a Getzen Capri that I loved!!! Alas, that horn is now gone, and I miss that warm intimate sound that it gave me. Now I have some money and I want to buy a Cornet. WHAT SHOULD I GET?

This Cornet would be used primarily to play cornet solos with piano accompaniment and in teaching private lessons, and to a lesser extent with wind ensembles and possibly even british brass bands.

I want the best I can get without paying much more than $2000.

recommendations for mouthpiece would also appreciated. I play a Bach 3C on my B-flat and C trumpets.

Thanks!

P.S. after reading the message boards I am initially considering Getzen Eterna or Custom Series, Kanstul, or Lawler. I am also curious about any decent French brands.

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:06 am Post subject:

Welcome to TH, a great resource.

As with all instrument choices, you are the only person who can make the final decision, but there are a few that you should consider, in my view.

Besson - Prestige - their top line model
Besson - Sovereign - the absolute standard in the British Brass Band
Yamaha - Maestro (often known as the 6335)
Courtois
Getzen
Kanstul
Smith-Watkins
Taylor (Andy Taylor currently produces what I feel is the finest cornet on the market, if I were playing cornet regularly I would want one of these - the sound is just gorgeous)
Wild Thing - I can think of at least one person on TH who will swear by this instrument

Eclipse are currently in the final stages of development with their cornet, if it is anything like their trumpet/flugel it will be worth investing in. Currently beyond your budget, but well worth keeping an eye open for.

M.lock3 · Regular Member Joined: 06 Feb 2002 Posts: 88

Hi
I played principal in a british brass band for a while in what they call the championship section.
Check out a new or second hand Bach Strad 184 large bore . They can be pure velvet !
kind regards
Mike Lock
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Getzen · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1924

Of course you know what my recommendation is going to be.

I say try out a 3850 Custom Series cornet. The .464" bore and copper bell combine to give the horn the exact sound you mentioned. If you don't want to drop that much money, try the 800 Eterna cornet. Both are great horns. Both have also gotten a lot of positive posts on here regarding their play. I know that there have been some pretty recent threads regarding the 3850 started by players that tried them at an SBT tour event.

Brett Getzen
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trumpjosh · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:03 am Post subject:

trumpjosh · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:04 am Post subject:

trumpjosh · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:04 am Post subject:

trumpetertom · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

I recently purchased a Getzen 850, the 3850’s predecessor. By no means am I a cornet expert, but I recently had an opportunity to A/B several cornets and found that none of the cornets that I tried were anywhere close to the 3850 in sound or ease of playing. My 850 was close, but Getzen has obviously made some changes in the 3850. I have found that mouthpiece selection make a huge difference. The Getzen 4B that came with mine produces a completely different sound than my cornet shank 3C. The 3C has more of a trumpet sound than the 4B, but the 3C on cornet does sound less bright than on a trumpet. I played the cornet in church yesterday and found it to have a nice rich sound without overpowering the somewhat small sanctuary. I recommend that you give the 3850 a try.

tknowlton · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:08 am Post subject:

tknowlton · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:12 am Post subject:

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:16 am Post subject:

pfrank · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:18 am Post subject:

Getzen · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1924

The 3850 comes standard with first and third slide triggers. There is not an option for saddles instead. However, you can get an 800 Eterna cornet with the same copper bell as the 3850 and in a large (.462") bore. Granted, that is smaller than the 3850's .464" bore, but it is still very close if you just can't go with the triggers.

As for price, it's hard to say. The MSRP on a 3850 in lacquer is $1864 with the minimum advertised price being $1289.95. If I had to guess I would say that the actual street price is somewhere around $1200. Although, I do know of a few retailers that sell them for considerably less. I can really say who or how much for obvious reasons, but they are out there and have been mentioned on TH several times. Ask around and you'll find out.

Brett Getzen
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Brett Getzen
President
Getzen Company

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If you have a question please feel free to email me at brett@getzen.com.

ROGERIO · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:42 am Post subject: Cornet

I recently tried a Schilke XA1against a Yamaha Heavy Wall, a Bach 184 and a Getzen (sorry, don't remember model) and I was impressed enough with the Schilke to buy it.

Very sweet sound... and all the usual Schilke craftsmanship to boot!! It may have just been me, but I just could not get the Yammy to respond as well... nice horn... just felt like I was driving a tank...

RE: Schilkes - Not many are made every year, so you may need to work a little harder to find one to try. I had some luck by calling Schilke and asking who got the last shipment... then working out a trial period.

Through some great association, I have found that when it comes to cornet playing... IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MOUTHPIECE.

"No C cups.... a V cup is a must."

Does everyone agree??

Good luck tknowlton! Let us know what you decided on.

Mr. Stomvi · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Apr 2002 Posts: 1062

I just recently came back from the NABBA (North American Brass Band Assoc.) convention and had a chance to try quite a few cornets while I was there. Here are some of my observations.

1. The Getzens I feel offer the best bang for the buck. The Eterna is probably the most popular cornet in the American brass band circles. A real steal.

2. The best horn I tried there (IMHO) was the Smith Watkins professional with the K2 leadpipe. An absolutely fabulous horn all the way around. Unfortunateluy it runs about $ 3100 in the U.S.

3. I also had a chance to try a Besson Prestige. Really great horn and for only $ 2000 probably the winner in that price class. Lots of bells and whistles on it especially the left thumb trigger that controls the main tuning slide. Very cool. I understand that they have made some recent changes (for the better) on their fit and finish which was kinda holding them back in the U.S. A very flashy horn.

4. The Shilke soprano Eb cornet was of course the real star in the soprano class.

5. The Schilke XA1 Bb cornet is of course very nice (a tad bright for my taste) but a beautiful horn nonetheless. Runs about $ 1900.

6. I also tried a guys Lawler. I had tried one before and this was essentially the same. A slightly tighter blow than most of the rest of the horns I have tried but a really unique, mossy sound. Very, very unique sound. A real steal for what Roy sells them for. Custom built also !!

7. Last but not least - I brought my Stomvi Master Ti cornet with me and compared it against all the others all day long with every mpc known to mankind. Had a lot of other people try it as they are somewhat rare (especially in the brass band world). I would say that everybody who tried it was very favorably impressed. Everybody loved the valves and the super dark tone quality and the overall smoothness. A very unique instrument. Of course they also liked the interchangable bell system and the vented valves. Unfortunately, because of the exchange rate on the Euro a Stomvi Master Ti will set ya back over $ 3500 these days

8. IMHO the best horns up there were my Stomvi and the Smith Watkins.

Hope this helps

Seth Moore
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"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."

Billy Wilder

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:56 am Post subject:

Mr. Stomvi · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Apr 2002 Posts: 1062

I would luuuuuuuuuv to try the Blackburn sop

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to come within even ten miles of something like that as my wife would divorce me as they are now running over $ 4000. Ouch. I have had a chance to compare side by side the Schilke sop with berryllium bell, the Yami and a Besson (both new and an older model). The Schilke was heads above the others as far as response and tonal projection. My brass band also owns a Schilke sop (doesn't everyone ?). I'm trying to pick one up somewhere this month but am still trying to shake the money tree

Seth
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"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."

Billy Wilder

trumpetmike · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:41 pm Post subject:

The Schilke is head and shoulders above the Besson/Yamaha etc, but the Blackburn is completely outrageous. If you would even be slightly tempted, ignore the fact that you have heard about it - in fact, never try one - you will regret it (or at least, your wife would make you regret it).

Trumpet Dude · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject:

I hve a friend tha bought a Blackburn and is gold plating it. For a grand total of $4500 ish. But the thing is plays great.
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pedaltonekid · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1711

You definitely should consider the Schilke XA1. Great horn with wonderful intonation and a wide pallet of tones. Hard to make it sound bad, even if you try.
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