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Holton T602 any good


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vitorg
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 6:31 pm    Post subject: Holton T602 any good Reply with quote

Hi!

I was stolen early in the year and need a new trumpet, im looking for a solid begginer, i like jazz playing, and found a T602 Holton for cheap. BUT is there such a thing as a chinese Holton? Cause it sure does seem too good a deal to be true. That said is it a good buy ? Should i wait and save for an ambassador or TR300 ?

Here are some pics of the trumpet in question
Serial in 900.000s


https://http2.mlstatic.com/trompete-holton-t602-usa-D_NQ_NP_825762-MLB42214093415_062020-F.webp

https://http2.mlstatic.com/trompete-holton-t602-usa-D_NQ_NP_909906-MLB42214089523_062020-F.webp

https://http2.mlstatic.com/trompete-holton-t602-usa-D_NQ_NP_890651-MLB42214079871_062020-F.webp

https://http2.mlstatic.com/trompete-holton-t602-usa-D_NQ_NP_719990-MLB42214097378_062020-F.webp

https://http2.mlstatic.com/trompete-holton-t602-usa-D_NQ_NP_846844-MLB42214079884_062020-F.webp
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James Becker
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From the photos is appears to be a genuine Holton. As student trumpets go, it's well constructed and should play as well as other student models. If as you say it's a bargain, go for it.

Holtons are no longer made in Elkhorn, WI. They're now being made in Conn-Selmer's Eastlake, OH plant.

Good Luck
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Crazy Finn
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It looks like a Holton T602 to me!

Solid student trumpet in my book. When they were actually Holtons (pre UMI/Selmer/whatever) I'd put them above TR300's for build quality (there was a recent thread on those). They're not super open and free blowing but well built.
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vitorg
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks James, I am hesitant because it seems so new, I tend to distrust this aesthetical appeal. Should there be a collegiate stamp on the bell or am i mistaken ?
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jondrowjf@gmail.com
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:25 pm    Post subject: Holton 602 trumpet Reply with quote

Holton 602 trumpets are very well built. But Holton trumpets do not have the cult status of either than Bach 300 or the Olds ambassador.
Have owed all three models of these trumpets
and like the Holton trumpet the best of all .
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vitorg
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh great, fellas! I think Im taking that deal then! Hopefully get right back to playing, thanks a ton!
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That T-602 is a fairly old horn. The condition is remarkable. It must have been played for a bit, repaired (it shows a couple signs of some superficial cosmetic work), and put away for a long time.

As student horns go, you wont find much better. A TR300 will blend better in a section, but at the student level that is rarely a concern. At the time this was made, the Holton brand was being positioned as "full line", so the Collegiate name was omitted from the instruments.

If the price is low, and the valves are ok, it's a rare opportunity.

This one was made in the US. Yes, there were a handful made in China, a larger handful made in the Czech Republic, some made in France, and a bunch made in Japan. Holton trumpets are extinct now with the brand used on Eastlake low brass and the one surviving Holton design, the Farkas French horn.
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James Becker
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very interesting, OldSchoolEuph. I was well aware of Leblanc’s previous partnership with Yamaha and more recent Amati made Holton student tubas. I was unaware of there were any Chinese made Holton instruments. We service student instruments too, but haven’t seen any of those yet. There have been several Chinese Bundy trumpets in our shop due to Music and Arts (owners of the Bundy brand name). Thanks for keeping us up to date.
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are the Bundys Chinese now? I know the brand was purchased by Guitar Center Group for a stencil, but I thought they were sourcing from VMI. No surprise though

A VERY few Holtons were sourced from Chinese facilities of Yamaha decades ago briefly - student horns only - probably not many survivors of not many to start with.
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Andy Cooper
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are Japanese 602 trumpets from the 70's - this is not one of them. Looks in very very good condition. If the valves and slides move it would be a good horn. I think you would find it a bit brighter in sound than an Ambassador but I don't think that's a bad thing. They are good solid trumpets. Not pro horns but pretty good.

I would certainly get it rather than some noname trumpet shaped object from e-Bay.

Scruffy, beat up Holtons will generally sell for a little under $100 with shipping on Goodwill Auction.
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Ed Kennedy
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The T602 is excellent. The build quality is very good and they play well. I was a LeBlanc/Holton/Vito dealer in the 80's and 90's. The T602 was the mainstay of our rental stock. There was no Chinese stuff in their lineup. They did have a deal with Yamaha, the Vito alto saxes were renamed YAS23, parts completely interchangeable and some of the marching brass was Yamaha made. Way back when Bach was in Mt. Vernon they made parts for Bach. Some of their professional grade trumpets were excellent Bach clones.
It is a shame that they are no more, they were a great company with fine products.

You found yourself a fine time-capsule horn.
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James Becker
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldschooleuph, today we have a made in China Holton B490R euphonium for service. It’s a faithful knock off of the Yamaha YEP-321S, so much so a Yamaha valve guide fits perfectly. It would appear to be holding up to hard use for the time being. So sad none of the other instruments besides French Horns are made domestically in the Eastlake, OH factory.
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OldSchoolEuph
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

James Becker wrote:
oldschooleuph, today we have a made in China Holton B490R euphonium for service. It’s a faithful knock off of the Yamaha YEP-321S, so much so a Yamaha valve guide fits perfectly. It would appear to be holding up to hard use for the time being. So sad none of the other instruments besides French Horns are made domestically in the Eastlake, OH factory.


Thanks for that info. I knew those looked like a Yamaha, but maybe they are Yamaha. The YEP-321 production shifted to China just after the introduction of the first 6-series Yamaha euphoniums (1986 if I am remembering right - you can confirm by all the part changes tied to the year on 24/7)
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James Becker
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This one is definitely NOT a Yamaha but a close facsimile. Stainless steel valve stems, very red copper leadpipe with bass shank receiver (Yamaha YEP-321 has small tenor shank receiver). But more evident, the fit and finish falls short of Yamaha standards.
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BGinNJ
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a US made one for a while, I was going to use it for a project, but it was too nice a horn as it was. You should be able to find a good one for under $200, and it will be newer and in better condition than an Ambassador.
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jvf1095
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 4:00 pm    Post subject: Holton Collegiate Reply with quote

Hello...Reading about the Holton T602's. I have a Holton Collegiate; s/n 391631 circa 1965. Still in great shape; quick valves; excellent compression test, no leaks; nice sound (even from me)! Question though or opinion; is this particular Holton Collegiate, manufactured in 1965 a better built horn than similar "student horns" made today? How was this Holton rated back then?THANKS!!.
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Crazy Finn
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 8:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Holton Collegiate Reply with quote

jvf1095 wrote:
Hello...Reading about the Holton T602's. I have a Holton Collegiate; s/n 391631 circa 1965. Still in great shape; quick valves; excellent compression test, no leaks; nice sound (even from me)! Question though or opinion; is this particular Holton Collegiate, manufactured in 1965 a better built horn than similar "student horns" made today? How was this Holton rated back then?THANKS!!.

Well, it depends what's a "typical" student horn today.

Lots of people seem to buy Amazon Chineseium specials for a few hundred, and your Holton is substantially better than that.

I'd say it's about on par with the typical Yamaha, Getzen, domestically made King/Bach/etc student horns, maybe a little better constructed - but obviously, not new. Good for the price for sure.
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Dayton
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 5:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The T602 is a solid student horn. If it is in good mechanical condition it will likely serve you well. Having said that, consider a used Getzen 300/400-series student trumpet. They are very well-made instruments. Good luck!
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jvf1095
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 5:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks all. I went up on you-tube & listened to some pro's play a 602. WOW! They made it sing!
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Brassnose
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 01, 2023 11:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quick question in an old thread: I just came across a Holton T602 but in C:
https://www.adams-music.com/de/trompete/gebrauchte-trompete/gebrauchte_c-trompete_holton_t602_i5002197

One-off? Bb to C conversion? Other ideas?
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