Advice on buying a cornet

[SteveM]

I've been a trumpet player for over fifty years and want to buy a cornet. I've always wanted a Bach Strad or a Getzen but am looking at others too. It's been many years since I've been in the market so my knowledge of modern makers is very limited. Any alternative recommendations would be appreciated.

I want it for playing in enclosed environments with small ensembles or for solo gigs...for situations where a smaller, mellower instrument would be more appropriate. For a cornet I'd prefer a rich, full, mellower tone over a bright tone. Ease of upper register is a plus for me. Yes, I know I want everything.

I'm also debating about used vs. new. I know most of the plusses and minuses but am leaning toward a new trumpet to avoid scams and misrepresented instruments online.

P.S. I'm new to the forum so don't have access to the Marketplace yet. Hopefully enough dialog here will qualify me for access

[jhatpro]

I think a basic question is are you planning to play it a band and if you are what kind - concert band or British brass band? If the former, you might want a horn like the Bach 181 which is similar in sound to the Bach 37 trumpet with .459 bore and bright character.

If you are seeking a mellow brass band sound, you would do well to get a Getzen (.462 bore) or similar.

In either case mouthpiece will play a big role in your results.

As for new vs. used, there are loads of possibilities and prices, of course. For used I suggest you look first in the TH Marketplace but don’t rule out Reverb and eBay.

Keep us posted!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"Old trumpet players never die, they just blow away."

Edwards X-13 trumpet
CarolBrass flugel
King SilverSonic cornet

[jhatpro]

Oops. I should have read your third paragraph.

The truth is a good player with the right mouthpiece can make any cornet sound mellow or bright.

Check out Warren Vache, Shaye Cohn, and Ruby Braff to hear what I mean.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"Old trumpet players never die, they just blow away."

Edwards X-13 trumpet
CarolBrass flugel
King SilverSonic cornet

[Richard III]

[SteveM]

Thank you for the replies so far. Still looking.

[TrumpetMD]

[SteveM]

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

How much do you want to spend? Are you looking for student, intermediate or professional cornet?
I bought two new cornets in August. Paid under $500.00 dollars total for ACB Doubler B stock.silver cornet and under $264.00 total for Wisemann lacquered cornet.
The Shepherds crook cornet is an excellent choice. Currently I own three Shepherds Crook cornets. Hopefully soon I will be down to one cornet.
Did find the Wick 5 and Curry 5BBC mouthpieces sounds great on all of my cornets.
I would suggest ebay, reverb and some of the online stores. Lately Shopgoodwill.com has not been a good source.
_________________
Vito alto sax ( Jupiter 669 stencil)
Schiller cornet

[SteveM]

[dwgib]

I always played trumpet, but then bought my 1st Conn 80A cornet, loved the sound, and found through threads on this forum, that it's likely the most versatile horn you could ask for. By a combination of mouthpiece selection, tuning via different combinations of using either the hourglass or the tuning slide, or both, it can go from mellow cornet to loud trumpet sounding. I've been thoroughly impressed by it and it's now one of my favorite horns (and I have over 50 now). I have both a 1921 and a 1953, but I would recommend, for your purposes, one made after 1958 when Conn made the change to long shank cornet mouthpieces just to make it so you have a wider, more easily available mouthpiece selection.

From other threads:

[SteveM]

[Dale Proctor]

I’ve played a 1993 large bore Bach 184 with the gold brass bell option for about 20 years and it is really a nice cornet. Most cornets require a little more effort in the upper register than a comparable trumpet does, and my 184 is no exception. I bought it to play in a local British-style brass band, but have also used it in a brass quintet, at church, at Salvation Army Christmas kettles, and for cornet parts in concert band. It has “that Bach sound” and is nimble to play, and I use different mouthpieces to fit the music genre and the situation.

That said, the few times I’ve played a friend’s Getzen 3850, it also seems to be a very good cornet, as is the Schilke XA1. I’m sure all the cornets I’ve mentioned are a bit over your budget if you want something new, but if you are vigilant and patient, from time to time really good deals on used cornets do pop up various places on line.
_________________
1977 Bach Stradivarius ML 43
1976 Bach Mercedes M+ 38
1982 Bach Stradivarius CML 239
1993 Bach Stradivarius. L 184G cornet
1960 Conn 6B Victor
1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet
1890 F. Besson Nuevo Etoile A/Bb/C cornet
1875 H. Lehnert SARV Bb cornet

[dwgib]

Another cornet you should try, my second favorite although I have 5 of them, 3 of which are Silversonics, is the King Master. Great mellow cornet sound, although the Silversonics are a bit brighter more trumpet like. Again, mpc choice will make a big difference. Before 1935 they came in medium and large bore, after just medium. I haven't tried the large bore yet.
_________________
Bach 37;Olds Special,Super,Recording;Reynolds Pro;Getzen Eterna 900S;Conn 14A&B,22B,80A;Holton 34,48,45,& 49;King Liberty Silvertone & Super 20 & Master Silversonic;'24 Couesnon;BUESCHER 10 & 232;Selmer 24B;Martin Imperial;F.Besson Fugel;York Master

[david johnson]

Getzen, old King sterling bell, Schilke (I have one), Bach...several great ones are around. Enjoy the safari!

[cbtj51]

I was a late to the party cornet seeker just a few years ago. I played some of my friend's cornets and liked most of them a lot, but the Bach 184 just seemed to fit. I looked for an affordable, in my case, used, reliable instrument from a reputable source. I eventually found the perfect candidate at J. Landress Brass a couple of years ago, pulled the trigger and never looked back. My 184 is arguably my favourite travel horn. It has an intimate quality that is unlike any other in my albeit, limited experience and I find it in my hands very often when we are sitting on the back porch at the family farm. My wife really favors it a lot as well. She wants her own copy... still looking.

Best wishes on your search!

Life is Short, find the Joy in it!

Mike
_________________
'71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces

[SteveM]

More valuable comments. Thank you all.

[Bb Brass]

OFFER UP

is the only platform I'm using now. Local inspection and pick up or shipping.

Lots of musicians are abandoning eBay and CL. They are inferior.

[Bb Brass]

[Subtropical and Subpar]

I'm not sure where in Kentucky you are and it's a relatively big state, but if your budget is $3,000, I'd recommend spending a bit of it to drive to Austin Custom Brass in Kansas City and trying out their extensive new and used cornet inventory.

They also have an excellent website.
_________________
32 King Silvertone cornet
36 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
58 Reynolds Contempora "Renascence" C
58 Olds AmBessador
62 Reynolds Argenta trumpet
65 Conn 38A
95 Bach LR18072
03 Kanstul 991
11 Schilke P5-4 B/G
21 Manchester Brass flugel

[SteveM]

Thanks for the latest replies. They are all appreciated.

Just wanted to share an experience with you.

I stopped by a brick and mortar music store in Bowling Green Kentucky. Very nice little store that caters to students and school bands. The first thing I noticed was that the 'trumpet' section only had trumpets. No cornets

The proprietor approached to see if I needed help so I asked if they had any cornets. She told me that they did not and that I was the first person to ask for one in a very long time. She said the schools pretty much exclusively play trumpets.

I noticed that they had new Bach Strads, a couple of Yamaha Xeno's and some names I didn't recognize on the low end side. I commented about the straps and she said that it was their biggest seller especially with the high school bands. I was bowled over. Nobody owned a Strad when I was in high school. We all had low-end student horns.

So, my two takeaways: Cornets are out (I know better) and the new crop of high school kids have the money to buy Strads. Times must not be that tough!