FAVORITE PRO TRUMPET BRANDS

hb2014 · New Member Joined: 05 May 2015 Posts: 6

What are your favorite brands for professional level trumpets?

Let me know in a comment or in the poll.

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Haley Baggett

homebilly · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 12:42 pm Post subject:

my favorite brand is the one that you are going to sell in the marketplace after five meaningless posts!

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ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com

shofarguy · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:56 am Post subject:

My favorite brand of professional trumpet/flugelhorn/cornet is, as everyone who has been on TH for awhile expects, Flip Oakes Wild Thing.

Here are the reasons:

1) I have never played any individual instrument, at his shop or in the field, that was not an outstanding player. The only example I can cite was Rex Merriweather's very early trumpet that had not received its Total Enhancement. That was done for free when Rex brought it down to Flip.

2) All of Flip's designs play to his liking, so it doesn't matter which instrument you buy, if you like one, you will like them all.

In other words, if you have sampled a Wild Thing instrument somewhere and liked it, you can buy any new instrument without trying it first and be confident you are going to like it just as much or more.

3) Flip's customer service is as legendary as his instruments. If you do have a problem (even buyers of used WT instruments will tell you) with one of his instruments, Flip is committed to putting it right. I did have an email conversation with one disgruntled customer, but that customer would only converse using a pseudonym and never actually did anything either Flip or I recommended to get his issues (used horn purchase) resolved. In my thinking, that is one misrepresentation in an otherwise spotless record of customer satisfaction.

4) The sound of his instruments trumps all others, in my opinion. It doesn't matter what sound a player is after, it can be accomplished with a Wild Thing and it will be better than what is achieved with something else. This point can be argued, ad infinitum, but that is the case with virtually every brand. The fact that WT players cite sound almost universally as the top characteristic they love about playing their instrument is significant.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper

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

flugelnovice · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:36 am Post subject:

Brand and model: Getzen X-13
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F. Besson MEHA pocket cornet( practically stolen!)callet 17, schilke 15
Pan American tenorhorn 53'(Conn stencil), Jupiter standard mpc, Denis Wick heritage 1, wick heritage 1a mpc.

Vintage King tenor trombone, clunker mpc(?), wick 4.

CalicchioMan · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:39 am Post subject: favorite brand

Stomvi!
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Yamaha 8310ZII
Yamaha 631G Flugelhorn
Mendini Superbone
Pickett Mouthpieces

jhatpro · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:22 am Post subject:

Getzen: better build, better valves, better service, better pricing.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

tommy t. · Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:53 am Post subject:

My favorite brand of professional trumpet/flugelhorn/cornet is, as everyone who has been on TH for awhile expects, Flip Oakes Wild Thing.

Here are the reasons:

1) I have never played any individual instrument, at his shop or in the field, that was not an outstanding player. The only example I can cite was Rex Merriweather's very early trumpet that had not received its Total Enhancement. That was done for free when Rex brought it down to Flip.

2) All of Flip's designs play to his liking, so it doesn't matter which instrument you buy, if you like one, you will like them all.

In other words, if you have sampled a Wild Thing instrument somewhere and liked it, you can buy any new instrument without trying it first and be confident you are going to like it just as much or more.

3) Flip's customer service is as legendary as his instruments. If you do have a problem (even buyers of used WT instruments will tell you) with one of his instruments, Flip is committed to putting it right. I did have an email conversation with one disgruntled customer, but that customer would only converse using a pseudonym and never actually did anything either Flip or I recommended to get his issues (used horn purchase) resolved. In my thinking, that is one misrepresentation in an otherwise spotless record of customer satisfaction.

4) The sound of his instruments trumps all others, in my opinion. It doesn't matter what sound a player is after, it can be accomplished with a Wild Thing and it will be better than what is achieved with something else. This point can be argued, ad infinitum, but that is the case with virtually every brand. The fact that WT players cite sound almost universally as the top characteristic they love about playing their instrument is significant.

Tommy T.

(Uhh --- by the way: thanks Brian, saved me some time.)
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Actually, I hate music. I just do this for the money.

Yamahaguy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992

ONE favorite?? Yeah right...I rotate between
Calicchio, Marcinkiewicz, Benge, Bach, Shilke,
and oh yeah, Yamaha!

cornet74 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 504

if your're talking about new horns: Getzen

thank you.
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Now:
Yamaha 203 Tenor Horn
Bach, Wick, Yamaha Mouthpieces
Wick Wooden Tenor Horn Straight Mute

kmag · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 5:16 pm Post subject:

I recently got a Holton that I am growing very fond of but I would have to say my '41 Conn 22B and my '46 Conn 80A cornet are two horns I will not be parting ways with.

kehaulani · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 5:17 pm Post subject:

I can't believe a standard like Schilke is not on that poll. Shame on you. (I mean, Jupiter yes but Schilke no?)

@Brian - is the Wild Thing really a brand of trumpet, or the results of a set of modifications?

In other words, is this trumpet a Bach, modified by Flip Oaks, and that one a King modified by Flip Oaks, or are they both really pretty much the same (after modification) and no longer characteristically a King or a Bach?
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

RussellDDixon · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 5:40 pm Post subject:

Yamaha & Schilke
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Schilke X3 Bb trumpet
Yamaha 631g Flugelhorn
Nicholson Monette Prana Resonance LT mouthpiece
Kanstul Claude Gordon Personal mouthpiece

dstdenis · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:51 pm Post subject:

I choose individual instruments, and the brand is part of the decision, but not the whole thing. So I respect and appreciate Yamaha, for example, for all of the work they've been doing recently, introducing new Chicago models and new Xenos in several different configurations---they're moving the industry forward.

But that wouldn't stop me from choosing an instrument from another brand if I thought it had a great combination of sound, ease of play and build quality. For example, I stopped by a local dealer to play a bunch of trumpets today, and I was surprised by the quality of models from B&S and Jupiter. I almost didn't bother trying them because of the brands, but I had some time and the dealer was happy to let me play them. I thought they were quite good.

I think it's worth keeping an open mind about brands so we won't miss out on some great instruments.
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Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi

robas92 · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:14 pm Post subject: Horns

Hello,

It is interesting that Kanstul is not listed?? I mean they only make Callichio, Flip Oakes, French Besson, Zeus, Accent, and their own line of instruments that make outshine all of the Bach and Yamaha instruments. Many professionals have switched to Kanstul, not only for playability reasons, but for quality as well. Bachs are consistently dawgs and Yammies while consistent in manufacture really do not compare. Don't talk to me about core and sound until you have actually played a 1510A C trumpet. It is hands down the BEST orchestral horn for the money. The French Besson Najoom C trumpet runs a close second place. ANYONE worth his salt could see that these horns are just as worthy. You won't be disappointed!!
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Kanstul 1503 Bb
74 Bach 37 Bb
Kanstul 1510A C
Kanstul 920 Piccolo
Blessing 154 RT Flugelhorn

Robert A. Smith

--More horns than I can count!!
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Do, or do not, there is no try!!--Yoda

Andy Del · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:19 pm Post subject:

Thein
Kanstul
Schilke
Scherzer
Schagerl
Galileo
B&S

These are all great makers, some far less common than others, especially in some countries.

Of your choices, Yamaha and Bach I can understand. Jupiter, well that make some great pro models as well, but are not quite there. Conn? I can't go out and buy a fantastic Conn these days, and I have to say, that any time since I started playing, new Conns were not all that good. If you are limiting it to old trumpets, then Yamaha and Jupiter would have to get dropped out, but you would have to add Selmer...

cheers

Andy
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so many horns, so few good notes...

Matthew Anklan · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:51 pm Post subject:

Powell Signature Trumpets!!
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Matthew Anklan
www.matthewanklan.com
Patrick Mouthpieces Artist

giakara · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 1:05 am Post subject:

Lawler and Getzen are my favorite brands from new companies and Selmer and Conn from the vintage era.

Regards
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Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

shofarguy · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 7:09 am Post subject:

MichaelMcCrary · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:51 am Post subject:

Vintage Selmer and LeBlanc
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michael
Selmer Radial
Selmer K-Modified - Trumpet and Cornet
Selmer Paris Flugelhorn
Martin Handcrafted Dansant

and a few more

yourbrass · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 3:00 pm Post subject:

Benge and Schilke.

There are a lot of trumpets that play well, so no diss to them intended, these are my current favorites.

-Lionel
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"Strive for tone." -John Coppola
Edwards X-13
ACB MV3C /ACB A1/26 backbore
https://yourbrass.com/