Help me pick a trumpet for my 12 yr old son.

[zerobits]

I have a 30% discount at a local store. I'm going to use it to buy my 12 yr old son a trumpet. Which of the horns here would you recommend and why?

https://reverb.com/shop/downtown-sounds?product_type=band-and-orchestra&category=trumpets

thanks!

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Duplicate
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Jupiter 520 M lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Blessing XL lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Denis Wick 4 W gold & Denis Wick 4B classic mp
Jupiter 9e silverplated short shank mouthpiece
Bach Megatone 5B mouthpiece

[ldwoods]

Welcome to TH. I have no knowledge of any of those trumpets, so can not even guess. Generally speaking, trumpets that are new and in that price range will not be very good. I guess they are cheap stencil horns and you MIGHT have problems getting parts or repairs done on them.

Up your budget and find a used name brand horn. I personally dislike most all of the Bachs, but you will get many recommendations to "get a Bach".

In the price range of the trumpets you showed on Reverb, I would look for a used Olds, Conn, Yamaha, or Getzen.
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Larry Woods
LDWoods

[cheiden]

On a budget, a new or used Yamaha horn is a good bet. I would steer clear of horns that don't come from major suppliers like Bach, Yamaha, Getzen,...
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[JayKosta]

Is this to be a 'first trumpet' for your son, or does he already have some playing experience, and familiar with how a trumpet operates mechanically - the valve action, moving the slides, etc.

Of those instruments, I'd consider the Reynolds, or the Blessing. They are both 'old time' made in USA instruments. I use a more recent version of the Blessing, and it works fine for me as adult amateur in local community band - it would also be fine for school playing (I used it as a 'community member' in local college band).
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Are you planning on having a trumpet to leave at school and one at home.
_________________
Jupiter 520 M lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Blessing XL lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Denis Wick 4 W gold & Denis Wick 4B classic mp
Jupiter 9e silverplated short shank mouthpiece
Bach Megatone 5B mouthpiece

[Dayton]

The Holton T602 is a solid student-model trumpet. Of the trumpet on this list, that's the one I'd suggest.

[Quadstriker]

I'd skip all those and go on facebook marketplace and buy a used Bach, Yamaha, Getzen, or Jupiter for $100-$200 that I could personally inspect and pay for in person.

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Great gift for your child.Will he be in school band? If so, ask band director for trumpet recommendations. Also he may have slightly used band trumpets for sale.
The trumpets on the website are used and overpriced. My recommendation, due to double trumpet case, would be the Reynolds. Followed by the Holton and then the Blessing.Have your son play all the trumpets that interest him.
In the long run, you are better to buy one of the major brands: Bach, Getzen,Yamaha.
These brands will blended in better in the band, than vintage or off brands.
I have owed both vintage and modern trumpets/cornets. The modern trumpets are easier to play and are in tune.
_________________
Jupiter 520 M lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Blessing XL lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Denis Wick 4 W gold & Denis Wick 4B classic mp
Jupiter 9e silverplated short shank mouthpiece
Bach Megatone 5B mouthpiece

[Christian K. Peters]

Hello all,
If I was choosing just between those horns, I would pick the Holton and then buy a new Protect case for it. A newer used Yamaha 200 Advantage would be a better bet. Might look nicer also. Sometimes kids like the shine. Makes them better motivated.
_________________
Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976

[adagiotrumpet]

Unless I missed it, I'm surprised no one recommended an Olds Ambassador as a first horn for a young student.

[stuartissimo]

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

It may be slightly off topic. But what is the importance of having a 1st slide thumb saddle for a student learning to play the trumpet?
_________________
Jupiter 520 M lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Blessing XL lacquered Shepherds crook cornet
Denis Wick 4 W gold & Denis Wick 4B classic mp
Jupiter 9e silverplated short shank mouthpiece
Bach Megatone 5B mouthpiece

[zerobits]

Wow! What a great forum this is. Thank you all for the replies.

My son is 12 and has been playing for a few years. He's had a private teacher the whole time and also plays in school band. I sheepishly report that he's been playing a mendini the whole time and it's miraculous that the valves haven't seized up yet.

Trumpet comes easily to him. He can do a fairly good job with the head to Joy Spring. But the motivation not so much. He practices when I remind him to and just enough to get by.

At one point I was going to spend some money on a pro horn for him but now I'm waiting until it's clear he's taken ownership of life as a musician. I don't want to spend $1k+ and then have him stop playing when I'm not around to poke him.

I have a credit at shop that I linked to which gives me %30 off the asking price, which is why I was hoping to grab one of those to tide us over until it's time to by a nicer horn, if that time ever comes.

thanks again!
Bill

[mograph]

It doesn't sound like music is his first priority in terms of expression or hobbies -- definitely not pro material, because he doesn't have pro interest, in my opinion.

Now, if practising the horn is what he does when he should be doing something else, then yeah, give him what he needs to continue and improve.

But if you have to poke him, let it go.
_________________
1985 Bach 37
1980 King 601 (it's bulletproof!)
1978 Couesnon flugelhorn
Playing for fun since 1979.
Fmr member 48th Highlanders of Canada Mil Band
Into that jazz devil music

[Quadstriker]

[ohiotpt]

He has a private teacher, that's a good go to.

Perhaps one of the teacher's former students has stopped playing and would have a horn available.

Don't get hung up on the 30%, if the horns are over priced, 30% might not help.

While everyone here will have a suggested horn, when getting a new horn you need to factor what shape it's in. Again, the private teacher's input may be of great value.

While the advise that a $1k Stradivarius used is a $1K Stradivarius a year from now rings true, but only if it's well cared for in that year with regular cleaning on lubrication.

At this stage, don't neglect having him seriously play test the horn. Bring music that he can play to test the horn out. I've had High school kids come over to buy a $1500 horn, play it for 10 seconds, "Fine" and that's it. If he doesn't want to seriously evaluate the horn, then you probably don't need to purchase a serious horn.
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-fred
Lots of horns available to try and buy (or just try) in the Florida Treasure Coast area (Especially Kanstul trumpets) - PM if you'd like to stop by.

[Andy Cooper]

Talk to the teacher. Try to find a used pro trumpet in good condition. The trumpets on the list are either unknown Chinese brands or long defunct, rode hard American made student horns than can frequently be purchased for under $100 on Shopgoodwill.com.

Scenario:

With a quality instrument, your son practices more, gets better, makes the auditions for HS bands. In college, he makes the auditions for various college ensembles and gets out of having to take Music Appreciation classes, falls in love with the 2nd chair clarinet player, graduates, stops playing as he pursues his advanced studies to become a corporate lawyer.

After a few years, looking for a break from the pressures of work, he remembers how he enjoyed playing trumpet. He digs out his still functional pro level horn, stumbles on the Trumpet Herald Comeback Players forum, finds a private teacher, and joins a community band where he continues to play long after his retirement.

[LittleRusty]