Which trumpet for marching band?

[Jg5]

I am trying to decide between two trumpets, the King 1117sp and the King System Blue SB12. I will be using them only for marching band. Thoughts?

[pinstriper]

1) If the Blue Devils think it works for a field program, who is to argue with them.

2) If you were in a program where it really mattered all that much, you'd have the answer already.
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~'77 DEG Dynasty II Soprano Bugle in G
'13 Chinese POS "Hawk" branded Flugel
'59 Olds Ambassador Cornet
'51 Olds Super
'69 Olds Studio
'40 Olds Special Cornet, Military Issued

[Crazy Finn]

For me, it's the trumpet I care the least about that actually plays.

Bonus: if it has a lyre holder bracket.
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LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

[LittleRusty]

[iiipopes]

[Betelgeuse215]

Never pick the more expensive one for marching band. Not worth it. Nobody is going to be hearing the difference in the stands and you'll save money on potential repairs.

[cheiden]

I play the one that's most efficient for you. Loud field shows are taxing enough without choosing anything but the most efficient. If neither is more efficient for you then choose the cheaper one.
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"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

[boog]

My how the economy has improved! Thru High School and College, I could not afford more than one horn, or mouthpiece for that matter. Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Brass Choir, Jazz Band, Rock gigs, Recitals, Lessons, all the same horn and mouthpiece. Buying a new horn, you sold or traded your old one to pay the new one down some.

When I graduated and got a real job, I could finally put more than one instrument in the closet. And that closet was in my own place, not Mama's...

[Brad361]

[Crazy Finn]

[Dennis78]

Use the trumpet you already have. It works, you already have it and do you really expect it to last forever? Your trumpet can always be repaired or replaced
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a few different ones

[cbtj51]

[boog]

The OP was asking which trumpet to buy for marching band...both the ones he mentioned cost about 6-7 times what my trumpet (a King Silver Flair) did back in the late '60's. Even adjusting for inflation, that's a lot for a beater...

Heck, what was a poor farm boy to do??

[MrOlds]

Absolutely no snark intended. If I were making this decision I’d go with a pTrumpet. Sounds better than a used beater. Much lighter to hold up while slogging around.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NLAHSgZaMU0

[LittleRusty]

[MrOlds]

The future is here. It’s just not evenly distributed

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dug-G9xVdVs

[Tritone]

Since it's rare for a musician to play in just a marching band and no other groups, I'll presume that the OP has another horn to use for other purposes.

Next, I'll also presume that there's less need for finesse and nuanced sound when marching as compared to other times -- it surely was that way when I slogged through mud and snow in close formation.

Third, I'll presume that there's a high chance of having someone else bash into your horn when it's not your fault. Definitely was that way for me -- and ours was considered a top-flight band. I still remember a usually pretty bright guy named Darrell who somehow ended up marching at me and just in front of my bell, within feet of the audience... resulting in a particularly snappy spin turn on Darrell's part and some, uh, verbal encouragement from the rest of us.

If either of your two candidate horns doesn't play decently, forget that one. If neither does, forget them both. If they both are serviceable and they both are sufficiently presentable for whatever the group expects, get the one you won't mind getting bashed up - which usually means the cheaper one. Sure, you can get many injuries repaired, but repairs cost money, some repairs aren't worth it, and some injuries are fatal (like when an otherwise fine player named Mike realized that his horn was in its case just behind the bus... as the bus was backing up).

[Crazy Finn]

[spitvalve]

When I was in college marching band I had just bought my first pro horn, a silver Getzen Severinsen, and spent most of my freshman year polishing the rehearsal crud off of it (we rehearsed on a muddy field). My sophomore year I brought the Olds Ambassador I had used in high school and saved my shiny horn for indoor playing.

I would always recommend a beater horn for marching band. Olds Ambassadors are still the best beaters. They are solidly built and harder to dent, and they play pretty well, too.
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Bryan Fields
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1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Did you check with the band director if he knows of any used trumpets for sale?
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King 603 cornet American wrap
Yamaha 2330 Shepherds crook
Denis Wick 4 W classic gold mouthpiece
Getzen 4 B mouthpiece
Yamaha 11 e mouthpiece