New trumpet

[napoorsocapo]

I'm playing with a Bach Omega MG290 anni '70 ... I would like to change the trumpet with a more professional model. Omega sounds dark and I would like a trumpet in the same style. I don't like too loud. I have a B&S Challenger 3137 I and I am not at all well. Bad sound. Thanks everyone for the answers.

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

I played a Bach TR200 for a while and liked it. It's supposedly very similar to the Omega (same Bach mid-range trumpet concept and, I believe, interchangeable parts). It was a solid instrument with a two piece bell, and maybe that's why yours sounds dark (heavier + two-piece bell). In discussions here folk seem to say that different things about these lines. I've heard the leadpipe described as stuffy, but then someone else said it is a 25 leadpipe with a different receiver. I don't know. Anyway, this is all to say that a good Omega or TR200 may play as well or better as many pro horns, including Bach strads. They now sell for about 2/3rds the price of a strad, which is more than many pro horns.

The Bach I most often heard described as dark is the 72. You might want to go in that direction. The wider bell and greater tone spread sounds like the sound you are going for. I don't know the equivalent in other brands. For me, mouthpiece also helps me sound a lot darker. I'm playing on a bigger, deeper mouthpiece now and it definitely gives a darker sound.

Good luck on your trumpet search!

[zaferis]

It depends what is available to you and how far along in your trumpet progression you are... If you're relatively new the the trumpet, only a few years into your journey, then I'd suggest that you look for guidance from a teacher or mentor. Find some local instrument that you can demo with this person to find a solid fit for you.

Blindly recommending an instrument to someone is challenging. However, I recommend a Bach Strad, 19037, 50th Anniversary Model. A little more expensive, but you won't go wrong here, and would be an instrument you could keep for the rest of your playing career (so, really not that expensive if you think in terms of that)
For a little less money you could find a new or used Bach 18037, 72 or 43, BUT very important to play them first.

Then there is a litany of other wonderful instruments - but guidance and being able to demo them before you buy is highly encouraged.


good luck
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[OldSchoolEuph]

Really, to give any insight, we need to know what you mean by "bad sound". Bach Omega instruments are typically inferior 37s, but not always, so it is hard to know what the starting point is. What genre's and applications are you targeting? What other horns have you borrowed and tried (tell us like vs dislike). To be of any use to you, we really need to know a lot more - and to take a trusted, skilled friend, or better yet a teacher with you and try horns, is always a better bet than internet advice.
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2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
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1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20

[Tpt_Guy]

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

I've seen the Tr200 listed as being a 43 or 37 bell, and the leadpipe description I saw was from a repair tech on here. I'm not actually sure on either of these, and I don't know what the differences are (for instance, it's possible the leadpipe is the same but the receiver gap was set up differently). 43s are often described as a brighter trumpet and that's never seemed true to me for TR200, although someone here did say they're popular with mariachi. I think I've heard the same mixed reputation on two-piece bells (traditionally seen as inferior but it turns out we may not be able to really hear a difference). All of this to say... if it's a good trumpet keep playing it.

I think the "bad sound" description was also aimed at the B&S. I tried some trumpets last week and had it down to two. My spouse said one sounded "scratchier." I think the trick is to keep trying instruments. I also think we get used to a sound and then look for that. I've heard this is a challenge for string players. They get used to "so-so" instruments (bright, tinny) and then look for that when they upgrade.

[khedger]

[Tpt_Guy]

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

I think mouthpiece express describes the bell as a 43 and I think it was Jim Becker or one of those guys who said the leadpipe is a 25, but I'm guessing that's because those folk either measured or felt like that's how they played. It's helpful to know that Bach used to describe it this way. Maybe the 43 as a two-piece plays less brightly?

I have to be honest. I'm an amateur and my ears are average. I feel like it's probably similar to the oenaphiles where they can really tell wine vintages and flavorings, but the mass population prefers sweeter and simpler. I thought my TR200 was a pretty vanilla trumpet, but I quite liked it. I've been buying trumpets 2nd hand and the one I like playing the best honestly is the one closest to a student model, where higher notes are easier and slots are narrower.

If I were the OP, I'd basically look for something like the Omega but newer. Bach strad would definitely fit that. I'm curious if OP knows anything more on why the B&S didn't work (too open, weird intonation, etc.).

[cheiden]

For a Bach that tends to play darker, try the 72 bell.
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Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
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[cgaiii]

My recommendation is to go out and play a lot of trumpets. I think you may be surprised at what you like. When I was looking to upgrade, because I felt limitations in the trumpet I was playing (an intermediate Yamaha, which served me well until I got a little more ambitious and started really working on my playing), I started playing horns every chance I got. I visited used instrument shops and just tried out as many horns as I could. In the end, I was quite surprised at my discoveries and how some of my preconceived and researched notions did not apply. It is great to get advice here to find a place to start in the vast sea of trumpets that exist, but then I would recommend venturing into horns that do not fit the bill too. It is great fun and you learn a lot about yourself and trumpets.
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C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Picc: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Standard
Bass Trumpet: BAC Custom
Natural Tr: Custom Haas replica by Nikolai Mänttäri Morales

[napoorsocapo]

In a musical instrument shop they saw me try trumpets with the Kanstul G2 mouthpiece and suggested that I try large bore trumpets.
I was told that a large bore trumpet is needed with that mouthpiece.

[Manuel de los Campos]

[HERMOKIWI]

[kehaulani]

"Bore size does not matter, the difference is just a few hundreds of one inch, you will not feel any difference."

I've read this concept before but, I can only speak for myself. I prefer medium-bore or step-bore horns and got a large-bore horn recently and could hardly play it. Returned it for a refund.

(Presently play a Yamaha Shew and tried out a Schilke Handcraft.)
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Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
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Adams F-1 Flghn

[Crazy Finn]

[Manuel de los Campos]