Getting a professional horn

[AkshayB]

2 weeks ago my private teacher advised me to upgrade to a professional trumpet. I immediately started doing research on the 'best' professional horns. I then narrowed it down to 2, you guessed it, the Bach Stradivarius 180S37 AND the Yamaha YTR-8335RG Xeno. I've read that the Yamaha's are more consistent, but if you find a good Bach then it will play extraordinarily well. I am buying used and I cannot playtest. So if I couldn't playtest which one do you think I should go for?

I would really appreciate your honest opinion!

[jondrowjf@gmail.com]

Have you looked at any Youtube videos on these trumpets? Are you buying from Craigslist, Ebay, music store or a private seller?

What trumpet does your teacher recommended? Are you playing in a band? What type of music do you play? Is there a good repair shop near you?

Why did you choose those two instruments?
_________________
King 603 cornet American wrap
Jupiter 520 M shepherds crook
Denis Wick 4 W classic gold short shank mouthpiece
Getzen 4 B short shank mouthpiece
Yamaha 11 e short shank mouthpiece
Vincent Bach 5 B short shank mouthpiece

[Brad361]

Honestly, buying ANY used horn without any play test at all is a crapshoot. I would HIGHLY recommend people like Trent Austin, Austin Custom Brass, or Dillon Music for a used horn, I’m fairly sure they both have a reasonable return policy. If you buy from a private seller with no return option, you might get lucky, or you might not.....Yamaha, Bach or anything else. And unless you’re prepared to possibly invest more money to correct potential problems, I would be really careful.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

[AkshayB]

To answer all your questions,

I have looked at youtube videos of these instruments and heard how they sound. To me, they sound the same but I think I would need to play myself to hear the difference (unfortunately I can't). I am buying from Reverb.com in which a company I saw has both the trumpets. in which I can also return them. Im, looking for. My teacher recommends a strad but I'm just afraid Ill get a "bad" since I'm getting it used. I am playing in a band and mostly play classical, no jazz. There is a Music and Arts near me in which I could repair it. I chose there 2 instruments from research on the internet. People say that these 2 instruments are the go-to for a professional trumpet player. I've also seen many professionals use these horns.

[JayKosta]

I'd ask your teacher 'what will be enhanced?' by moving to a better horn.

Are there any particular problems with the horn you're using now? Does your teacher think it has some drawbacks to your ability to perform and improve?

Have you play-tested some other horns and found that any that improve your performance?

The Bach and Yamaha you mention are both good quality 'middle of the road' pro horn that would likely work well.

Jay
_________________
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'.

[cheiden]

In my experience players often strongly prefer either Bach or Yamaha. I would find horns to try to see if you fall in one camp or the other, or if you don't really have a strong preference.
_________________
"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

[Brad361]

[AkshayB]

First of all, thank you for all of your replies! It means so much to me. The thing I love about the trumpet herald is that there are so many people who will give amazing feedback to any post.

I am only in the 8th grade, and my teacher wants me to get an advanced trumpet because he said that my student model has many limitations and if I can get a professional horn I can perform much better. Right now I'm just looking for a horn that will serve me well through high school and maybe college. I know that Bach and Yamaha are not the only good brands out there but I just think they are the most reliable.

[HERMOKIWI]

I've been very consistent on this point over the years: If you're going to own only one pro level trumpet then the one to own is the Bach Strad Model 37. It's the largest selling pro horn out there and if you pay a fair price for a used one you'll be able to sell it for what you have invested in it. A Xeno is an excellent horn but the safest bet overall is a Bach Strad Model 37.

There has been a lot of comment about "bad" Bach Strads. Personally, I think it's nonsense/grossly overstated. A great player will sound great on any Bach Strad in good working order.

I own four Bach Strads: Two Mt. Vernon Model 37's, an Elkhart Model 72* and an Elkhart Model 25. These horns are part of a collection of about 50 horns. I've never been a Bach player (I've been primarily a Benge player over the past 53 years) but I would be comfortable performing on any of my Bach Strads. The reason I don't perform on any of them is because I have other instruments designed for what I do (improvisational jazz soloist) such as a 1953 Martin Committee Deluxe Large Bore and an Adams A8. I rarely play my Benge trumpets any more either (and they are awesome instruments) because I have the Martin and the Adams. My Bach trumpets and my Benge trumpets would be fine for what I do but the Martin and the Adams are more specialized in the direction of what I do.

If you have a return option then you can try out a Bach Strad Model 37 without risk so that's a safe option to explore.
_________________
HERMOKIWI

[Jerry]

Can you have both sent to you? Keep the one you like better and send the other back.

[cgaiii]

If the Reverb seller will give you a trial period with return, I see no problem, but I really believe you should try any horn before you commit, unless you know the horn already or are buying it because you want to give it a try and the money is not a big deal. (You are just adding it to the collection like many on this forum.) None of these seem to be the case.

Everybody is different. The accepted "standard trumpet" for what you do may not apply to you.

I would ask the seller to give you trial periods with each of the horns or both of the.
_________________
Bb: Schilke X3L AS SP, Yamaha YTR-6335S
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

[JayKosta]

[cgaiii]

[zaferis]

[Brad361]

[kehaulani]

I have to supplement that by saying, when I was in school, I never got along with Bachs. I chose other brands to better feel and results.

Personally, I went to a Connstellation and, later, to a Severinsen. Times change, but there actually seem to be more and effective choices.

I'm not sure, though, that Brad doesn't imply that's the only choice, but the best choice based on expectations.
_________________
"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

[Brad361]

[JetJaguar]

You might want to wait and see what develops with the Flip Oakes Fusion line of trumpets. They're not on the market yet, but there should be some news about them in the next few weeks or so. As far as when exactly, we're just hanging tight because Flip just returned home from bypass surgery.
_________________
1938 Martin Handcraft Imperial #2 bore, 38 bell
Bach 7C mouthpiece

I'm looking for a Connstellation 5C-N or 5B-N mouthpiece
www.jazzscales.org
The Coady Strengthening Exercises: http://coady.coolwarm.com

[kehaulani]

[LittleRusty]