College C

ThatOneSlime · New Member Joined: 24 Mar 2016 Posts: 10

Hi all,

I'm about to be in the market for a new C trumpet. I'm currently in my undergrad and would like it to be a horn that can last me through my career. I have roughly 3500 to spend on one. Any recommendations on horns I should look at to start trying?

bagmangood · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:52 pm Post subject:

if you have a professor or teacher, get their opinion (even if it is "whatever you want").

With that budget you can get almost every C on the market (and certainly any used horn). Try as many as you can get your hands on, and hopefully you'll find one that speaks to you!

Best of luck in your search!
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Brassnose · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:14 pm Post subject:

Hey, for that money you could even get a good rotary C

(at least over here ...)
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1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
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1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

Dayton · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 2:05 am Post subject:

Talking to your professor/teacher is probably a good way to start your hunt.

Next, consider going to NTC, ITG or one of the other big shows. Those shows are just about your only opportunity to try a wide range of C trumpets in one location. The next best option would be to visit one of the big trumpet-centric music stores like Thompson Music or Dillon Music. They typically have a good selection of C trumpets on hand, though nothing that compares to what you'd find at one of the big shows. Factory visits are also an option to consider for a specific brand.

In terms of the horns to try, that's a really personal decision. I'd say that the first brands you should consider are Bach, Shires and Yamaha, but you should try as many C trumpets as you can get your hands on. Companies like Getzen/Edwards, Van Laar, Larson and Powell also make fine horns.

As for the C trumpets that I tried and liked:

Bach AC190, Bach 229CC Chicago, Bach 229PC Philly, and a standard Bach 25C/229. Bach has a new C190 trumpet that's probably worth giving a try as well.

Shires 4F, 401

Yamaha New York II (well above your price range)

But Adams, Blackburn, Edwards, Getzen, Larson, Powell, Schilke, Stomvi, and Van Laar all made at least one model that I could have worked with.

Good luck!

zaferis · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 3:41 am Post subject:

I'd first chat with your undergraduate trumpet prof. He/she may have direction and/or may have connection to help you find one at a good price.

For a studying player, in the market for a C trumpet start with a Bach, Large Bore, 229 bell, the sound that has been the gold standard for a long time.

1. the newly released 190SL229 - a must try, "..a Bach C like they were meant to be..."
2. 180SL229
3. AC190S
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Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

I would go used. I had a terrific Bach Artisan C that I got for about half your budget. I never use a C anymore so I sold it to a college student who needed one. Do you have a pic? A D-Eb? flugel? With your budget you could end up with 2 or 3 excellent used horns.

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

Check this out:

https://www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=112065&s=Sonare-TRC-800-Series-C-Trumpet

Harry Hilgers · Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 637

James Becker · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:03 am Post subject:

We've been receiving very positive feedback on our Osmun blueprinted Bach C180L22925H. It has that great Bach 229 sound sought after by many with improved pitch and play ability. Available here https://osmun.com/blueprinted-bach-c229-25h/ for well under your budget.

We sold one to a NEC grad that owns a Yamaha second generation Artist model, no joke, her brand new blueprinted Bach C180L22925H was that good! Read about Ayano Guiles here: https://www.richmondsymphony.com/profile/ayano-guiles/

Or we can take any C trumpet you like and work out the kinks to make it play better. To read more visit https://blog.osmun.com/2014/02/01/blueprinting/

Let us know if we can answer any questions you may have. Good luck!
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www.osmun.com

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jcoffey · Regular Member Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 78

I would like to second the Bach 190SL229 (I just bought one myself), and add the new Shires 4S8 to the list (the Shires was the runner-up in my horn search).
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Milano Music Center

Bb- Shires AZ, Bach 180S37
C- Bach 190/229/25M
Picc- Shires 9G
Eb/D- Shires 6MS8 Y6H
Rotary C- Schagerl Horsdorf Heavy
Pickett/Vennture/Breslmair Mouthpieces

Betelgeuse215 · Veteran Member Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 186

The new Bach C trumpet designed by Michael Sachs!

JoseLindE4 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 791

Barring advice from your teacher saying otherwise, I’d search out a used Bach 229. It’ll give you a good grasp of a standard C trumpet for your first C and very well may be the last C you ever need to buy. I bought a used 229 in college about 20 years ago for about 1/3 the price of a new one at the time. It’s still my workhorse trumpet twenty years later. The sound is the standard for a reason.

Yamaha makes excellent horns as well. For a college trumpet player with any professional aspirations, I’d stick mostly to Bach and Yamaha for my first C trumpet. This is no shot at any other makers. It’s just a reflection of the reality of sound and expectations.

Harry Hilgers · Heavyweight Member Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 637

trumpet_cop · Veteran Member Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 242

LittleRusty · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:14 pm Post subject:

Back on topic. I don’t own a Bach 229 or 239. Mine is a 256.

But from what I have read on here the 229 and 239 have some tuning quirks that can be alieved by a good tech.

I don’t know if the newer Bach Cs have similar issues, it would be interesting to hear from people’s who,have played them.

One last point, AFAIK, Bach pro horns have always been built in the US. Some of the low end are made off shore, but not the pro line.

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

I've owned 2 Mt. Vernon C's (ML239 and L239 with *bell) and 3 or 4 Elkhart Bachs. They all had the typical intonation problems that we all learned to work around with alternate fingerings and other gyrations. Some were worse than others. My teacher Steve Chenette told me to pick the horn with the faults you can live with.

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blbaumgarn · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2017 Posts: 705

Young student, take all the advice put up on this site and mull it over. There is more horn wisdom in the ranks of trumpet herald that you can ever absorb. Good luck finding the C trumpet that you are looking forward to playing.
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dstpt · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 1287

astadler · Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:47 am Post subject:

Whatever you decide, try before you buy (or buy with a trial period). I love my Yamaha 9445NY (Gen 1), but it's not for everybody. I know plenty of people who play various Bach horns, and they love them and sound great, but I've never found a Bach that was right for me.

For your budget, and if you're willing to be patient, you can get just about any C trumpet. Even the new (Gen 2) Yamaha NY horns can be found (rarely) in the low-mid $3k range. But don't just buy a horn because someone told you to, or because it's a good deal, make sure it is right for you.