Stepping up from a student horn

[benwinkler]

In the last year I got back in to playing with a Yamaha 2330 after 33 years away. It certainly plays way better than the beater bargain basement Bundy I had in grade school. I enjoy playing (easy) jazz, swing and big band. I would like to get a "pro-level" horn and am looking for an "all-around" horn. Yes, I recognize that there isn't one single horn that is going to do it all very well but I don't have reason to own more than a single horn. I have read good things about the valves on Getzen trumpets and have been considering an Eterna 900 or 907 Proteus. The price is certainly more appealing than others that I have looked at such as the Bach 18037. I'm not opposed to spending more if there's a good argument to do so.

I would love to get some ideas about this horn- maybe what you would buy if you could have only one horn between $1800-$3500.

I appreciate all of your experience and your responses.
_________________
Best Regards,
Ben Winkler

[Brassnose]

Don’t overthink it. A good standard horn like a Bach, Yamaha, (fill in many other brands new or used here) will do. I could have easily spent my entire amateur career on the Bach in my signature. I’ve played orchestra, soul, funk, pop, trio, quartet, big band, … with it and no one ever complained about the trumpet. At times I did in fact play funk music with my rotary, again no complaints.

Would I need the rotary or the cornet? Not really, but it’s fun to have a little choice and change and I just really love my Schmidt horn. Overall, as long as your instrument is in good technical shape, I have come to the conclusion that horn choices are much more about personal preference than anything else. Maybe not what you wanted but there you have it
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[kehaulani]

There are tons of horns that fit into this category so, instead of trying to list them all, here are a few of my favourites.

The Benge 3X was patterned after the French Besson, the quintessential trumpet of its time. Very versatile and they can be had for around $1,500.00, used.

An alternate could be the Getzen Severinsen Eterna. I played from classical to soul band, professionally. I would not play it in a professional symphony, but neither would you I suppose. But for anything else, no problem. Around $1,500.00, used.

If you want a nice, shiny horn with warranty, the Getzen Eterna Classic is just about the same as the Severinsen. Around $2,500.00, new.
_________________
"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

[Dayton]

[kehaulani]

I want to say a word about choosing a horn based on the reliability of Getzen's valves. I'm, frankly, tired of reading about Getzen valves being the Gold Standard as a trite, go-to comment.

Don't get me wrong. I've had several Getzens and have never had a problem with the valves. But, by the same token, I have had Committees, King, Schilkes, Bachs, Conns, Selmer and have never had a valve problem with any of them, either.

So, buy the horn that is in good condition, makes you feel good and does what you need it to do.
_________________
"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

[trickg]

It’s too bad that Kanstul is a thing of the past. They had a lot of really solid choices. Anymore it seems like it’s mostly boiled down to a couple of main options for the pro-level do-everything trumpet:

Bach Strad
Yamaha Xeno

At least those seem to be the default suggestions.
_________________
Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP

[Brassnose]

Coming back with a second comment: I agree with kehaulani comment on the Getzen valves. I did have a Getzen Eterna C a while back and while the valves were good, I did not feel they were any better than those on the Bach or even my Holton Collegiate cornet. The choice is quality vs. not-so-much quality and any modern manufacturer with good processes and quality control will deliver good valves. Which ones you like best (if any) is again a question of personal taste.

Trickg pretty much confirmed what I said before about target brands but looking at your budget again (and depending on where you live): 3500 bucks will also (almost) buy a Thane, a Del Quadro, or a bunch of other custom horns. Alternatives that get good reviews as well are Carol Brass or the new Jupiter lineup. Personally I’d go used (re: ACB, Dillon, Centex, Horn Stash, Beverly Music, Baltimore Brass, Thompson Music, Del Quadros used horns would be interesting to me if I were in North America) but I’m not you.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[ldwoods]

[Bethmike]

[benwinkler]

Thank you everyone for your insights!
_________________
Best Regards,
Ben Winkler

[TwinCitiesTrumpets]

Hey Ben,

I sent you a PM with a recommendation.

- Luke
_________________
Luke Baker
Twin Cities Trumpets, LLC
www.TwinCitiesTrumpets.com
Authorized Dealer of CarolBrass Instruments

CarolBrass CTR-6280L-GSS Bb trumpet
Kanstul French Besson Classic Bb trumpet

[kehaulani]

I could have overlooked it but did the OP give a price range?
_________________
"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

[ldwoods]

Yes, he did. He wrote:
I would love to get some ideas about this horn- maybe what you would buy if you could have only one horn between $1800-$3500.

You can buy good used Schilkes all day long in the lower part of that range.
_________________
Larry Woods
LDWoods

[kehaulani]