Decent bass trumpet

[Rwwilson]

I play in a trumpet quintet and we often use a borrowed bass trumpet. Unfortunately the owner wants it back so we are looking for a replacement without breaking the bank. Mostly what we find for sale are Chinese horns with suspect quality. Any suggestions.

[chef8489]

[Brassnose]

I’m not a pro, so take it with a grain of salt. Bought a bass trumpet about 5 or 6 years ago just because and also because I had read about Cy Touff already in the 1980s.

This is what I played until about early this year: https://www.schillerinstruments.com/store/elite-frankfurt-rotary-bass-c-trumpet-gold-lacquer/

(The picture is wrong, this is the Bb model, but there is also a C model. I had the Bb model pictured).

I don’t think a pro would use it because the valves, the sound, and the intonation are just OK, low C# and D are way out of tune and high Ab and A were extremely hard to get to speak. In spite of this it allowed me to play in a brass group and so on. Showing it to my tech, he was confident that these issues could be fixed but I eventually sold it because it is somewhat front heavy and I do have issues with my left hand holding it.

Now, I still wanted to have the bass voice and I really like the sound, so I ended up with a british baritone horn. Has a very similar sound pattern and does not have the long-lever effect. Only three valves but for what I play this is fine. Again it’s not a very good one but one day I’ll have a good one
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2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
196x/7x Hüttl Silver Colibri 69
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance/Klier/Curry

[J.D. Heckathorn]

[JonathanM]

I've had two of the Getzen model (here's one for $1500 at Reverb. Looks like he added a first slide pull - not a bad idea for the Db) and thought they were well put together. Can't say the same for my chops when attached to that big mouthpiece.

I notice there's also a Strad Bass Trumpet just added to the Marketplace today. I haven't tried one of those though.
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Jonathan Milam
Trumpets: Mt Vernon Strad, 18043B w/ Blackburn leadpipe, 180L25, 180M38, Benge 4x, P Mauriat 75TLB, Olds: '34 Symphony, '47 Super, '48 Standard, '52 Recording
Puje: American Belle

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

The easy answer is a baritone horn.
Why not?
"'cuz it isn't a trumpet?" (lame answer)
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Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[huntman10]

I have had a couple of Strad bass trumpets over the years, and a couple of Getzens, and a Chinese bass. I was lucky enough to use my first Strad bass to play the 4th part in Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" back in the early 90's for a local symphony orchestra. I was excited to get the gig, and I honestly think the Strad was the only model that had the "right sound" (true bass trumpet, not a valve trombone). But I was also glad I had my "day job".

I had repairmen modify both the Strads by adding a finger ring and slide stop to the clean out slide the Bach had beside the third slide to adjust those pesky third valve combinations

I digress, though. Be aware that Getzen made both a 300 model and an Eterna model (which is my present bass trumpet.). The Eterna is superior in sound and intonation to all the basz trumpets I have tried, except the Strad.

As a side note, I once got a very interesting King "trombonium" (basically a trombone bell married to an upright smaller bore valve set (over the shoulder) at a music store auction. I used that one season when a municipal concert band couldn't recruit trombone players, and we wound up playing show tunes with about 10 or so people. I found it to play a lot like the bass trumpet (still sounded trombony, and 3rd valve combinations were trickey).

Conn also made some, except the end of the Conn bell was turned forward. Look up "Trombonium" on eBay.
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huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc.

[cheiden]

I have only second-hand experience with the company but I do see that Wessex does offer a bass trumpet for surprisingly little money.
https://us.wessex-tubas.com/products/bb-bass-trumpet-piston-valve-bt1
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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

[poketrum]

I owned a Getzen 300 Bb bass trumpet and wasn’t impressed. Very stuffy. Poor build quality.

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

I had a couple Eb/F Getzen "Frumpets". Not impressive.

Also, anyone remember those Conn Mellophoniums used in Stan Kenton's band? I'm not certain in what key they were pitched.

I believe that Scodwell dude that posts around here may have been in that band at one time.
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Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[cheiden]

[ProAm]

I own a Bach bass trumpet, very similar to the one listed in the marketplace. It is the only bass trumpet I have played; I got it just to fiddle with a few years ago.

It is fun but, unless you really need a bass trumpet for a particular reason (orchestra part or trumpet ensemble), a euphonium is easier and more fun to play (I have an older Yamaha YEP-642).

For what it is worth, I think the one in the marketplace is fairly priced based on what I paid. Were I to sell mine I would want to get pretty close to that. The Bach bass trumpet is a specialty instrument and not that common.

I think I have read that Alexander (known for their horns) makes what is considered one of the best, orchestral bass trumpets. It has 4 valves and is pitched in C though Bb is also available. Many thousands of dollars.

[poketrum]

A three compensating valve British baritone might be a good solution. A used Besson/Boosey or Wessex, which has received good reviews on the Werden forum.

[Rwwilson]

Thanks for all of the feedback. We were specifically looking for a bass trumpet because we call ourselves “Zoo Town Trumpets”. While it would fit the bill musically, an American baritone, British baritone or euphonium just doesn’t look like a trumpet. We have now broadened our search to marching horns because they look like trumpets and are more available.

[nieuwguyski]

https://shop.schmittmusic.com/lake-city-415-flugabone/
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J. Notso Nieuwguyski

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

[cgaiii]

Without breaking the bank is difficult criterion for a good bass trumpet. However, it really depends on what you want.
Are you really interested in playing the low range of the bass trumpet, or are you just going to utilize the upper and mid-ranges (above low D)?
If you are using only the upper range, then a lot of the bass trumpets will suit. I started with a Mac Brass bass trumpet (Chinese make with some curation and testing as I understand it, mentioned above as one of the better ones), cheap. Really poor intonation down at the bottom and very difficult to play some notes. I tried a Getzen, essentially the same problems with better quality horn. I suspect the Bach (of which both of these are really knockoffs) would be similar. Others have mentioned the small bore.
If you want to use the bottom of the horn extensively, you need a better horn.
I now have a BAC bass trumpet. Not cheap, but I got a great deal on it during the pandemic. It was made for me in their custom shop. The whole range, pedals and all is easily playable and it is fun to play. It plays well, blends well and allows you to color the sound like most good horns. Have to admit that I am still growing into it after playing the very limiting Mac Brass horn. Like most good instruments, you have to up your game to get everything out of it. It was all made in-house by BAC except the valve block. That could be better, but they tweaked it so it is pretty good. I think I could have spent more and gotten a different block, but this one works fine and it was pandemic times. Mine has a copper bell, a trigger for the third valve slide and some other things I wanted that make it better for me. I am sure they will make one for you if you really want it. I worked with Kevin Stiles, but I am not sure he is still there
Before I got this horn I looked for used European models, but they were always much more expensive and used hard to get. There are a few that seem to be quite usable.
So, the Mac Brass and similar are fine for some types of playing. The Mack brass horn has a nice sound, is very stable in the middle of the range. I might be willing to part with my Mac Brass horn, so if you are interested, PM me. Perhaps a better player could make more of this horn. (That is always a possibility <grin>.)

Here is Reggie Chapman talking about the prototype that developed into the BAC horn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNz8QzkuFmg

Here is a photo of mine:

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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

[Stradbrother]

The Holton bass trumpet is by far my favorite.

It has a true characteristic bass trumpet sound. Many bass trumpets sound a lot more like a marching euphonium or baritone than a bass trumpet.

With the Holton, you get a sound that sounds more halfway between a trombone and trumpet instead of just sounding like a trombone.

Holtons are also typically on the cheaper side.
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Getzen 3051 Custom
Kanstul California 101
XO 1624 C
Bach 183 Flugelhorn
Bach LB 229 Eb/D Long Bell
Bach 184 Cornet
Kanstul 920

[HaveTrumpetWillTravel]

If you're considering marching instrument, a marching baritone or marching trombone/flugabone is a good option. They may still be pitchy, but could be had on the cheap and are good enough (obviously) for marching bands.

On bass trumpets, I have been curious about the four valve rotary bass trumpet that sells on alibaba for around $650. That looked like it had the potential to be a better instrument, but I don't know.

[Brassnose]

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/b-bb-basstrompete-bass-trompete-josef-lidl-perinet-ventile/2550644852-74-3887?utm_source=copyToPasteboard&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_medium=social&utm_content=app_ios
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
196x/7x Hüttl Silver Colibri 69
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance/Klier/Curry