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Advice on
purchasing or
renting trumpets.
Many parents are not
sure what to look for when
purchasing or renting a
trumpet for their children. I hope the information on this page
will help you in your search. First of all, the trumpet is a
fairly sturdy instrument and is relatively easy to maintain, BUT there
are
some key attributes of a good trumpet that one needs to be aware of:
The condition of the valves.
Any good trumpet will have valves coated with nickel or any
other anti-corrosive material or else they will RUST. Rusty
valves = useless trumpet. The number one thing you should do is
to check
the valves. Do NOT let any salesman convince you otherwise.
If the condition of the valves are suspect, then please, do not buy the
trumpet.
Beware of cheap trumpets.
The trumpet's
valves are PISTONS - very precisely designed pistons that
need to seal and open tubes to change pitch. If the valves aren't
aligned correctly, the instrument simply doesn't play as
well. Most of these inexpensive trumpets don't take the time to
really align the pistons, presenting an extra challenge for young
trumpet players.
Brass vs. Silver plating. The
general difference between brass and silver plating for trumpets is
sound quality. Some people feel that silver plating gives a
trumpet a 'brighter' sound, while brass plating gives a trumpet a
'warmer' sound. There are always exceptions, and the true test is
to just play different horns to see what you prefer.
How much is a good trumpet?
Brand new student trumpets
range from $500-$800 at the MOST. Intermediate trumpets range from
$600-1000. New, professional models start at $1500 and go
upwards from there. Used student horns can range from
$100-400 and professional horns usually cost $500 and up.
But that's just a guideline. Comparison shop at eBay and
Craigslist on the internet for a better idea of how much trumpets can
cost.
Brand names. Certain
brand names ARE
worth it. These companies have been making horns for a very
long time and they know and care about what they're doing. Names
that I recommend are:
Bach,
Benge, Besson, Blessing,
Conn, Getzen,
Holton, Jupiter,
King, Olds, Schilke,Yamaha.
There are other trumpet
makers of quality, but rarely have I encountered problems with these
listed horn makers. Also, do not fear older horns, as some are better
than horns made today. The metals that were used in some older
trumpets
were of better quality.
Just remember to
check the valves!
Accessories. The
accessories a beginning trumpeter will need are:
- Valve oil- to
maintain the proper lubrication of the valves.
- Cleaning 'snake'-
to clean out the mess that accumulates within the slides of the trumpet.
- Slide
grease/petroleum jelly- to lubricate the slides of the trumpet
Trumpet
cases. Search
for a trumpet case that allows
your child to lay music books FLAT in the case. Lately, the cases
I have seen do not offer any room for music books. I find this to
be a great inconvenience, increasing the likelihood of lost music or
music in poor condition.
Trumpet Maintenance. A
trumpeter will need to oil their valves about once a week. Beware
of the alignment of the valves when you screw the valves back in.
If they are screwed on improperly, valves will not align with the tubes
of the trumpet. The air passages in the trumpet will be blocked
and then no sound will come out. Also, a trumpeter should also
clean out their instrument with a cleaning 'snake' about once a
month. The 'spit' balls that are used to 'clean' the trumpet
could work but often the 'spit ball' gets stuck within the horn.
Usually children press down the valves as they blow through with the
'spitball' , BUT that action causes the 'spitball' to get stuck.
It is far more effective to clean the trumpet with a 'cleaning snake'.
I hope this information was helpful. If there are any more
questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to email me.