Trumpet Brands To Avoid 2023 (Buy These Instead)

There are trumpet brands to avoid in the competitive market today. This is because there are many issues with the quality and sound pitches of the instrument. Choosing the best model is dependent on other additional features such as skill level and experience as well. This guide would help you identify the worst trumpet brands to avoid and the best to choose from. You can also get additional knowledge on the features and types of trumpets that should be considered in the process.

List of Trumpet Brands to Avoid

Here are some of the trumpet brands to avoid based on factors such as build and performance. Depending on the level of skill, if you are a beginner, then you might need to avoid these worst brands altogether.

1. Taylor 

Taylor trumpets might be a good choice for professionally trained players. However, it is a difficult instrument for beginners to start with. Even though salesmen would recommend you to buy this as it’s a good brand, it is better to avoid this. Few reasons make this one of the trumpet brands to avoid.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Heavy and therefore difficult to play
• Uncomfortable hand positions
• Low-quality mouthpiece
• Difficulty in maintaining a pitch

2. Harrelson

This is a popular trumpet brand in the market with a wide range of instruments for all players. However, there is difficulty in producing good sounds from these trumpets. Only professionals can get the best out of these instruments, and therefore, this is one of the worst trumpet brands for beginners.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Poor quality in string segments
• Low-quality sound
• Inferior quality build
• Inconsistent intonation

3. Latzsch

Being a famous brand in the market, they offer custom brass with intriguing designs for their instruments. Even though professionals use this brand, they also face many difficulties with this instrument. So it is really difficult for beginners to perform with this and not a suitable brand to start with. 

Reasons to Avoid:

• Low volume of sound
• Difficult to tune
• Inferior quality of build

Recommended Trumpet Brands

There are many manufacturers of musical instruments in the market today. So finding a proper model from trumpet brands is a challenging task. Knowing the recommended brands would help you in this process.

1. Yamaha (YTR-2330 Standard Bb)

Being in the industry for over 50 years, Yamaha has high standards in the quality of its instruments. They have a wide range of musical instruments and are offered at reasonable prices. Yamaha YTR-2330 trumpet creates a beautiful vibrant sound that is consistent in tone. They are very durable as they use Monel alloy pistons along with innovatively designed piton buttons and bottom caps. It can be played easily as the adjustable third valve trigger helps in the natural hand positioning of the player.

2. Bach (Stradivarius 180S37)

Bach is a brand highly reputed for its quality and especially for Stradivarius 180S37. Users are satisfied with this trumpet as it plays beautiful and clear tones. So it is an ideal choice to play delicate high notes. It creates accurate notes without any deviations. Being manufactured with high-quality brass, it has high durability as well.

3. Jean-Paul USA (TR-430)

This is a versatile brand when compared to other types. Jean-Paul USA offers many musical instruments of good quality. Their high-quality trumpets and all other instruments are offered at affordable prices. This makes this a good selection for beginners who are looking forward to learning music. This model Jean Paul USA TR-430 can create a richer tone and wider range of tones than others. It has a rose brass lead pipe and a third adjustable trigger. Other accessories that come with this are a durable carrying case, gloves, piston oil, 7C mouthpiece, and a cleaning cloth.

Buyer’s Guide

Here are some of the important features that you need to look at in the trumpets. There are also some types of trumpets, and knowing about them is also advantageous.

Bore

This is the inside diameter of the trumpet’s second valve. This is mostly used in the range of 0.458 to 0.460 inches. The larger the bore, the more effort, and power required by the players. So larger bored trumpets are used by professionals, and young players can use an instrument with a small-bore. It also supports a good tone easily.

Mouth pipe

This, also known as the lead pipe, is the tubing that connects the mouthpiece and the main tuning slide. It is made of yellow brass, red brass, or sterling silver, whereas red brass is most suitable for students as it is less corrosive. Yellow brass needs to be cleaned very often. The reversed lead pipe is also desirable as it decreases resistance.

Valves

Valves come in a variety of metals. The nickel-plated pistons are hard, tolerant, and do not need to be cleaned frequently. Therefore, they are mostly found in students’ trumpets. Monel is another popular alloy that is softer than nickel plate but needs frequent cleaning and lubrication. However, it is highly resistant to corrosion and can be used for a long time. You can also find stainless steel valves that are sometimes used in intermediate and professional trumpets. 

Bell

There are also variations in bells depending on the material they are made of. Yellow brass is commonly used for all types, from student to professional trumpets. Rose brass bells add a warmer, darker tone. Silver bells are used in high-end trumpets and are less common. Nickel plate bells are also rare at present. Student and intermediate trumpets have two-piece welded bells, and professional horns are one-piece welded. The sound quality is also affected by the size and taper of the instrument.

Finishes

Trumpets have a clear lacquer finish on the buffed brass surface as the finish. The silver plate might be even better as it is a thinner coating and creates a brighter tone by allowing the metal molecules to vibrate more. Various colors can be used for lacquered nickel plates that are ideal for players who prefer something beyond the traditional appearance.

Types of Trumpets

Trumpets have various types based on different characteristics. Identifying these can help you choose the best of the trumpet family.

• Bb Trumpets: This is the most common type that has a warm tone. It is used in all types of music, such as classical, pop, and jazz. Bb is most common for starters, and there are many written music and instructional material available for this. 
• Bass Trumpets: Bass trumpets are mostly played by trombonists as both these instruments are pitched the same. However, it sounds lower than written.
• C Trumpets: Although C trumpets are not pervasive as Bb type, it is gaining popularity. They are common in orchestras and are being played with the Bb trumpet. It is tuned one tone higher and has a relatively smaller build with a brighter tone.
• E Trumpets: As it is tuned to higher notes, it helps the improvement of accuracy and natural fingerings. It is used as a combination instrument to tune in higher keys and is not so commonly used as Bb, C, or Eb.
• Piccolo Trumpets: Piccolo trumpets are used to play high-pitched parts similar to the ones found in Bach and baroque music. It is tuned to B flat but one octave above the Bb trumpet. It comes with an additional lead pipe that allows the player to tune it down one half-step to A. It also has a fourth valve that extends the range down and increases the versatility.
• Pocket Trumpets: They have extra tight windings of tubes and are easy to be carried. However, they can deliver the same range of tones and are more convenient for practice than the standard trumpets. But they might not be suitable for performing.
• Slide Trumpets: This is not a choice for students, but slide trombone players interested in the lower-pitched instrument.
• Herald Trumpets: The elongated body has the bell far away from the player. This instrument is commonly used in parades and processionals. It can be easily noticed apart from the standard trumpets.
• Eb/ D Trumpets: These trumpets are well-known for their ability to play compositions of the highest registers. The Eb trumpets come with an additional set of slides that help them to be tuned to D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which trumpet brand is the best?

Bach, Yamaha, Kaizer, Getzen, and Jupiter are some of the best brands available in the market. However, individual models need to be researched before purchasing.

How much does a decent trumpet cost?

• Beginner Trumpets: $400 to $1200
• Intermediate Trumpets: $1200 to $2300
• Professional Trumpets: $2400 and up

Why are Bach trumpets so expensive?

These are costly as expensive materials are used and processed a lot to make tight tolerances. Proper care should be taken as musical instruments are highly sensitive to variations in materials and manufacture.

Are silver trumpets better than brass?

Silver trumpets deliver more range than brass. It is also strong in the top range of notes.

Conclusion

Avoiding the worst trumpet brands and choosing from the recommended brands is essential in choosing. However, you also need to know the basic types and differences of these trumpet brands to find the best. So it is necessary to avoid poor quality instruments with inconsistent tones and inferior quality build. Make sure to check these considerations and review online the model you picked before buying.

You can also find other Worst Trombones and Ukulele Brands to Avoid.