Calling all trumpet players!

[fropiler]

My wife just informed me that our 9 year old son is inclined to play the trumpet. She just left Schmitt Music with a nice $900.00 used trumpet!!!

I think she's been taken to the cleaners, but didn't want to be a wet towel. Can anyone give me an idea of what a decent trumpet should sell for?

Thanks,
Ed

[reyneman]

There are trumpets that sell in the $1500 - $2000 range new, but why would you invest that amount in a trumpet for a 9yo?

For a few ideas, go to musiciansfriend.com and see what's available- you may find an acceptable model in the $250 - $350 range new.

[fropiler]

Originally Posted by reyneman

There are trumpets that sell in the $1500 - $2000 range new, but why would you invest that amount in a trumpet for a 9yo?

For a few ideas, go to musiciansfriend.com and see what's available- you may find an acceptable model in the $250 - $350 range new.

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have the details about the trumpet yet, but it is on a 6 month trial period for $30.00 a month - I suspect it WILL be going back.

[Fisherdude]

My daughter has turned out to be an amazing trumpet player. When she first started in elementary school, I gave her my old one from the basement. Blew out the spiders first!

There are three levels of trumpets, beginner, intermediate, and professional. Beginner trumpets run under $500, MSRP, new. Keep in mind that the "normal" retail price, internet-based, of course, runs around 60% of retail. Intermediate horns are around $1,500 MSRP, and professional level are in the $2,500 range.

When it was clear that she wasn't going to just abandon it, and in fact she was practicing every day, without any nagging!!, we moved her up to an intermediate level horn when she started high school. This one was a Getzen Eterna 700. This had an MSRP of around $1,600, and we paid $800 at the local music store, which has excellent prices.

After a few years she continued to improve, and now she is in the top-level band at her school. Just to give you an idea, she's 16 and goes to Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL. This school just won the 2005 Grammy Signature School Award (yes, it's actually a real Grammy!!) for being the number one high school in the US for music education. She's also in the Protege Philharmonic Orchestra in Chicago, an orchestra for gifted high school students. Her teacher is a former professor of trumpet from Benedictine University, and is the current first trumpet and director of personnel at the Rockford, IL, Symphony Orchestra. I was just enough of a hacker when I was young to realize just how good she is. She just blows me away every time I hear her play.

She currently has two (!) Bach Stradivarius professional trumpets, one in B-flat, and one in C. These are the same model that most professional musicians would use in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, etc. These have an MSRP of around $2,600, and are available on the internet in the $1,550-$1,800 range. Grandma and Grandpa helped!

The point I'm trying to make is that she's not a beginner, and she has demonstrated, over a period of many years, that she's dedicated and committed to playing the trumpet. She started in 5th grade, and will be a junior in high school next year. If she hadn't shown this committment, I would never have moved her past a beginner's trumpet. (or my junker from the basement!)

If your wife paid $600 used, I would expect that this was, at least, a good intermediate level horn. If not, you got took. Tell me the make and model, which should be on the bell. I can tell you what level of trumpet it is, and approximately what it sold for new.

Here's a good starting point:

http://www.wwbw.com/Brass-d13.music

Keep me posted!
Clay

[fropiler]

Originally Posted by Fisherdude

My daughter has turned out to be an amazing trumpet player. When she first started in elementary school, I gave her my old one from the basement. Blew out the spiders first!

There are three levels of trumpets, beginner, intermediate, and professional. Beginner trumpets run under $500, MSRP, new. Keep in mind that the "normal" retail price, internet-based, of course, runs around 60% of retail. Intermediate horns are around $1,500 MSRP, and professional level are in the $2,500 range.

When it was clear that she wasn't going to just abandon it, and in fact she was practicing every day, without any nagging!!, we moved her up to an intermediate level horn when she started high school. This one was a Getzen Eterna 700. This had an MSRP of around $1,600, and we paid $800 at the local music store, which has excellent prices.

After a few years she continued to improve, and now she is in the top-level band at her school. Just to give you an idea, she's 16 and goes to Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL. This school just won the 2005 Grammy Signature School Award (yes, it's actually a real Grammy!!) for being the number one high school in the US for music education. She's also in the Protege Philharmonic Orchestra in Chicago, an orchestra for gifted high school students. Her teacher is a former professor of trumpet from Benedictine University, and is the current first trumpet and director of personnel at the Rockford, IL, Symphony Orchestra. I was just enough of a hacker when I was young to realize just how good she is. She just blows me away every time I hear her play.

She currently has two (!) Bach Stradivarius professional trumpets, one in B-flat, and one in C. These are the same model that most professional musicians would use in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, etc. These have an MSRP of around $2,600, and are available on the internet in the $1,550-$1,800 range. Grandma and Grandpa helped!

The point I'm trying to make is that she's not a beginner, and she has demonstrated, over a period of many years, that she's dedicated and committed to playing the trumpet. She started in 5th grade, and will be a junior in high school next year. If she hadn't shown this committment, I would never have moved her past a beginner's trumpet. (or my junker from the basement!)

If your wife paid $600 used, I would expect that this was, at least, a good intermediate level horn. If not, you got took. Tell me the make and model, which should be on the bell. I can tell you what level of trumpet it is, and approximately what it sold for new.

Here's a good starting point:

http://www.wwbw.com/Brass-d13.music

Keep me posted!
Clay

Clay,
The trumpet in question is a Holton model T602. The actual purchase price on the contract is $925.00. Schmitt Music says it is classified as a "Student Horn".

The good news is that we're only out the monthy payment if the horn goes back. (and it WILL be going back) Based on what you and others have said, this amount is at least twice what we should be paying for a beginners horn. Thanks for your input!
Ed

[Filmboydoug]

Ed, I bought myself a T-602 on ebay last year with a tiy bit of cosmetic damage for $140. Heres a new one on eBay now...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7340114873

[Fisherdude]

The Holton T-602 is $990 NEW. $900 used is way too much.

http://www.wwbw.com/Holton-T602-Stud...t-i43369.music

Watch the auction above...you might get very lucky!