Adam's Horn Store and Display
Q: Thank you very much for your informative webpage article on how to buy a trumpet. We spotted a trumpet on Amazon.com and it is a Conductor 200 and was wondering if that would be a good brand to buy. It sounds like a really good deal but could not find out anything about the brand. I am sorry to take up your time but your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
A: I wouldn't buy it. It falls in the category of low-quality chinese imports. A much better technical horn would be a used olds, reynolds, conn, etc. Good luck with the decision, feel free to send me an email with any questions.
Adam
A: I wouldn't buy it. It falls in the category of low-quality chinese imports. A much better technical horn would be a used olds, reynolds, conn, etc. Good luck with the decision, feel free to send me an email with any questions.
Adam
Q: I saw your article “Buying a Beginner Trumpet” and had a couple of specific questions.
Our son is in 5th grade; he has a year of experience playing a Bach T300, which we rented. We returned the instrument when we relocated, since I knew I could buy as good or better quality horn (used) for what I would have paid finishing the rental contract on that (used also) horn ($800+).
His band program is starting at the new school. We have an old cornet he will play until I can get a trumpet. I have been calling music stores and local pawn shops and have found two that I will check out tomorrow. I plan to use your guidelines to check the instruments over. Assuming both instruments check out okay on valves, slides, dents, red rot, and pressure, what is your opinion of each of these horns? Also, after purchase I plan to bring the horn to a local music store for a full checkout and refurbishment, so small dents, etc. wouldn’t be that big a deal.
Getzen Capri, silver, for $399
King Tempo for $129 – I looked around the internet and don’t know which model it is, is there a just plain Tempo or would it be 601, 602, 603, etc. – where would I find that on the horn, and what is the difference?
Thanks for any help you can give –
A: Getzen horns are some of my favorites. The Capri is a good choice. At $399 I would expect it to be in good but not perfect condition without any problems to speak of. Maybe a superficial ding or two.
King has made tempos for a long time, but there is almost always a marking on the horn beyond "tempo." Sometimes it is on the mouthpiece receiver or around the valve block somewhere. I struggle to remember the differences between the 601, 602, 603, 604, etc -- the differences typically come down to things like slide triggers and thumb rings (not something a 5th grader will be thinking too much about). $129 sounds about right for a playable Tempo from a decent source.
If you feel like your son is serious about the instrument and it is in good condition, and you can afford it, I would go with the Getzen. It is a notch above the T300 he used to play.
Hopefully if you are going with a shop they'll have the basics down - meaning the trumpet will actually play and function properly.
Good luck!
Adam
Our son is in 5th grade; he has a year of experience playing a Bach T300, which we rented. We returned the instrument when we relocated, since I knew I could buy as good or better quality horn (used) for what I would have paid finishing the rental contract on that (used also) horn ($800+).
His band program is starting at the new school. We have an old cornet he will play until I can get a trumpet. I have been calling music stores and local pawn shops and have found two that I will check out tomorrow. I plan to use your guidelines to check the instruments over. Assuming both instruments check out okay on valves, slides, dents, red rot, and pressure, what is your opinion of each of these horns? Also, after purchase I plan to bring the horn to a local music store for a full checkout and refurbishment, so small dents, etc. wouldn’t be that big a deal.
Getzen Capri, silver, for $399
King Tempo for $129 – I looked around the internet and don’t know which model it is, is there a just plain Tempo or would it be 601, 602, 603, etc. – where would I find that on the horn, and what is the difference?
Thanks for any help you can give –
A: Getzen horns are some of my favorites. The Capri is a good choice. At $399 I would expect it to be in good but not perfect condition without any problems to speak of. Maybe a superficial ding or two.
King has made tempos for a long time, but there is almost always a marking on the horn beyond "tempo." Sometimes it is on the mouthpiece receiver or around the valve block somewhere. I struggle to remember the differences between the 601, 602, 603, 604, etc -- the differences typically come down to things like slide triggers and thumb rings (not something a 5th grader will be thinking too much about). $129 sounds about right for a playable Tempo from a decent source.
If you feel like your son is serious about the instrument and it is in good condition, and you can afford it, I would go with the Getzen. It is a notch above the T300 he used to play.
Hopefully if you are going with a shop they'll have the basics down - meaning the trumpet will actually play and function properly.
Good luck!
Adam
Q: I found your site online and wondered if you could help answer a question for me! Is there a difference between a King 603 Cornet and a King Tempo II Cornet?
A: Sure. There arent going to be any real differences between the two. They are both rather nice student horns. It is a matter of labeling based on when they were made. Both are probably technically the 603 model, one just has been given the name King Tempo II, probably because it is a later model. You can find out more by researching the serial numbers.
If you are deciding between the two, take the one that is in better condition or if they are the same, choose the cheaper one.
A: Sure. There arent going to be any real differences between the two. They are both rather nice student horns. It is a matter of labeling based on when they were made. Both are probably technically the 603 model, one just has been given the name King Tempo II, probably because it is a later model. You can find out more by researching the serial numbers.
If you are deciding between the two, take the one that is in better condition or if they are the same, choose the cheaper one.
Q: Re: Cleveland Superior by KING Craftsmen Cornet(?) (I'm not sure if it's a cornet. I found the serial number on the second valve casing. 241xxx. I've been told a trumpet, a Flugelhorn, and a Cornet)
I'm having trouble putting in the valves right. The outer casing, that's part of the brass on the instrument, it has the numbers, and on the valves, it has the numbers accordingly. I'm not sure how to put them in, though. (It's a used instrument, so i removed the valves and soaked it in warm water, cleaning the insides out.) Please help. Is there any visual indication of how to put them in?
I have another Question, too. Is the mouthpeice supposed to represent so closely that of a french horn? Also, if i end up being unable to play something as small as this, how much would the cornet, used, clean, with only light dents and and dinks, sell for? Both minimum and maximum, if you could. I don't think i could play it, but who knows? I could get quite good at it some time soon.
I don't think that i can play a brass instrument with a small mouthpeice. I've never been too fond of them, anyway.
A: It is probably a cornet. The Cleveland line were solid horns. I don't think I've ever seen a Cleveland flugelhorn, but I could be wrong. If you begin at the mouthpiece and trace the main pipe to the bell, a trumpet and flugelhorn has just two u-shaped curves whereas a cornet has more (note that i'm excluding the valve slides)
Anyhow, it sounds like you have the valves matched up with the appropriate casings. Start with the third valve and put it in loosely. Gently rotate it until it feels like it clicks and falls into place. On most trumpets, there are two places where the valve falls into place. Unfortunately, only one of these two places is "right." Once the valve feels like it has fallen into place, thread the valve cap and seat the valve. Then push down on the valve and blow. If air passes through it is in right. If it is like blowing against a wall, it is in wrong. Once you get the third valve in, proceed with the second and then the first. You should be able to figure out the pattern of how the valves go in (eg usually there is a number stamped on the valve stem and that number often faces the mouthpiece or the bell)
Sometimes older horns can have bent valves that don't work right. Try not to force anything.
Yes, a cornet mouthpiece and a french horn mouthpiece are very similar, to the point of being nearly interchangeable. However, a french horn mouthpiece is deeper for a more mellow sound at the expense of a reduced high range.
Anyone can play a cornet or trumpet. It takes getting used to (are you coming from the french horn?) but there is no magic and you can do it if you practice.
The Cleveland is a fine horn but it isn't worth a lot. The market for used trumpets and cornets is not that great. On my site, I would sell it for probably $225 and expect it to take two months or so to sell. This is after I spend several hours deep-cleaning it, replacing pads and springs if needed, etc. I would say the value range is $100 - $300, depending on condition.
Adam
I'm having trouble putting in the valves right. The outer casing, that's part of the brass on the instrument, it has the numbers, and on the valves, it has the numbers accordingly. I'm not sure how to put them in, though. (It's a used instrument, so i removed the valves and soaked it in warm water, cleaning the insides out.) Please help. Is there any visual indication of how to put them in?
I have another Question, too. Is the mouthpeice supposed to represent so closely that of a french horn? Also, if i end up being unable to play something as small as this, how much would the cornet, used, clean, with only light dents and and dinks, sell for? Both minimum and maximum, if you could. I don't think i could play it, but who knows? I could get quite good at it some time soon.
I don't think that i can play a brass instrument with a small mouthpeice. I've never been too fond of them, anyway.
A: It is probably a cornet. The Cleveland line were solid horns. I don't think I've ever seen a Cleveland flugelhorn, but I could be wrong. If you begin at the mouthpiece and trace the main pipe to the bell, a trumpet and flugelhorn has just two u-shaped curves whereas a cornet has more (note that i'm excluding the valve slides)
Anyhow, it sounds like you have the valves matched up with the appropriate casings. Start with the third valve and put it in loosely. Gently rotate it until it feels like it clicks and falls into place. On most trumpets, there are two places where the valve falls into place. Unfortunately, only one of these two places is "right." Once the valve feels like it has fallen into place, thread the valve cap and seat the valve. Then push down on the valve and blow. If air passes through it is in right. If it is like blowing against a wall, it is in wrong. Once you get the third valve in, proceed with the second and then the first. You should be able to figure out the pattern of how the valves go in (eg usually there is a number stamped on the valve stem and that number often faces the mouthpiece or the bell)
Sometimes older horns can have bent valves that don't work right. Try not to force anything.
Yes, a cornet mouthpiece and a french horn mouthpiece are very similar, to the point of being nearly interchangeable. However, a french horn mouthpiece is deeper for a more mellow sound at the expense of a reduced high range.
Anyone can play a cornet or trumpet. It takes getting used to (are you coming from the french horn?) but there is no magic and you can do it if you practice.
The Cleveland is a fine horn but it isn't worth a lot. The market for used trumpets and cornets is not that great. On my site, I would sell it for probably $225 and expect it to take two months or so to sell. This is after I spend several hours deep-cleaning it, replacing pads and springs if needed, etc. I would say the value range is $100 - $300, depending on condition.
Adam
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