Trumpet Brands

I’ve played a great many trumpet brands or makes. There are very few I have not played. I have NEVER found a horn that was perfect for everything. I’ve found horns that I disliked. I’ve found horns that were ok. And I’ve found horns that I liked. But nothing that I felt blew away all other horns in every aspect of playing. Meaning it could be a perfect lead horn, Symphonic horn, ballad horn…

I’ve played quick (more responsive) horns that I felt were lacking in tonal qualities. I’ve played horns with great lower registers that I felt were tight in the upper register. I’ve played horns with great valve action.

It is just a horn. If you worked your rump off playing the entire Arban, Clarke, Schlossberg & Williams books then you would sound good while playing a kazoo. ALL horn sales are 90% hype. That’s why they have artist endorsements. I played a new horn at a store when I was in Dallas. I took it to the salesman and showed him that the valve alignment was off, and it had solder blobs in the slides. He told me that it was fine and nobody else had complained. He then put it back in the sales cabinet. Not all salesmen are equal.

I play a Flip Oakes Wild Thing, a Harrelson Summit and an Adams Symphonic model A7.

The horns below are some really good trumpets. Some are GREAT but more expensive.

ACB (Austin Custom Brass. Trent has these designs made by several different trumpet makers based on what the horn was based on before tweaks.)

Austin Custom Brass Store

Adams

Driven by sound | Together in Music | Adams Music

AR Resonance

AR Resonance Mouthpieces and Trumpets

Austin Winds

Austin Winds | Pro Custom Trumpets Flugelhorns Heavy Mass Mouthpieces

B.A.C.

Student & Professional Trumpets for All Musicians — B.A.C. Musical Instruments