Student Trumpet Recommendations for Beginners in 2011

Our Recommendations for Student Trumpet Players

All blessing brass insturments and parts are being made in Elkhart, IN. With more and more trumpet parts being outsourced to Asia, you can not be sure of the quality you will be getting from even before reliable manufacturers. The Bach TR300 previously considered the best student-level tumpet is no longer being made (as I know it) only a TR3oo Soloist that is not the same trumpet. Both the Bach TR500 and TR600 are now imports and their quality is such that I do not include them in the trumpets that I recondition. Brands that I recommend and do recondition include: the Bach Omega, Bach TR300, Blessing B125, Blessing B127, Getzen 3980 and Getzen 300 series, Olds Ambassador, Yamaha YTR2320 and YTR2335. And, as an authorized Blessing Dealer, I handle all the new improved “Born in USA” trumpets that I think are the best student trumpets available today.

The Blessing Super Artist model that I played in the 50s still plays today with great tone and smooth, crisp, fast valve action. Blessing was a quality trumpet then and the the new Blessing trumpets being made today are quality trumpets that outplay and out perform other student trumpets made in the USA or imported from Asia.

The best student level trumpet for a new beginner is either one of the New Blessing Trumpets ($ 650-$750) or a reconditioned used Bach TR300 ($350-$450). Both of these trumpets will allow the new student trumpet player to advance according to abilities without limitations posed by the instruments’ quality. Many of the imported trumpets from China or Taiwan restrict the student’s ability to progress in the upper register, and often these foreign trumpets develop sluggish valve action that can be discouraging to a new trumpet player.

If you are a parent of a student trumpet player, and are not sure that your developing musician will stick with it or you simply want to limit your initial cost, then I recommend one of the reconditioned and relacquered Blessing Scholastic Trumpets ($150 -$250). If your student player does continue to advance, I strongly recommend that you upgrade your child’s instrument to a new Blessing 1277 or a reconditioned used Bach TR300 after the first or second year.

Once your advanced student trumpet player has progressed well for 2 or 3 years, and wishes to participate or compete in advanced high school and college music programs, I recommend a new Blessing BTR-ML1 ($1000) or a reconditioned used Bach Omega ($750).

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