My nephew is looking at this trumpet

[WakinAZ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0242409626
What say the TNF(trumpet)J? Good deal or not? Guy looks solid as far as feedback, warranty, etc. Dealer responses with better deals on similar/better equipment welcomed. My nephew is 13 and is working his way up from Yamaha beginner student model; he primarily plays mariachi. I can't deny he has the young people's attraction to "bling".

"Tio" Eric "willing to have him pay a small premium to avoid any headaches" L.

[Chadtuba]

I've had a couple of the TR300 trumpets in my beginning bands and they'be been pretty good horns for the money. My theory is that if the student is proud of their horn they will most likely practice/play more, which in the long run can only be a good thing !

[Onebaplayer]

If his primary playing style is mariachi and he is looking for a step up from a yamaha beginner trumpet, a 60s conn constellation is a great trumpet for that purpose. I believe on the 'bling' side of things it has the same look as this horn, except it is nickel with gold accents. These trumpets are well known for being good mariachi horns, as well as being built very solidly. I bought (and later sold) a 1960 connstellation in very good shape with good compression for only slightly more than this auction wants for a beginner model bach. In terms of being a step up, they have a lever for the first slide and a standard kicker for the 3rd slide. The thing that makes them ideal for mariachi is their 'small bore, large bell' design.

I'm in no way saying this horn you posted is a bad trumpet. However, if he is looking for a step up from a beginner trumpet, this is likely not it. From my experience in the mariachi world (I live in a pretty 'happening' area for that style), small bore, large bell is the way to go. The Conn Connstellation from the 1960s can be found relatively cheap, also some more modern copies have been produced in the last few years, though they are significantly more expensive.

As with any instrument purchase, I'd run it by the guys that you (and he) trust. It may be that these TR300's are amazing for mariachi. My knowledge of them is limited to my time spent with them either in the music store selling them, or in front of 10 6th graders trying to get a sound out for the first time. My perspective of them for your specific style is limited.

[tbn.al]

Having owned one of these I cannot reccomend paying $500 for one. It's an OK student horn that looks nicer than it plays. I bought mine for $150 and sold it for $150. A fine mariachi trumpet is the Olds Mendez model, which was designed for that purpose, but a Conn Director has virtually the same playing characteristics for a lot less coin. Most 13's are after the looks anyway because their playing hasn't matured to the point where anything else matters. However, your nephew may be the exception.

[rocksanddirt]

hard to say.

I'm not a fan of a step up horn without playing it.

[J Stowe]

You are more than welcome to take this with a grain of salt, but when I was in high school (6+ years ago) my uncle mentioned that he could find a good bach strad for $500. With that being said, if you or his parents are willing to spend the money, I don't think it'd hurt to go ahead and buy him a professional model instrument that he will have a much better sound on immediately (I know, arguable) which in turn will encourage him to practice more. Success is always motivational.

Oh, this director (my uncle) was in Georgia, and I think he would have gotten it through Draisen's music. If you'd like any contacts, pm me and I'd be more than happy to try to help out.

*Eek, edit - sorry, didn't read your post thoroughly and wasn't meaning to step on your toes, bloke.

[tbn.al]

[quote="J Stowe"]

Oh, this director (my uncle) was in Georgia, and I think he would have gotten it through Draisen's music. If you'd like any contacts, pm me and I'd be more than happy to try to help out.

quote]

The Strad at Draisen Edwards was probably the demo dog that hung on the wall for about 5 years that they couldn't sell. Wrong, they sold it several times but it kept coming back. It was horrible. I would take it to the practice room a couple of times a year hoping to get happy with it and have to hang it back up on the wall. The tech there and at the main store both tried to line it out to no avail. It was just a dog of a trumpet. Goes to show, name ain't everything, every time.

[Tubaryan12]

Even though you didn't mean to step on my toes (and did not step on my toes), I'm reporting your post to the administrator and adding you to my "foes" list.

Please change your sig to reflect this change: 423 to 424

[J Stowe]

The Strad at Draisen Edwards was probably the demo dog that hung on the wall for about 5 years that they couldn't sell.

This is a perfect example of this usefulness of this forum. I'm glad you clarified that; cheaper doesn't always mean a good deal, either.

[WakinAZ]

OK, so I guess the preference would be for something you could pick up used for about $500, silver (preferably with gold accents), a true "step-up" from a student model, and relatively recent vintage name brand that will hold most of its value. Asking too much? Let's not worry about one optimized for mariachi at this point.

Eric "feeling more confused at this point" L.

[WakinAZ]

Thanks all for the input. Nothing against your horn, Joe, I just know the prejudices I'm dealing with in this situation - if that company made a tuba, I'd probably buy it.

Eric "who should not have gotten involved" L.

[WakinAZ]

OK, I talked him out of the pimpin' gold, so the revised criteria are:
1) Intermediate/step-up
2) Silver plate
3) Relatively recent vintage used horn
4) Brand name that will hold most of its value
5) $500 budget

Thanks again, boy is this trumpit stuff confuzin to a dum tooba plaiyer

[tbn.al]

This is probably as good as it is going to get.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bach-Stradivarius-M ... dZViewItem" target="_blank" target="_blank

I've done business with Quinn before. He's one of the good guys.

[mclaugh]

Dillon always has a lot of used trumpets, some of which would meet your nephew's criteria.

[sungfw]

I've done business with Quinn before. He's one of the good guys.

Quinn is one of the good guys, however, his starting prices tend to be toward the upper end of what the market will bear, and his horns are typically good, but not outstanding, examples of their breed. That said, his listings do appear to represent the condition of the horns accurately, and he does sell a significant number of horns at the "buy it now" price.

[WakinAZ]

I recently dealt with Quinn and am neutral on how good he is. I got my money back after I reminded him that he got paid the day I won the auction, and I expected to be refunded within a day or so of when he received the returned horn.

Also my return would not have been necessary if he had more accurately described the tuba - beware of the B&S rotary BBb (old 3101/PT-1) he keeps listing, there is something wonky with the fourth valve (leak, obstruction) and overall the valves are so-so.

Eric "$400 lesson in the form of shipping fees" L.

[Tubaing]

OK, I talked him out of the pimpin' gold, so the revised criteria are:
1) Intermediate/step-up
2) Silver plate
3) Relatively recent vintage used horn
4) Brand name that will hold most of its value
5) $500 budget

Would he consider a cornet, because this looks like a very good deal
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bach-Mdl-37-Bb-Corn ... dZViewItem

[WakinAZ]

He plays mariachi, which requires the brighter sound of a trumpet. Thanks, though.

Eric

[MaryAnn]

Not really on topic, but someone said that the Olds Mendez is a Mariachi trumpet. I disagree...it is a jazz trumpet. (I have one.) It could certainly be used for Mariachi if he wanted, but Mendez trumpets are way out of your price range, going for around $1200 now on the auction site.

MA

[WakinAZ]

Duly noted on both points, MA. I'm probably just going to take him down to The Chicago Store and see what picks him. I have a pretty good relationship with the manager down there since I've bought a couple of tubas from him.

Eric