A question trumpet teachers get asked all the time is: What is the best student trumpet for a beginner trumpet player? With so many makes and models out there, beginning players – or their parents – have a lot of options to choose from. How can you be sure the trumpet you pick up is a good trumpet?
Our Picks Of The Top 5 Best Student Trumpets
Here’s a list of some good quality student trumpets to get any aspiring trumpeter started.
1. Jupiter JTR 700
The Jupiter JTR700* is comfortable beginner trumpet for a high school student or any other beginner. It’s free-blowing with responsive valves and it’s a robust instrument to boot.
Jupiter are well-known for the 700 line of student trumpets, although they also make the Jupiter 1100, which is an intermediate trumpet. They are a trusted trumpet brand.
This is where the Jupiter 700 shines:
- It is well built.
- The valves are free and fast.
- It’s robust.
- Good sound quality.
The Jupiter 700 has a thumb saddle and the finger ring is adjustable, which means it’s easy to play for smaller or bigger hands.
2. Yamaha YTR-2330
The Yamaha YTR-2330 is a student trumpet by another big player in the trumpet space. Yamaha make trumpets of all ranges, but the YTR-2330 is their popular student model.
It comes with monel valves (which are very sturdy and smooth) and the instrument itself is very light, so a bit easier to play for kids.
The third valve slide is easy to adjust, and it comes with a stop that prevents it from falling out, which is again a nice feature for younger players who can be less attentive.
So the features of the Yamaha YTR-2330 are:
- Good build quality
- Lightweight
- Durable and smooth monel valves
- Pleasant bright sound
3. Bach TR-300
The American-made Bach TR-300* is from another very respected trumpet brand. Bach are famous for their Bach Stradivarius, a series of excellent professional instruments. The TR-300 is the more affordable beginner model.
Here are the features of the Bach TR300:
- Great sound quality
- Sturdy and robust
- Responsive valves
4. Olds Ambassador
The Olds Ambassador was already one of the best student trumpets in the 1950ies, as it is a trumpet that isn’t manufactured anymore. Olds used to produce it until the 1970ies and it was targeted at students and beginning players.
So while you can’t buy it new anymore, it is a trumpet you can get very cheaply used on eBay, or from sellers such as Sam Ash if you’re apprehensive about buying on eBay.
5. Jean Paul TR430
The Jean Paul TR-430* trumpet is made in China and sold by an American company called Jean Paul. It makes for an excellent student trumpet at a very low price point.
Usually we do NOT recommend buying cheap Chinese trumpets, but with Jean Paul the case is a little different. They’re a US-based family business who import the trumpets from China, but then test all trumpets for functionality.
So when you order a Jean Paul trumpet, you know the instrument works and has no defects, and you get a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty, so if you notice any defects or something breaks, you can get your instrument replaced with a new one.
As far as the trumpet features are concerned, the TR-430 has:
- Good quality instrument
- Smooth, free valves
- Loose, easy-going tuning slide
The Jean Paul TR-430 is a solid choice, and we do recommend it as the best beginner trumpet if you’re looking for a budget option.
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What To Look For In A Student Trumpet
Now that we’ve told you our top 5 student trumpets, let’s discuss what to look out for in a student trumpet.
1. Build Quality
To clarify: Student trumpets are not professional instruments. This means they are not going to be the highest quality instruments, which is why you will get them for a lot less money than a professional instrument like a Back Stradivarius or a Yamaha Xeno*.
However, you want decent build quality to enjoy playing. Playing the trumpet should be easy and learning therefore enjoyable. This means you need to make sure the valves are easy to press and don’t get stuck, and the instrument is free-blowing and has decent sound.
2. Price
If you’re buying a student trumpet, the price is likely a limiting factor for you. If it isn’t, you might look at an intermediate trumpet instead. They are not that much harder to play for a beginner and can serve you for a long time.
The best way to ensure you get a quality instrument when you’re buying a cheap trumpet is to stick to good trumpet brands and avoid buying cheap Chinese imports.
So if price is a factor for you, pick the cheapest one of any of the trumpets listed above (likely the Jean Paul new, or a used Olds Ambassador) and you will be good to go. All the listed student trumpets are highly recommended. Alternatively, consider buying used or renting instead.
What is the difference between a student trumpet and an intermediate trumpet?
Student trumpets play well in a smaller range than intermediate or professional trumpets and take less air to make playing easier for the beginner. They are also built to withstand more abuse without getting damaged, and balance quality against price to make them more affordable.
How Much Should I Spend On A Trumpet?
As a rough guideline, good beginner trumpets, if bought new, cost between $400 and $1000. Intermediate trumpets start at $1000 and go up to $2000. Professional trumpets start at $2000 and can go up to $5000 or more.
If you are a total beginner and you don’t know if you’ll stick with the instrument, go cheap and get a used Olds Ambassador or a Jean Paul TR-430. You won’t find a better instrument for less money, and if you buy a cheaper Chinese trumpet, you run the risk getting frustrated with a poor instrument before you get to really start.
If you know you’ll want to stick with playing the trumpet in the long run, get an intermediate trumpet that will still be good enough in a few years when your range has expanded.
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