The Best Trumpets on Amazon Right Now

As a staple of baritone and concertos, the trumpet is one of the most versatile and important instruments in the orchestra. Its tone range encompasses everything from deep and dark, to bright and vibrant. A great trumpet can fill a room, create a mood, or just add a touch of pizzazz to an ensemble. From beginner students who need a little guidance to advanced players looking to take on the world, here are some of our favorites.

Tips for Buying a Trumpet

It is important to know the difference between the various materials used in the making of trumpets. Musical trumpeters should know that some of the materials may react negatively to certain sounds or even result in failure to sound. Remember that a musical trumpet needs to be tuned to its notes before you play it. You might have to tune your trumpet yourself, but that is not a difficult task. It is easier to just tune it by ear. Some manufactures will give you a suggested range of notes for which they recommend a particular trumpet. While this is useful, it is also important that you know what the notes on the recommended range mean. Depending on what you intend to play, that might not be an issue. The materials in a trumpet are not the only factors that impact sound quality. This is where a little knowledge can go a long way.

Important Considerations to Make When Buying a Trumpet

Get a Good Trumpet Case

This is the most important part of the trumpet case because it contains the case and the mouthpiece. The case should be rugged and hard-wearing so that the instrument can live through years of tough, weather-worn playing. Consider a molded polycarbonate case if you want a heavy-duty case. A hardwood case will offer more flex and give you a more comfortable grip. You can find some trumpet cases made of nylon, but we recommend a hard plastic case instead. Some manufacturers have gone to the extreme of creating acoustic-only trumpet models — trumpets that don’t feature a mouth piece or have a case at all. These models often have very thin necks, so they‘re designed to be used only with amplification. For the best overall sound quality, we suggest you get a model that has a horn and case, even if that means paying a bit more upfront.

Trumpet Tuners

A trumpet tuner is a small device that sits inside the brass case, allowing you to quickly and easily change the pitch of any instrument. They're often referred to as “tone controllers" because you can quickly raise or lower the tunable button. This feature is especially useful if multiple players are using the same trumpet.

Price Considerations

Trumpet prices start around $20 and go up to around about $1200, depending on construction and tonewood. If you’re just starting out, you can find some decent beginner models, all for about the same price. Many of these models have plastic bodies and heads that are a little bit rough around the edges, but they may still be the best choice for a beginner. $400 to $500 is where you start to find professional-grade trumpet models. These models often have nickel-plated brass bodies, which are more durable and easier to maintain. A beginner or intermediate player can often get away with a $200 to $300 entry-level trumpet. You'll likely find a few basic student models in this price range, as well.

How We Chose Our List of the Best Trumpets

Trumpets are complex instruments with a wide range of features and options, and to bring you a comprehensive buying guide, we used the following criteria to narrow down the best trumpets available.

Reviews

After conducting a lot of research, our team identified the top rated trumpet products from around the net. These products had been used by professionals to play exceptional performances and also had positive customer feedback.

Price

When it comes to instrument prices, it is obvious that quality is of the utmost importance. In selecting a trumpet, you definitely want to get the right instrument that will not only give you great pleasure but also last you for many years to come.

Brand

To know a brand is to know its history, which is also true of trumpets. The brands listed in this article have a proven track record of manufacturing top quality trumpets.

Features to Look For in Trumpets Before Choosing the Perfect Trumpet for You

Size

The size of your trumpet depends on several factors including the size and weight of you and your band. A medium sized trumpet will be easy to handle but may not be the most suitable for high-intensity music. On the other hand, a large trumpet may be too large for a smaller band, but it may also be cumbersome to carry around. If you need a larger trumpet, consider getting one that you can easily carry on stage, as a medium-sized trumpet won't have enough power to support the volume you'll need to generate.

Materials

You can either get a wood trumpet or a metal trumpet and both have their advantages and disadvantages. You may prefer the metal trumpeting over the wood, mostly because of its durability. However, wooden trumpets are heavier and not as easy for smaller bands to control. Conversely, metal is lighter and easier to transport, however, they aren't as durable as wood. Trumpets are usually made of wood or metal. Each material has its own advantages, so it's best to check out the difference between the two before making a final decision.

Weight

Trumpeting can be a very hard task if you lack the necessary weight. Depending on the music you want the trumpet to be used for, the weight you get is very important. To make the selection process easier for both you as well as your audience, look out for trumpets with lightweight bodies that won’t weigh you down.

Final Thoughts

When you are buying a trumpet, there are a few questions you will want to ask yourself before making your purchase.

How loud will it be?

If you’re going to be playing a lot of high notes, you may want a louder trumpet. If your goal is to play a low, mournful tone, a smaller, more nimble trumpet may be more appropriate.

Is it a lacquer trumpet?

A lacquered trumpet has a shiny finish. You won‘t get the same tone you get from a natural wood trumpet unless it's painted.

What materials are used?

Nicks on lacquet, plywood, and metal are common.

Do I want an electric or acoustic trumpet player?

An electric player will need to plug in his or her own power source, whereas an acoustic player needs no power to function.