Have not played a horn in several decades but am currently working on Grade 8 Piano. Piano is great, but it seems to me that there are fewer realistic opportunities for playing in ensembles with just a Grade 8 level in piano than with other instruments. Also, you can't play in a Brass Band without a horn. So, the siren call of the trumpet is calling me.

When I was a kid, I learned on a beat up Olds and then moved to a Bach Strad. and played perhaps six years mostly in Brass and Marching bands and for a short time in a very fun Swing Band.

I would like to take some lessons and see what I can remember and if I can still build up my embouchure. Having a Bach horn again would be great, but it is both out of my budget and probably overkill for starting out. It seems there are lots of very cheap new entrants as well, but a search of this forum and elsewhere indicates 'caveat emptor'.

To keep my risk low, I was considering renting first. One of the local music stores is offering a rent to buy scheme on one trumpet: a 'Jupiter' 600ML with a 7C mouthpiece: 6 months for 10% of the new price which could be applied to purchase of same. I have never heard of Jupiter and they apparently are from Taiwan.

Does anyone know about the Jupiter brand and whether they make good instruments?
Would this horn be ok to get started again and then to keep through say Grade 6 level?

For half the price they have a Besson 1000, that I might be tempted just to buy outright for that price.
For twice the price of the Jupiter they also have a used Bach Strad. 37, but it seems like a lot of money for what might turn out to be a whim.

Any feedback at all would be much appreciated.

hi

i started on a jupiter cornet. it wasn't brilliant but only now have i got a new one when i reached around the grade 5/6 level. i suppose it's worth a try and see what it's like. you could always have a trial on a few makes and see which one you like best.

hope you find one to suit you!

The John Packer student instruments have been highly recommended on this forum and elsewhere:

JP Blues 151

I seriously considered getting their equivalent cornet but it was on back order for some time and I got the chance to buy a second-hand Imperial that I am delighted with.

I'd suggest the JP Blues 151 too. BUT, you mention playing in a brass band - surely you need a cornet then? In which case, i would sitll suggest the JP 151 range

Of all the brass instruments I have played, I'd have to say I was very dissapointed with jupiter. Their brass instruments are impossible to learn on I would think, I played one of the trumpets as a competent trumpet player myself and hated it - and I have played on some terrible instruments! I have a freind also who has done a diploma in perfomance and teaches brass and played the trombone and thought it appauling. They might be good new, but they certainly dont seem to last very long.
The besson sounds good. So if you can get it at a good price that would be Ok for dibbling around on?!

Thanks for the advice!

The two groups that are looking for members aren't traditional British Brass Bands; I guess you could call them wind bands or concert bands or probably more accurately, mostly having fun together bands. I have the impression that if I get my playing up to a minimum standard, they might take me on a trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, whatever! I prefer the trumpet to cornet.

The advice here on Jupiter matches what I have received when talking to people; very mixed feedback. I notice that Jupiter also seem to sell for a small fraction of their new price on eBay, etc. which does not bode well. I will definitely also look at the JP Blues and consider the Besson. The more I look, the more choices seem to pop up. There also seem to be a lot of vintage instruments offered online for sale, often at attractive prices.

Any advice on buying older, used instruments?
Or the best mouthpiece to start a returning player on?

Thanks again.

If you can afford it, and like the second-hand Bach, you should consider it even though it costs more than you originally planned. 1) You are more likely to enjoy it and persevere with a really nice instrument; 2) if you decided after all to give up, it would hold its resale value. And if you buy it from a dealer it should have been overhauled and come with a guarantee of some kind.

I think with vintage instruments you have to be careful that you can still find a good selection of mouthpieces that will fit, and you also need to check the pitch. A lot of early british ones, for instance, are nearly a semitone sharper than modern pitch!

Good luck!