AboutMike Pawul Expertise I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in five bands and have several "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 350 with more than 230 on ebay
Experience I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done over 500 horns.
Organizations Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band,
River Cities Concert Band,
University of Louisville Community Band,
Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN),
Buglers Across America (BAA),
Education/Credentials I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College.
Awards and Honors Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.
Expert: Mike Pawul Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: trumpet woes...
Question QUESTION: I know you have heard this all before but here we go. My son has been playing a buescher aristocrat for a year, his cheap dad, me, bought for him to learn on, now it looks like band is in his future at least for the next 4 years. He needs a new horn. His band director will only recommend bach strad 37, but doesn't require it. He prefers darker sounding instruments. I am about 2 days away from buying a getzen 590s, its been on loan from the local music store, he takes really good care of his instrument, it will be used for marching banc and concert band. I have looked at eastman, too bright, getzen 900, too bright, the 590s so far is what the music store recommends and they know the band director and his style. I have also looked at used bach strads for around the same price even though they are not near as pleasant looking I understand that that is not a requirement. I just looked at zeus horns on line and the look like a value however I am skeptical about buying something online that my son hasn't tried. I have also tried to find info on F.Schmidt 37s, which a friend of mine is selling for his brother, to make a long story short. help? drowning in trumpet info and know way to know which of what I should get. Budget is a concern or else a new xeno or bach strad would be no problem.
ANSWER: Zach, I would never say you went cheap for him to learn. I never suggest someone buy a new pro horn to start on. The name Bach is what a lot of band directors like to suggest. I think there are some horns out there that are just as good, if not better, and cost much less. The Zeus horns are made by Kanstul (their normal horns sell for the same as a Strad) and are wonderful players. If he went with that then I would suggest the copper bell because it sounds a bit darker than the other models. I imagine you would like to buy a horn that isn't as much as a Strad but you haven't given a number. In that case the 590 is a decent horn. It isn't a pro but is a very good intermediate level. They have good intonation and are warm sounding. The Schmidt is a copy of the Strad and is quite a bit less. They sound good and have good intonation. They are built in Germany and are constructed well. I would also tell you to look at the Jupiter 1200 series (pro level) and the Blessing ML1-S (pro level) since they are in the same cost range as the Capri. They both play well and are slightly darker than the horns you mentioned as bright.
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QUESTION: OK, last time I will bother you could you give me the pros and cons of the following three trumpets, my budget is 1000 or less. also feel free to mention horns that I didn't think of that I may have overlooked
zeus ztr700s $725 new (can't find a used one)
f.schmidt 37s used 450 in great cosmetic condition 2yrs old
blessing ml1g used 600 in great cosmetic condition 3 years old, it is the silver trumpet with gold bell and valve caps.
also someone showed me how to check valves by pulling the first or third slides then either depressing or depressing and releasing a valve and you hear a pop if you listen in the bell, I cant remember how to do it.
oh almost forgot my son said to mention that he likes the horn to be a little less "bell heavy and have a more centered balance in the hand" I'm sure that means something. ha, told you I'm a novice. I just want to get him a reliable,easy to play, durable, great sounding trumpet that he won't be ashamed of, don't want to put a wet blanket on the fire, for what I am willing to pay. yeah i know thats what everybody wants, magic bullets away.
thanks, I know this stuff is time consuming and it is appreciated, I am also an allexperts expert and sometimes you just get over run, especially you trumpet guys.
ANSWER: For most of my time here on All Experts I have been the only one answering trumpet questions. I used to get up to 10 a day and it was impossible to keep up. I cut back the questions but they keep sending more than I specify. Oh well, I am just happy to help out others by sharing the wealth of trivia info from my head and the library of trumpet books that my wife thought were useless when I bought them!
The Zeus is made for Alex and is a nice playing horn. They haven't been made long so it will be tough to find a used one. It is made by Blessing and is similar to the ML1, but with some changed features. The ML1-G is the ML1 with gold caps and plays identical to the normal ML1. The difference is the gold accents. The Schmidt actually sounds like the best deal. If it is in that good of condition it should play very close to a Bach 37. I would take the ML1-G second then the Zeus.
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QUESTION: i don't require a follow up, just giving you an update, bought the f.schmidt it is like new and hardly been played, for him to use in marching band, and I bought him a new kanstul custom (i guess it is a 610) from jack kanstul, given the choice of dealing with alex from zeus or actually calling a kanstul dealer and talking with the owners son, it was a no brainer. I saw your mention of kanstul so I looked them up, haven't recieved the horn yet but I am really looking forward to it for him. I bought this to be his practice horn and concert horn, until he outgrows it, and some people on the net swear that they will keep theirs forever. let me know what you think if you have time. if not thanks for the tips.
Answer I think you will be surprised by the Schmidt. They play VERY close to a Strad and they are quite a bit cheaper. You got a great deal on it. The 610 is a nice horn that will be brighter than the Schmidt. I like Kanstul and their horns are second to none. But I believe he will end up using the Kanstul for marching and the Schmidt indoors. Don't make him use either for a specific purpose and let him play them until he decides for himself. Good Luck, and I hope he goes far with his music. For a cheap guy you bought two horns...WOW!
