If you’re interested in buying a trumpet, new or used, then great! Now comes the hard part: finding the best trumpets for sale. I picked up the trumpet when I was in the 4th grade and have been playing ever since.
That’s over 20 years of trumpet playing under my belt, and I can tell you that not all trumpets are created equal.
Some look great, but don’t play very well.
Others look terrible, but sound very professional.
The best horn for you is the one that fits your style, your budget, and your experience. Below you’ll find several different options to find the best trumpets for sale.
Amazon.com
Amazon.com is known for selling almost everything online, including trumpets! Before you make a purchase online though, it’s important that you keep the following in mind.
Pros
Buying a trumpet from Amazon.com can be a great experience because:
- There are a ton of different options available. Most brands, new, used, beginner and expert can all be found in one convenient location.
- You’ll be able to read the reviews that other customers have left for trumpets you might be interested in buying.
- You can take advantage of discount prices and quick shipping.
Cons
Unfortunately, of course, there are some downsides to purchasing anything online, which should be realized before making a decision:
- You won’t be able to test out the product before you purchase it.
- The pictures shown with the products don’t always reveal the entire truth.
- Shipping an instrument can cause unwanted surface damage.
Ebay.com
Ebay, like Amazon, is a huge online marketplace where you can grab some great deals, even for instruments. If you look up “trumpet” in Ebay you’ll find over 500 pages of results! Here’s what you should know about Ebay before buying anything from the auction site:
Pros
- There’s an extremely wide selection, in particular with used trumpets.
- Depending on the bidding of certain items, you can get an extremely good deal if you’re shopping at the right time.
- You can chat with the owner and get a little more information about the trumpet, it’s condition and maybe some history behind it too.
Cons
- Like with anything purchased online, you never know what you’re going to get until you get it.
- There’s a chance that what you received isn’t the item that you actually won.
- You don’t have an opportunity to test out your horn until you get it, and if you need to send it back for whatever reason it can cause a major headache.
Yard Sales
Believe it or not, people still hold yard sales and every once and a while you may run into a trumpet for sale. Typically, they’ll be very underpriced, so for some it’s worth the effort to look around just incase.
The best part is that if you do find a trumpet, you’ll probably be able to hold it and test it out before you make a purchase.
I do recommend, however, that if you find a used trumpet for sale anywhere and can test it, to either bring your own mouthpiece, or some sanitizer to wipe on the mouthpiece…because you never know where that mouthpiece has been!
Your Local Music Store
It’s always good to support your local music store – especially because sometimes they put some of their trumpets for sale or on clearance. Check around the holiday season for deals and be sure to ask people working at the store if there are any special discounts. I was at a store once who was offering trumpet half off if 6 months of lessons were purchased at the same time.
Good deal!
Craigslist
Craigslist has surprisingly been my most successful marketplace for finding trumpets for sale, and for great prices too!
I picked up a near-mint Bach Stradivarius through Craigslist for under $500.00 and it’s the trumpet I used all throughout college!
Craigslist works out really well for 3 reasons:
- People who post there are usually anxious to get rid of stuff, so you can find great deals and even negotiate better prices!
- You can meet with the owner and see exactly what you’re going to get before you buy it.
- You usually get all of their goodies that come along with their trumpet, like their case, mouthpieces, maybe a trumpet stand, cleaning snakes, polisher, valve oil, trumpet books, etc.
And The Best Place to Find Trumpets For Sale Is…
I’ve listed a number of different places where you could potentially find a good deal on your next trumpet. Truly, however, the best place to find your next horn is not at one spot, but at several – because the more you shop around between all of these locations the more likely you are to find that perfect trumpet that will last you for a very long time.
Choosing a trumpet is not easy, but I hope I’ve made it a little easier for you today.
Where else have you found a trumpet for sale, please leave a comment below?