Brass Instruments > 280 GBP to 419 GBP Brass Instruments

Advantages: very cheap and good for beginners
Disadvantages: basic and not for the professional

...my first trumpet was a YAMAHA which I bought some years ago now for a bargain price of £250. I think that the model I bought was the one below this one, but they are still very similar and fundamentally the same. This model comes with three valves... there's a surprise, and mobile 1st and 3rd valve slides. It is available in gold laquer as well as silver plating, but the silver plating will cost a little extra. These more basic models are easier ...
...gets even slightly bent. The YAMAHA has a more simple mechanism consisting of a screw which catches on the rim at the end of the tubing to stop it coming all the way off. I have had absolutey no complaints about my YAMAHA trumpet since i have had it which shows that it is fairly sturdy and lasts well. I have probably had it now for eight or nine years now and the only dents and scratches in it are my own fault really... it still blows fine even ... Read review

Advantages: Good value for money, attractive, good range
Disadvantages: Ring operated 3rd slide

Although I have recently bought a new cornet, this is the one that I played for the first 3 years of being a musician. Most music shops advise that this instrument is best for beginners, and I would definately agree with that. It is a very attractive instument, which can produce a sweet sound. Although not the best sounding instrument on the market, it is more than satisfactory if you are only a beginner. Also, with it not costing a fortune, it ...
...One drawback of this instrument is that the 3rd slide, which can help tune Ds and C#s, is operated by a ring. While some musicians prefer this mechanism, a spring system is much more effective for advanced players, which I why I would recommend it mainly for beginners. This instrument comes with a standard sized mouothpiece, which, again, is suitable for beginners, but more advaced musicians may want to use their own in order to obtain the best sound ... Read review

Advantages: Great sound, easy player.
Disadvantages: Expensive, hard to find parts.

...Selmer (balanced action) and a Buffet Crampon Dynaction. **********The Buffet Crampon Dynaction********** Surprisingly I like the Buffet Crampon better; it had a much richer sound, was 'heavier', nicer colour, the key spread, especially the lower keys was a better fit, all in all I got quite excited. At this point I was not aware of the cost, age or overall condition of the instrument, but it 'felt right'. When I say it felt right I mean; it is ...
...was about this horn. Buffet Crampon are better known for their clarinets than saxophones, yet up until the 70's certainly they were of comparable quality, and sound as Selmer's, and were made in a factory just down the road. In fact I have an original Selmer case which my sax came in. My sax is called Dolly, some people do not christen their saxophones, I do. She was 'finished' on January the 7th 1956, which makes her just over 52 years old. She ... Read review

Advantages: Great price and value, top quality instrument
Disadvantages: None

...out in 1984 on a Hohner C Blues Harp I found what I was looking for. It is a basic twelve hole harmonica that has stood the test of time. Before Christmas I looked at my old harp and decided that it might be time for it to go into partial retirement. Having spent about £24 on it and played it thousands of times it was looking a bit battered and scratched. It still plays beautifully, no dead reeds, fantastic tone so when I went looking for the next ...
...in bright chrome and has Hohner International embossed on one side and Silver Star on the other. The back of the comb has "HOHNER" printed in silver on the back. It comes it a rigid ABS plastic case to protect it, which is a definite improvement on the soft vinyl case that the blues harp lives in. The sound? Well, I'm still playing the Blues Harp, the tone and the ability to bend the notes remains excellent, the Silver Star can bend, but not quite ... Read review

Advantages: Great Value, Well made, good fun
Disadvantages: None

...have had other instruments by Stagg and have found them to be great value, well made and suitable for student to intermediate players. If you were to assess my playing skills on a scale from 1-10 I suppose I would come in at about -3. It's a tricky instrument, the theory, from my physics lessons thirty five years ago, is that the longer the column of air in a tube, the lower the note. As you will know the trombone has a slide that can be extended ...
...the pipes. Summary Stagg make a good basic instrument at an affordable price. A top flight trombone will carry four or five figure price tag. You can pick up the Florian Stagg trombone new for under £100, making it staggeringly god value for money. It is another example of an instrument that can be tried at a reasonable cost. ... Read review