<p>Hi all.
doubleplay: we have a Petrof too! DS picked it out wwhen he was six!</p>
<p>We have purchased violins, violas, flutes, and rented same plus saxes. Everyone has had wonderful things to say. All I have to add is that it pays to wait a few more months so your son can have a say in the process. Renting from a store that will apply rental to purchase. It’s a great deal.</p>
<p>NYMom, Now you just gotta get him listening to some Miles Davis…</p>
<p>mythmom, Wow, your son has Good taste… :)</p>
<p>NYmomof2,
Sounds like you’ve got it solved, but I’ll chime in anyway. When s#2 was in about 5th grade, we rented a student horn. The music store had a rent-to-own program and would credit the rental to an upgraded horn. So, we rented for a while to see if he would stick with it and if he liked it. The side benefit was that the music teacher who came to the school to give lessons came from the store that rented the equipment, so if they were having any problems with the insturments he could either fix them or bring in one to swap. (typical problem-- keys or mouthpiece would get stuck). That was convenient! Ok-- after the first 6 mos or so, we upgraded to a better (and brand new) Bach and credited some of the rental towards the purchase. S#2 continued with the trumpet in 6th grade, but in 7th the middle school band instructor decided his aperture was better suited for the baritone (euphonium), and “insisted” he switch! :eek: Grrrr. We owned this very nice Bach trumpet, which then sat in the living room. At least they “gave” (loaned) him a pretty banged up instrument from school, so we weren’t expected to purchase one. (Gee, do ya think they had a bunch lying around because they needed kids to play them!!!) He continued to play through 9th grade, but the Upper school band director made marching band a new torture device, so that was the end of that. Truly, in all fairness, he was really hard on the kids. Ruined s’s interest in playing, so we let him stop after 9th grade. I don’t usually do that, but in this case, I agreed (I watched the band director interact with the kids. It wasn’t pretty). Anyway, good news- we were able to sell the Bach to a friend for their son. Gave them a very fair price for a 1 yr old instrument, but its ok. Worked out for all (one of those nice, neighborly things to do… eh momof2? 
)</p>
<p>Daughter had a student Bach rental trumpet from grade 4 to 6. Rental was through school contract similar to one kathiep mentioned. This worked well, got through the instruments being knocked off chairs in the band room phase and was adequate for a beginner. We did invest in a good lightweight case as thumper writes of. The rental cases tend to be very heavy and cumbersome. Combine that with a heavy back pack and poor kid could barely make the walk to school.
Start of 7th grade, trumpet teacher preselected a bunch of instruments that he felt she wouldn’t outgrow musically and were well constructed and priced. She immediately was drawn to a Bach (maybe 180?) which four years later she continues to love. At the start of HS we bought a significantly cheaper intermediate model Getzen that is enough for school band practice and she just leaves there. It’s an okay backup when her Bach needs work.
I’m so musically out of the loop, I was shocked when she needed a C trumpet. Husband and I thought a trumpet is a trumpet… Now I look at this poor kid staggering out the door to rehearsals with a double trumpet case, a bunch of mutes, music,music stand, trumpet stand, etc. and hope she doesn’t topple over. At least she isn’t a tuba player.</p>
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<p>Heh. This last year, TallSon played guitar in the Jazz Combo, guitar and trumpet in the Jazz Band, and French horn in the concert band. Three instruments for every concert event. One time, he added tuba for one concert and WashMom managed to fit all four instruments (and the boy) in her Miata. I wish I’d been there to photograph it.</p>
<p>Trumpet news: TallSon’s horn is a Bach 1530, which seems to sell new for about $850. I guess they didn’t rip us off on the rent-to-own deal.</p>
<p>WashDad-I can’t visualize how your wife managed to get herself, son, tuba, French horn, guitar and trumpet in a Miata. Heck, can’t even imagine how they managed to get out!</p>
<p>WashDad (or anyone): What about French Horns? S (age 10) is taking summer lessons through the school music program. I can’t complain about price or rental fees, because instruments are just lent to the kids with a promise to treat them well. His trumpet is in decent shape, but the French Horn looks like it was used by George Washington to hunt foxes. I absolutely agree that having a crummy instrument will kill a kid’s interest. I’d like to buy one for him, or at least find a decent rental. In our experience, we’ve always felt buying was better. (Although the musical instruments are taking over the house…) We’ve resold violins, and never were able to find good sounding rentals in the smaller sizes. String instruments are a real budget buster, and if D continues with violin in college, a Steinway would be a bargain in comparison. There is so much corruption & collusion in the world of string instrument sales that teachers are reluctant to get involved for fear of being accused of taking kickbacks. I hope buying a brass instrument will be easier.</p>
<p>I’m not a musician. I truly have no interest or aptitude for the mechanics of these instruments. I just want to find him something better to play on.</p>
<p>WashDad: Your Miata story made me think of a kid in town who plays both the cello & double bass. My S is in a Irish ceili band and the tin whistle & flute parents all tease the drummer’s parents mercilessly…“I’ll just slip this tin whistle into my pocket & be off. Ha ha…”</p>
<p>I have no problem investing in good instruments. I look at musical instruments like bathing suits- you have to divide the investment by the number of hours you’re going to spend on/in the thing.</p>
<p>For me, a bathing suit that hides as many figure flaws as possible is worth any price. I have yet to find one that will work magic, though.</p>
<p>We have been quite fortunate. With all the instruments we have here…the only one we bought new was our piano. DD’s Loree Oboe and English Horn were both purchased from symphony players. DS’s trumpets were all used and were purchased from his teachers. In the teacher cases, we were just lucky as most teachers don’t usually sell to their students, but in all cases DS had tried the instruments and the teachers said he sounded better than they did on that instrument…sold. We have a friend who has bought a couple of French Horns, used, and they are great. I will say, we are fortunate in that we know a number of professional musicians and they always seem to know someone or be willing to call someone on our behalf. </p>
<p>I will say…you should start this thread on the Music Majors forum as there are a number of brass player parents who post there and would have good information on where their musicians purchased their instruments.</p>
<p>Since I can’t ever resist music threads, even though this one has served it’s purpose…</p>
<p>For buying beginner brass instruments, I highly recommend woodwindbrasswind (Google it). Best prices around - we bought our S’s first horn there, and their guarantees are very good. (S tried out horns at the local music store to decide which kind he liked best.) Each individual brass instrument has it’s own characteristics, so later on as he gets pickier, it’s harder to buy online.</p>
<p>As for pianos, they are indeed individual. Very difficult to buy by name only. We have a wonderful Baldwin spinet that is fabulous, and every tuner raves over it. Very light touch, so I use it for teaching - great for little fingers. I also have a 65 year old Petrof upright (restored) with a wonderful action - not too stiff, not too light.</p>
<p>Anybody interested in buying a piano, I highly recommend using “The Piano Book” (I borrow it from the library whenever I need to help a student’s family buy a piano) by Larry Fine. Has much information about new and used pianos, including what to look for, value, reputation, and a lot of information about individual brands.</p>
<p>Binx</p>
<p>Dillon Music (well respected NJ Brass (and Woodwinds) Shop in NJ with an online presence) is also a good source - especially if you are in or near NJ</p>
<p>WWBW price for new Yamaha YTR 2335 - Yamahas student trumpet which seems to be considered the best and most playable of the the student trumpets - $920</p>
<p>Dillon Music - price for new YTR 2335 - $924</p>
<p>Dillon Music price for used YTR 2335 - $325</p>
<p>Resale price for all three of the horns in a few years - probably about $325</p>
<p>At that point, either the experiment is over or its time to move on to a Shilke or a Bach Srad anyway.</p>
<p>BTW</p>
<p>Bach Strad WWBW approx 2300 Dillon approx 2200
Schilke B series WWBW 2429 Dillon 1975</p>
<p>I second Binx, having pored over “The Piano Book” for a full year, as we were in the market for a grand. We tried out many, many pianos, of numerous makes and varieties, some new, many used. It’s true you can’t go just on name, but on the touch that makes you feel comfortable and the sound that appeals to you.</p>
<p>Maybe some of you music parents can shed some light on a mystery trumpet at our house. It’s a silver horn inscribed with Whittle Zenith, Dallas Texas on the bell. It belonged to DH’s grandfather, who died around 1930. Since our son was the only trumpet player in the family it came to him.<br>
(Son’s own horn is a Bach - sounds very good when played by someone who practices!)</p>
<p>Stickershock, I just noticed that you asked about French Horns. When I wrote about using woodwindbrasswind, that was regarding my S’s french horn. (Orchestral folk usually just say horn, rather than french horn, and it gets mixed up among folks who use “horn” to mean any brass instrument or even saxophone. I should say French to avoid confusion, but my habit is to say only “horn.”)</p>
<p>If you buy a French horn over the Internet, be very careful to avoid very inexpensive ones - they are imported from China (I think) and are trash. Although some schools start beginners on a single, I think it’s better to start on a double.</p>
<p>You might look around here: <a href=“http://hornplayer.net/forsale.asp[/url]”>http://hornplayer.net/forsale.asp</a>
There is a link at the bottom of the page for advice for buying via Internet.</p>
<p>My S bought his second horn (a vintage Lawson) off the IHS (International Horn Society) website, but I just checked and their horns for sale page is down until fall. He bought his 3rd horn (a vintage Conn 8D) from his teacher. </p>
<p>I’d be happy to answer any specific questions via PM.</p>
<p>Dragonmom - I did a Google search, but only came up with one on ebay - looks desperately in need of being re-lacquered, but selling for $19.95 or so! :)</p>
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<p>Did a quick google. D. L. Whittle Music Company, Dallas Texas was a well known music company (sold sheet music, instruments, etc.). Couldn’t find any mention of them after the 1970s. The building where at least one of the stores was located is still around and is still called “The Old Whittle Music Building”.</p>
<p>Zenith must be the name of the line of trumpets. A person asked about a Whittle Zenith 1920s sax on the Allexperts: Saxophone website.</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.allexperts.com/q/Saxophone-2232/Zenith-Saxophone.htm[/url]”>http://en.allexperts.com/q/Saxophone-2232/Zenith-Saxophone.htm</a></p>
<p>The sax expert noted that manufacturers of instruments would sell flawed ones to stores and the stores could put any brand or serial number on them that they wanted. He opined that this might be how the sax came to be labelled Whittle Zenith.</p>
<p>Perhaps that is how the trumpet came to be labelled also.</p>
<p>Thanks! The store brand theory would make sense - he was a lawyer, not a musician, so it could have been an impulse purchase. I’ll have to look up the building.</p>
<p>Was he located in Dallas Texas before 1930?</p>