What are some of the best used cornets out there? I want something for a good price,built well, and good playing characteristics(sound,tone,response etc..)
OLDLOU
cornets
In my humble opinion any of the California made Olds, King Master series, if made by H.N.White, Reynolds upper grades, vintage Holton, Conn 80A, 12, etc, Martin Handcrafted, Getzen Super Deluxe, etc are all good. I own at least one of each.
OLDLOU>>
bandman
There have been several Bach Strad Cornets on Ebay in the past year. They play great! I may be wrong, but my opinion is that they are the best cornets ever built.
Guest
To the suggestions already I'd add the Conn Connstellation.
TIMBERLINE
You might keep an eye on e-bay for cornets, usually Olds, fitted with a Conn coprion bell. Most of those have been put together by Garry Stoner in Slater, Iowa. They all play very well, and each is unique.
I met Garry after seeing one such cornet on e-bay and buying it at the last minute. I was really suprised that Garry only lives 5 minutes from me. Since that time I have gotten to play several others that he has built and they are all terrific. In fact tomorrow I go to play test one that someone sent to him to have the "Stoner" treatment applied. I know my cornet gets great reviews everywhere I play it.
OLDLOU
Bach Strad cornets
Per Bandman's assertion that the Bach Strad is the best cornet ever built, I don't disagree, as I was VERY MUCH impressed by one that I had access to while in high school. That was, as I remember it, in about 1950 or 1951. I received an Olds Recording Model as a gift from one of my teachers the following year. I promptly fell in love with the Olds and forgot about the Bach. I have never held a Strad cornet in my hands since then. I now wonder if the instrument that I was so enthralled with is the same as those currently on the market. I recently gave the Olds to a professional trumpeter who also studied under the same teacher. He is ecstatic about the old horn. I find it difficult to believe that a common brass belled cornet could match the tone quality of the rose brass bell and leadpipe of the Recording Model or the tunable intonation that can be had with the ring lever trigger on the third valve slide. If I am in error I hope that someone will educate me with particulars.
O.K. Bandman, it is now your turn.
