When is it time to get a professional trumpet?
Although there is no exact timeline of when it’s time for a student to upgrade their trumpet from a student-style to intermediate or from intermediate to professional, there are a few cues that can help you know when you’re ready.
Especially if your child is still growing, you might not want to invest in a fixed, expensive professional-style trumpet because they will still physically change, which means that the instrument needs to change, as well.
What’s the difference between the two? Well, the finish and the color will both change between an intermediate style and a professional style. The intermediate level trumpet generally will be brass while the professional level one will be silver. If you’re looking for the best of the best, however, you’ll want to look for high-end gold.
Trumpet playing tips for pros
It’s important to remember: the trumpet doesn’t make the player.
A good musician can make even the most basic of trumpets sound good! However, as your skill increases, you’ll notice that your lower level trumpet will seem to be insufficient and you’ll outgrow it.
The sound of price
If you’re ready to dish out a couple of thousand dollars for a professional trumpet, you’re ready to buy one. However, investing in a used professional trumpet or one that’s rated as a Budget Pick, like the Levante LV-TR6301, can help you lower the cost.
Generally speaking, however, a professional trumpet will normally cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $3,500.
Features to consider while buying the best professional trumpet
From the brand name to the type of mouthpiece, it’s important that you consider each and every detail of the particular trumpet before you decide to invest!
In this section, we’re going to help you sort out what’s important and what can be left out—what’s hot and what’s not:
Consider the brand
With brands like Yamaha and Bach, you know you’re not only getting quality in that particular product, you’re also investing in a reputation.
Although you might have to dish out the extra cash to back up the brand name, you’re investing in quality customer service, years of branding and quality, as well as assurance of playability.
Body material and finish
The body material can play a very important role in how durable your instrument is. From black nickel to brass silver-plated from regular silver-plated, there are so many different styles to choose from.
This will not only make a difference with the finish, but it will also make an impact on the sound and style of music as well as the look.
Instrument type
From pocket to piccolo, the pitch and sound of the instrument will change. If you’re investing in a trumpet to play a particular sound or even to enlist in a band, you’ll want to pay attention to this detail!
Mouthpiece
The difference in mouthpiece from trumpet to trumpet is generally based on your comfort level.
Slide
A slide can help your trumpet get back in tune. It’s a mechanism for the first and third valves which can be extended or retracted to help make the sound they desire.
Sound
As we mentioned earlier, knowing the type of sound you’re looking for plays a major role in the type of trumpet you’re investing in. A trumpet is generally constructed to fit a certain musical style or genre.
Valves
The number of valves and the material that they’re made of is also another detail that would be silly not to mention before you invest in a professional trumpet.
Although you are most likely already aware of its function, we’ll remind you anyway: The three valves located in the trumpet can help extend the tubing of it to help lower that pitch. As you go from the first to the third, the pitch is lowered from a whole tone to a minor third.

Bell and bore
The bores listed on the products here range from .45” to around .46”, which is where you want to be when it comes to a darker tone that would fit most styles.
When the bell is also larger, this can help work the bore to help balance a certain airflow that can fit the note you’re trying to sound!
Guarantees
The guarantee, or the warranty, of a trumpet, can truly make a difference. Hopefully, if you’re investing in a professional trumpet at this point, you’re most likely serious in the instrument when it comes to learning and playing it.
You might even make a career out of it!
Therefore, it’s even more important that a professional trumpet will fit the lifespan of a professional music career.
In this guide, we have trumpets that have a warranty or guarantee from one to five to even ten years! Taking the guarantee or warranty into consideration before you invest can make a huge difference in the long run—and with a 10-year warranty, like the Jupiter XO 1700S, you’ll definitely have it for the long run!
Accessories
Depending on the product you invest in, some of these trumpets will come with additional accessories included in the package.
However, simply knowing which accessories are most helpful when practicing, performing or simply trying to hit a particular note can help you make your music playing the most successful.
For example, you can invest in a case, whether wooden like the one that comes with the Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Series or not, like the one that comes with the Jupiter XO 1700S.
If you’re on a budget, a soft case can do the trick, like the one that comes with our Budget Pick, the Levante LV-TR6301.