Looking to buy a trumpet but on a tight budget? Unsure about which ones are actually decent brands and which ones will break after a few weeks? Well, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about buying an inexpensive trumpet without breaking the bank.
We’ll also look at some of the models that we think are the best cheap trumpets in 2024 and review why they could be the one for you. Let’s get started.
Quick Answer: The Best Inexpensive Trumpets
Best Budget Trumpet Reviews
Now that you hopefully have a better idea of what you’re looking for it’s time to look at some low-priced trumpet reviews. Each trumpet on our list brings something unique to the table, but they are all excellent, cheap trumpets that will prove to be worthy instruments that will help you or your loved ones on their trumpet-playing journey.
1. Jean Paul USA TR 330 Cheap Trumpet
- The Jean Paul Trumpet is in key of Bb
- Comes with robust contoured carrying case for ease of use transportation
- Beautiful Yellow brass body construction with Gold Lacquer finish
Our number one choice and most recommended option is the Jean Paul USA TR 330. Jean Paul is a US-based company with an excellent reputation for quality instrument manufacturing. This trumpet exemplifies high-quality construction at a low price. The manufacturers state that this trumpet is designed for beginner and intermediate use, so it is an excellent trumpet to learn and advance with.
The TR 330 is made of a combination of brass and lead, with an ample bore and a lead pipe and bell that create a deeper, more comfortable sound that holds its own no matter how many other instruments accompany it.
Apart from being a trusted and well-established instrument maker, Jean Paul also has an excellent customer service department that will replace a malfunctioning trumpet immediately, no questions asked.
We also like that this trumpet comes with a full cleaning kit to teach beginners the importance of proper maintenance by providing them with all the tools they need to keep the trumpet functioning as it should for many years to come.
2. Hawk WD-T313 Inexpensive Bb Trumpet
- Includes a durable case and mouthpiece
- Bb (B flat) Key
- Size: Bore size 11.66mm, bell diameter 123mm
Next, we have, the Hawk WD-T313 is an excellent trumpet to start your trumpeting journey, and many middle and high school marching band trumpeters swear by them. They are renowned for their musical versatility and ease of use, thus being suitable for any kind of musical genre from Punk Rock to Classical.
Aesthetically, this Trumpet is very attractive, and it comes in many different colors. Still, we recommend you go with the classic silver-plated model which is both beautiful and has a purer sound. The bell and bore size fall at the smaller end of the average spectrum for a trumpet, which means a sharper sound that can hit higher pitches more easily.
Because it is made in China, it may be harder to find replacement parts for the Hawk WE-T313. That said, it is a very durable trumpet that shouldn’t give you too many issues if you clean it and maintain it properly. It comes with a set of thorough cleaning instructions and valve oil to remedy sticky valves that are a common problem with any trumpet.
3. Mendini by Cecilio MTT-L Affordable Trumpet
- Great Trumpet for Beginners: Ideal for beginner or student musicians. This student trumpet has a copper lead (not the metal lead, but leading up to...
- Great Sound: This well-crafted beginner trumpet for adults or kids produce a crisp, loud and high-quality sound. Paired with a committed player or...
- Elegant Design: The adults and kids trumpet has a beautiful and durable brass body with 5 inch bell and .460 inch bore, phosphorus copper mouthpiece,...
The Medini trumpet by Cecilio is both jazzy and snazzy as it has a tight, crisp, and forceful sound that pairs perfectly with jazz music, and you have the choice between brightly colored or the classic gold finish. Needless to say, this trumpet was made for the stage.
While many of the budget trumpets on our list may not pass band teachers’ approval, Mendini by Cecilio prides itself on being 100% band-teacher approved. This trumpet has smooth valves and an adjustable 3rd slide lock for user-friendly playing. It is also a lightweight trumpet, so it’s especially convenient for marching band trumpet players.
It also comes with a nice, lightweight, quality trumpet case, a cleaning kit, and even white gloves that maintain a flawless shine to the trumpet and a classic professional look for the performer.
4. Le ‘Var BTRLV100 Budget Trumpet
- Key (tuned): Bb, Piston Valves
- Slide Length: 9.0 "
- Bore: 0.46" Cylindrical
What stands out about the Le ‘Var trumpet are the high-quality materials and ample features it has, considering it is a budget trumpet best suited for beginners. It is a great first trumpet, and with an adjustable thumb-rest, it is easy to play for anyone, no matter their proportions.
The bell, body, and lead pipe are brass, and the valve and slides are made of nickel which means that this trumpet is built to last, as brass and especially nickel are corrosion-resistant materials. Nevertheless, this trumpet comes with a full cleaning kit with a case that has special compartments to hold every cleaning material, so you can clean the trumpet on the go.
While it is a beginner trumpet, many intermediate and advanced trumpet players favor it over more expensive and supposedly superior models due to its durability and ease of use.
5. Glory Brass Cheap Trumpet
The Glory Brass trumpet is another budget-friendly model, making it a popular first trumpet for beginners. It is fine-tuned and tested before leaving the manufacturer, which is convenient and helpful for first-time trumpet owners. Newbies won’t have to worry about tuning it themselves, which is difficult, not to mention requires the added cost of a tuner.
True to its name, the Glory Brass trumpet is all brass with either gold lacquer, silver, or purple painted finish. It has a beautiful and classic look. The slides and valves tend to stick more than the other products on our list. Luckily, Glory trumpets come with a full cleaning kit replete with plenty of oil and valve oil polishing cloth to keep the valves from sticking.
This trumpet has some heft to it, weighing a little over 5 lbs. A heavier trumpet usually results in a sturdier, more resounding warm sound.
6. Kaizer TRP-1000PL Inexpensive Student Trumpet
- 0.464" large bore; rose brass lead-pipe; cupronickel tuning slides; 5" bell
- 1st valve slide thumb hook and adjustable 3rd valve slide ring
- Includes molded case, set of trumpet valve guide replacements, polishing cloth, valve oil, case shoulder strap and pair of white gloves, standard 7C
The Kaizer TRP-1000LP Student trumpet stands out for a few reasons. First, it is made with yellow brass, which contains a lower proportion of copper to zinc, giving it a very different sound from the more widely used gold brass trumpet. Gold brass creates a deeper, broader timbre, whereas yellow brass has a more vibrant, tighter timbre.
Another feature that sets Kaizer apart is its additional features, including a cleaning kit and replacement parts. Manufacturers recognize that this trumpet is for beginners who might not be the gentlest or most informed on proper maintenance and thus provide replacement parts in anticipation of common issues experienced by new players.
The best part about this trumpet is that the manufacturers provide a 45-day trial period in which you can play the trumpet to your heart’s content to make sure it’s the right fit for you. If you decide it isn’t you will get a full refund. That is an excellent policy that gives peace of mind for players on a tight budget that are having a hard time deciding which trumpet to purchase.
7. Eastar ETR-380 Affordable Trumpet
- ❤️AMAZING TIMBRE — The sound and timbre of Eastar Bb trumpet are pure and bright, abundant and powerful, with excellent vibration. Also a...
- 🎺RELIABLE DESIGN — Equipped with a unique valve system (1/100mm mechanical accuracy) designed by Eastar, the trumpet is highly durable during...
- ✔️EXCELLENT CRAFTSMANSHIP — The pipe (0.459'' in diameter) is made of high-quality brass and cupronickel you can trust. The valves link each...
The Eastar Gold Brass trumpet has the greatest value for the price and is one of the cheapest trumpets on the list. It has extremely high-quality valves that have been manufactured with the utmost mechanical accuracy and hardly ever stick or jam.
Furthermore, the valves, tubes, and water keys are air-tight, durable, and slide out easily when cleaning or adjusting. While many beginner trumpets have fixed features, this trumpet is highly adjustable, making it a great choice for beginners and intermediate players alike.
The gold finish on the Eastar trumpet is flawless and doesn’t lose its shine even after months of use like other trumpets. This trumpet also has a clear, crisp, and bright sound with excellent vibration that stands up to other instruments. It may be a bit heavier than the majority of trumpets on the list, but it sure is durable.
8. Eking Cheap Student Bb Trumpet
- 🎺❤️ AMAZING TIMBRE — The sound and timbre of Eking KTR-400 Bb trumpet are pure and bright, abundant and powerful, with excellent vibration....
- 🎺🎁 BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE — With nice-looking golden lacquer, dazzling and shiny, clean and transparent color, and superb reflection, this...
- 🎺🔥 EXCELLENT CRAFTSMANSHIP — The pipe (0.460'' in diameter) is made of brass and cupronickel, with high-quality material that you can trust....
Eking manufacturers have over 20 years of experience, so they are well-established instrument makers with a solid reputation. The Eking Bb Standard Student trumpet offers a durable, well-made product with great sound quality.
The valves are a mix of copper and nickel, making them extra durable, and while this trumpet, like all trumpets on our list, comes with valve oil, the valves are so smooth that you’ll hardly ever need to use it.
The bell is somewhat larger than other trumpets on our list, which may be why the sound quality is so good and pure.
We especially like the hard box that comes with the Eking Trumpet, which protects it from falls and is still light enough to carry about without a problem. The best part about it is that it is one of the cheapest trumpets on our list, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on quality.
9. pBone PTRUMPET 1R Cheap Plastic Trumpet
- Pitched in Bb
- 4.75 inch Bell
- Unique fully plastic valve system
Perhaps the most unique trumpet on our list is the pBone PTRUMPET because it is made of plastic. Trumpet players also design it for trumpet players. A musical instrument produced by a musician has great potential because they have the insight and experience to make improvements and special features that classic models may lack.
Because it is made out of plastic, this trumpet will never corrode, and it is the lightest, most portable trumpet on our list, weighing a mere 2 lbs. This trumpet even has plastic mouthpieces and comes in two different sizes. It is the ideal trumpet for young players.
All the plastic slides are fully adjustable, making it effortless to tune the trumpet. However, the valves tend to get stuck and account for the main cause for complaints amongst pTrumpet owners.
That said, you can report any issues or malfunctioning pieces to their excellent customer service department and get an instant response and quick replacement part deliveries.
10. Apelila Low Priced Trumpet in Bb
And lastly we have the Apelila Bb Key Brass trumpet is the most budget-friendly trumpet on our list. It is also the most classic-looking trumpet on our list, with a shiny golden appearance, silver-plated mouthpiece, pistons, and other accents.
It has a specially engineered bell designed for durability and unparalleled performance. The sound is clear, precise, and pure. This trumpet integrates well into all genres of music, so this is a great beginner trumpet for middle school and high school orchestra, band, or jazz ensemble.
It has an abundance of extra features. We like that it comes with a digital tuner and a neck strap along with a cleaning kit and case.
How to Choose a Cheap Trumpet: First Time Buyer’s Guide
The trumpet is one of the most famous instruments in a wide range of genres. It is the most commonly played and featured member of the brass family.
Due to its popularity and versatility, the trumpet comes in a wide range of prices. Here is a guide to sorting through the options to find the most affordable trumpet to meet your needs.
Types of Trumpets
Before you rush out and buy a trumpet though it’s good to have a basic understanding of some of the different types of trumpets that you can get and which one might be best suited for you depending on your skill level and budget.
Here are some of the cheaper types that might be suitable for you.
Standard B Flat Trumpet
The standard B flat trumpet is the most common member of the trumpet family and one of the most common brass instruments in existence.
The B flat trumpet has three keys and a range of about three octaves starting with the F# below middle C.
Bb Trumpets are typically the type that most beginners will start on.
Given that this instrument is ideal for beginner musicians but also has many advanced solos written for it, they come in a plethora of materials, quality levels, and therefore prices.
But, they will definitely be the most affordable of any trumpet type.
Pocket Trumpet
The pocket trumpet, appropriately named, is a shorter version of the standard B flat trumpet described above.
The pocket trumpet has the same length of tubing, but it is wound much more tightly for a compact body, and the bell is significantly smaller.
It is therefore also a little bit lighter and easier to pack and handle.
People primarily purchase pocket trumpets to save space when traveling and add a bit of fun flair to solo performances.
The main drawback of the pocket trumpet is a thinner sound on account of the tighter tubing and smaller bell.
The most affordable pocket trumpets cost only slightly more than the cheapest standard B flat trumpets available.
Piccolo Trumpet
Piccolo is Italian for small, and the piccolo trumpet is indeed a very small trumpet.
They are primarily tuned to the key of B flat and play about an octave higher than the other B flat trumpets discussed above.
It sports a fourth valve that allows them to play down to the same lower range as the others, but the overall sound quality is still distinct.
The smaller mouthpiece and tubing, as well as the fourth key, allows for a clearer and brighter sound than is possible with any other trumpet, as well as more alternate fingerings.
People therefore sometimes opt to play difficult solos on the piccolo trumpet, the most famous being that heard in The Beatle’s hit song Penny Lane. While there is variability in price range, the piccolo trumpet on average is one of the more expensive types.
Plastic Trumpets
Another good option for those looking for a very inexpensive trumpet is a plastic trumpet.
These trumpets, as the name suggests, are made out of plastic which is a lot cheaper material and so brings the cost down quite a lot.
They’re a good option for kids as they are more durable than their brass counterparts.
The downside however is the sound produced isn’t as good as brass trumpets.
They also tend to come in quite bright colors which is fine if you’re playing at home but they can look quite unusual in a trumpet section if everyone else has bass instruments and bandleaders don’t usually like them.
Cheap Vs Expensive Trumpets
Trumpets range quite dramatically in price with the cheapest ones costing around $100 or so but professional trumpets will set you back $3k+.
Here are a few of the differences and what you’ll actually be paying for when spending money on a trumpet.
Quality of the Materials
The main thing that affects trumpet prices is the materials they are made from.
The most common material for trumpets is brass, but even brass trumpets vary widely.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and the ratio of copper to zinc makes a difference in sound quality.
Gold brass has 15% more copper and a richer sound and is a bit more expensive than the more commonly used yellow brass.
Nickel is another common metal used in place of or at the base of brass.
Nickel is more durable than brass and also the cheapest material trumpets are made of which will mean that the sound quality is not as sharp or rich.
Silver and gold are sometimes added to trumpets for aesthetic and variation in sound quality.
Gold produces a warmer sound, while silver produces a brighter sound. Silver and gold are both softer and therefore more fragile.
Gold is the most expensive option, followed closely by silver.
Plastic trumpets have gained more popularity in recent years and offer the most affordable option of all.
While you sacrifice tone quality, plastic trumpets are durable, resistant to all conditions, lightweight, and available in a wide range of fun colors.
Quality
In addition to material, the quality and therefore price of trumpets is determined by the details.
More expensive hand-crafted trumpets will offer things like mother of pearl keys and other unique aesthetic details.
They tend to last longer and have greater playability as a result of parts being individually rather than mass-produced, ensuring that each piece fits perfectly and moves smoothly.
At the end of the day, skill, hard work, and detailed maintenance practices can make a more affordable trumpet sound nearly as good and last just as long.
Your Skill Level
Another factor that will affect how much you spend on your trumpet is your skill level.
If you’re buying a trumpet for your child and you’re not sure how seriously they want to take it you don’t want to invest too much money if they don’t want to play in a few month’s time.
On the other hand, if you’re serious about learning to play, it’s worth investing a bit extra as you’ll find the experience much more pleasurable and won’t be held back by an inferior model.
Beginners
Beginner trumpet players are often children, and even adult novices lack the chops and the arm and hand strength of more advanced players.
Plastic trumpets are therefore great options for beginning players and can be found for as little as $60 and up to only $200.
Adding a good trumpet mouthpiece is an inexpensive way to spruce up the sound quality of a plastic trumpet if you are not yet ready or motivated to purchase a metal version.
Brass and nickel trumpets are the next cheapest and most appropriate for beginning players.
Beginners should stick to the standard Bb trumpet, which is the cheapest option and the best for mastering the basics of fingering and embouchure before upgrading to a better model.
Intermediate
Intermediate trumpet players have a range of options.
You might try upgrading your mouthpiece before upgrading your actual instrument, which can broaden your technique and improve your sound quality at a cheaper cost.
Once you are ready to venture into new instrument territory, consider gold or silver lacquer as a cheaper alternative to full gold or silver instruments.
This offers a certain degree of sound quality improvement without a great deal of cost.
These materials are also more difficult to play on because of the way they conduct sound, so it is best to step up gradually. Intermediate trumpets range from $1000 to $2000.
Professional
Professional trumpets are really only made for very serious players or those that are making a living from playing the trumpet.
When looking at pro instruments you’re going to see the highest quality materials with very high attention to detail, amazing sound quality, and a good warranty from the manufacturer.
Professional trumpets range in price from $2000 to $10,000+.
Best Budget Brands
When it comes to the best brands of cheap trumpets there are few names you’re going to see pop up a lot.
The first is Jean Paul USA who are an American manufacturer of a lot of different instruments and make a great option for beginners and those on a budget looking to buy a quality instrument without a high price tag.
Conn-Selmer is a great brand for those starting out too although they are a little bit more expensive.
They are a popular brand among beginners.
While they don’t offer professional-level detailing or superior sound quality, their instruments are highly playable, durable, and consistent.
Yamaha is one of the oldest and most versatile trumpet brands available.
Due to their years of experience and growing franchise, they have built a wide range of high-quality trumpets to meet any price range and skill level.
For the plastic trumpet option, look no further than the pTrumpet or the Trumba.
These brands both offer options for under $100 that are made of ABS plastic, the most durable plastic that also produces a decent sound.
They both come in a wide range of colors and aesthetics.
Whether you are a beginner looking to just give the trumpet a try, or a professional in need of a specialty instrument, there is no need for you to overpay for the perfect trumpet.
With the wide array of types, materials, and quality options available, you can absolutely get everything you wish for without suffering buyer’s remorse.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?
That wraps up our post on the best inexpensive trumpets, we hope it’s helped you know what to look for.
As with most things in life, try to spend as much as you can afford as you do really get what you pay for when buying a trumpet.
We wouldn’t recommend you spend less than $100 though as the quality is not worth it and spending only slightly more will see you get a lot better instrument that’ll last a lot longer.
While all the trumpets on our list are excellent budget-friendly instruments, if you’re still on the fence about which one to go for, our top pick would have to be the Jean Paul USA TR330.
In our opinion, it’s the best value for an exceptionally low price.
The combination of the high-quality construction, durable materials, and reputable brand with great reviews means that it’s a no-brainer for those looking to purchase their first trumpet on a budget.
For more information, to get the best price and to read the reviews click below.
- The Jean Paul Trumpet is in key of Bb
- Comes with robust contoured carrying case for ease of use transportation
- Beautiful Yellow brass body construction with Gold Lacquer finish
