The trumpet is a well-known brass instrument that is usually found in orchestras and jazz music. Everyone has seen and heard the traditional trumpet. But do you know about the "pocket trumpet"? To be honest, when I heard about it for the first time, an image of a person carrying an incredibly tiny trumpet inside their shirt pocket came to my mind.
But that is not the case in real life. Pocket trumpets are fully-functional trumpets. The only difference is that they are much more compact and have tighter coiling of slides than a regular-sized trumpet. The small size of the instrument makes it easy and fun to play, thus making it an ideal option for children and beginners. Moreover, choose a traditional mouthpiece for the pocket trumpet to play the high notes comfortably.
However, finding a good pocket trumpet is like finding a needle in a haystack. That is why I have compiled a list of some of the best pocket trumpet in the market.
10 BEST POCKET TRUMPET REVIEW
1. MENDINI MPT - BEST BRASS POCKET TRUMPET
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Trumpets are usually expensive and as a beginner, investing in an expensive trumpet feels unreasonable. But can a cheap trumpet be any good? After all, most inexpensive instruments come with a lot of flaws. Thankfully, Mendini proves us wrong. Mendini by Cecilio is famous for its range of budget-friendly instruments. Similarly.
The Mendini MPT-N trumpet comes with a stylish design and impressive features at a surprisingly low price tag. It is made of brass alloy with a nickel coated body. This makes it durable while also maintaining an aesthetic appeal.
The Mendini MPT-N is one of the best pocket trumpet for beginners since it comes with everything that you need to get started. It has a reduced bell size of around 3.75 inches and a 0.46 inches bore. This results in a pleasant projection and a slightly higher pitch. It is tuned to B-flat, similar to most pocket trumpets.
It has a smooth action and the sound is full and has a warm undertone to it. It has a great response so you do not have to use a lot of energy to release the notes. Moreover, the intonation in the middle and upper register is nice but it goes flat once you start going below lower C.
The best part is that you get loads of accessories, including a chromatic tuner, valve oil, cleaning cloth and a pair of white gloves. It is not a professional trumpet in any way but is definitely a bang for a buck for beginners.
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2. EASTROCK - BEST POCKET TRUMPET FOR BEGINNERS
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The EastRock pocket trumpet is underrated since many have not heard of this brand. But that does not stop it from giving other brands good competition. It comes in four colours- gold, black, blue and nickel. To me, the silver nickel colour looks the most elegant out of all the colours but you have these four options to choose from.
Get the colour that fits your style the best! This Bb pocket trumpet has a sturdy brass body with a uniformly sprayed colour and an impressive reflection. It is compact and easily portable, making it the best pocket trumpet for practice, orchestras and concerts.
The EastRock trumpet comes pre-tuned so that you can begin playing it right away without spending a large amount of money on getting it professionally tuned. It has a 3.98 inches bell, a 0.47 inches bore and a high-quality valve, resulting in a powerful, bright and resonating sound. However, despite the good sound, you need to put in a lot of air to get the right sound, so it might be a bit difficult for beginners.
But overall, it is an affordable entry-level pocket trumpet that is not only budget-friendly but also delivers professional craftsmanship that is found mostly in high-end trumpets.
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3. CLASSIC CANTABILE TT-500 - BEST CAROL BRASS POCKET TRUMPET
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You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, so why would you judge a trumpet by its price tag? Spending a lump sum of money on a beginner instrument seems absurd, especially if you are going to replace it after you increase your skill level or realize that playing the trumpet is not suitable for you. Besides, many expensive models turn out to be disappointing and underwhelming.
The Classic Cantabile TT-500 is a sleek model that seeks to deliver the same feel and sound of a full-sized trumpet in a compact pocket-size build. The model is built with high-quality materials and has a bore size of 11.7mm and a bell diameter of 105mm. It is compact and lightweight, making it the best pocket trumpet when it comes to portability.
The small size contributes to a closer winding which results in a good response and intonation. Keep in mind that this is not a toy trumpet just because it is light. It really does offer almost the same sound quality as a full-sized trumpet would do.
Alongside the trumpet, you will receive a rugged hard case to keep your trumpet well-protected. The only complaint that I have is that the valves are not of good quality and can stick even with well-lubricated. Overall, it is a good option for budget-conscious beginners.
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4. NASIR ALI POTR-05 - BEST BUDGET POCKET TRUMPET
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Nasir Ali PoTr-50 is a budget-friendly option that will not disappoint. It is a great pocket-trumpet for those who are just starting out and for children as well. The classic brassy gold look gives it a retro feel. It comes with a lot of features that are usually found in professional trumpets.
The brand claims to test every product and meets the manufacturing standards. So you do not need to worry about manufacturing defects since the brand tries their best to meet the customer's expectations.
The valves have a smooth action, equipped with faux mother-of-pearl inlaid buttons. The slides have an accurate forming and deliver a decent B-flat tuning for productive practice sessions. All of these features contribute to a comfortable playing experience.
The sound is decent, with sweet tones and a good volume for practicing. To make things better, you will receive everything that you need to start playing the trumpet. That includes a soft cleaning cloth, valve oil and a hard case. This saves you a couple of bucks that would otherwise get wasted on purchasing them separately.
Speaking of valve oil, you do need to lubricate the trumpet quite often. All-in-all, it is a good, if not the best pocket trumpet for beginners who want to try out this instrument before buying a high-budget model.
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5. STAGG WS-TR245 - BEST POCKET TRUMPET FOR PROFESSIONAL
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It does not matter if you are not well-versed with trumpets and have limited knowledge of what to look for while selecting a new instrument. I can assure you that even a novice like you will be able to understand that the Stagg WS-TR245 has an excellent visual quality, at first glance.
The pocket-trumpet is made of heavy-duty yellow brass with a high-quality lacquer finish. It is compact and lightweight, measuring 8 x 3 x 6 inches and 4.2 pounds. The compact size makes it easy for you to pack it along with your luggage when you are travelling.
Most of the pocket size trumpets are known to compromise on the volume of the sound due to their size. However, the Stagg WS TR245 produces a surprisingly big sound. The valves are excellent and they do not stick, making it ideal for long practice sessions since the valves do not stick.
The slides function well and have a fairly accurate tuning and the sound is clear and mellow. However, I would like to point out that the lead pipe is a bit too low when compared to other trumpets. This makes it difficult for one-hand operation. Other than this flaw, it is one of the best pocket trumpet for training.
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6. SKY MUSIC - BEST CECILIO POCKET TRUMPET
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The first thing you will notice about this trumpet is its vibrant color. It is, in fact, available in a jaw-dropping nine colors! This Sky Trumpet has a beautiful purple finish with a design that exposes some of the brilliantly shining golden brass.
I am skeptical about colored finishes in general since they do not look as gorgeous when the lacquer starts to come off. The Sky Trumpet features a 0.46-inch bore and a 3.75-inch bell.
These specifications result in a high intonation and excellent response. It has a one-time drawn body that has no seams and comes with high durability. However, the price of this trumpet should have been cheaper since it is made from a cheaper quality material found in most lower-level trumpets.
The precise fittings and the tubing offer a smooth airflow and a significantly lesser amount of turbulence. However, the sound is mediocre at best and is not remarkable in any way.
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7. QUEEN - BEST POCKET TRUMPET FOR JAZZ
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The Queen Brass Pocket Trumpet is one of the best pocket trumpet for a reason. It is made from genuine brass and an impressive chrome-plated finish that pays attention to detail. It is 10 and a half inches in length and weighs just 3.7 pounds, resulting in a compact body that allows easy storage and portability.
The lightweight design will also decrease fatigue while playing. This makes it a perfect fit for beginners and children. Moreover, it is also suitable for one-hand playing.
The bell diameter is 3-1/4 inches which are small even for a pocket trumpet. The drawback of such a small-sized bell is that the sound tends to be sharper and 'tinny'. It has a smooth action and delivers a decent quality sound.
The brand boasts of testing each trumpet on-play in their factory by specialists so that all the required standards are met. Overall, it is a good low-cost option.
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8. CHOPRA POCKET TRUMPET
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The Chopra Musicals is probably one of the oldest Indian manufacturer and exporter of various Indian musical instruments since 1974! The Chopra pocket trumpet is a nice choice for beginners as the product meets almost all the expectations that you would have from a student pocket trumpet.
It comes in a compact size and weighs just 2.2 pounds! This is probably the best pocket trumpet for you if you want maximum portability. The tone is also decent for the price. The negative side is that the valves tend to stick a lot and the sound may not be up to the mark.
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9. ROY BENSON RBPT101G
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The Roy Benson pocket trumpet is a petite beauty. The instrument comes in a highly durable case so don't worry about it getting damaged while in transit. The first thing you will notice is that the pocket trumpet comes in the classic yellow brass finish.
Honestly, the colour is a bit dark and therefore looks professional. You will get a thumb ring on the third valve which will help you with the intonation. The sound is average and just alright for a beginner. It is not the best pocket trumpet in the world but it will do the job of being a starter trumpet.
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10. RAVEL RPKT1RED RPKT1
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The Ravel RPKT1 comes in four color options such as black, blue, red and silver. Hence, you have the liberty to choose the color that suits your style. It is a decent beginner trumpet that has been tried and tested in the USA.
The design is compact and is probably slightly larger than a lunch box. The sound quality will do just fine for a beginner. However, the spring tension is low so replacing them would be advisable. In a nutshell, it is a good pocket trumpet for children and for those who want to try this instrument out.
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CONCLUSION
When you are buying a pocket trumpet you should look for certain aspects like sound. You should buy a pocket trumpet that has a good timbre, tone and projection. The best pocket trumpet should be able to reach extreme registers effectively.
The valves should be able to move smoothly. The bore and the bell sizes should be a bit wider to produce better intonation. Get a portable size trumpet so you can fit it into your luggage. Lastly, price matters. Buying a $700 pocket trumpet for a child or a beginner seems illogical. So buy something that fits your budget.
Hello readers, welcome to my blog! I’m Stefan. I’m in hard love with the music and used to collect all kinds of musical instruments at my garage. While looking for the best instruments, initially, I’ve struggled a lot. Like me, some of you might be struggling to choose the best musical equipment. So, keep reading my articles and get the best musical instrument that is worth your pay.