Quick Sound Comparison of Cheap vs less Cheap Pocket Trumpets

$100 Model (Mendini MPT-N Nickel Plated) Vs $900 Model(Carol Brass Pocket Trumpet CPT-3000-GLS-SLB)
If you're interested you can find them here
EXPENSIVE Horn:
rb.gy/m7to1
CHEAP Horn:
rb.gy/yf3ds
Don't know if you can hear the difference, but I can most certainly feel a difference......about $800 worth.

[@eundoparkmusic]

If you're interested in these horns, you can find them here: Carol Brass Pocket (Expensive Horn) rb.gy/m7to1 Mendini Pocket (Cheap Horn) rb.gy/yf3ds

[@mikestang679]

A great player, with a great mouthpiece, can make any cheapo horn sound great.....

[@boinknook]

That medini kicked ass!! For that price, it was astounding! Hell, I wouldn't have known it was $100. Sounds awesome!

[@sceu25]

they fall apart after a while dont use them

[@mikestang679]

$129.00....amazon

[@subzeroelectronics3022]

I have a Mendini and I’ve gotta say, Cecilio did well making it. It’s quality is surprisingly high (apart from the fact that the lacquer is just about the weakest thing on the planet and started flaking off the day I got it) and doesn’t sound half bad. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who wants to be an actual trumpet player, but if you’re like me who already owns a few other brass instruments and wanted to try trumpet, it is not a bad choice.

[@Mateo-lg4hq]

How much does it cost?

[@subzeroelectronics3022]

@@Mateo-lg4hq it was about 120 USD at the time I bought it.

[@620film]

Quite frankly, with your talent, I think you could make any trumpet sound good. Nice video!

[@JohnDuarte-dx8kx]

My thoughts exactly.🎺

[@stalememes]

I’ve been top of my class for 2 years straight with a 100 dollar beginner trumpet, it’s not the price it’s the player

[@dylanjmedia715]

True up to a point.

[@lml241]

@@dylanjmedia715 Yea I have a super cheap trumpet but am still first chair for everything at hs. But iv'e tried better trumpets and they feel Soooooooooo much better.

[@Cmack6025]

I have noticed that my grades slipped from A to B+ when I switched from Ticonderoga pencils to cheap staples pencils, they kept braking and I’d have to get up and sharpen them.

[@tannersparrow5588]

Then its your fault cause you should be using pens anyways

[@Cmack6025]

CaryTheCrab 😂 tried it, squid ink gets all over 🦑

[@evanhernandez3560]

I can see how the carol feels better, the runs sounded cleaner and more controlled. Cheaper one sounds brassier but of course better is just opinion and I like brassy so yeah the cheaper one sounds better to me lol. I’m on my phone so I can’t really hear the intonation issues it might have Used to play tuba in high school, now just guitar and some keys but really miss playing a brass instrument... might buy the mindini, thanks!

[@skiz-bg8cd]

Lovely comparison! I was thinking about getting a pocket just for entertainment purposes and easy tunes while traveling and it's good to know. the cheaper alternative isnt bad at all

[@eundoparkmusic]

Thanks! yeah, for 99.99% of the trumpet playing population, the cheaper pocket trumpet will work just fine, especially for a travel horn. For $100 the cheaper horn plays surprisingly well!

[@ChildOfKingJesus57]

Great Jazz playing!! You are very talented. I played mostly classical and hymns. And I am learning to play Jazz AND SET MYSELF FREE FROM HAVING TO READ MUSIC ALL THE TIME and to do improv. I HOPE TO BE AS GOOD AS YOU SOME DAY. I HAVE NINE HORNS. A FEW VERY GOOD HORNS. The one I play most with phenomenal rich tone, is my 1933 King liberty, Art Deco design siver thumpet with gold bell. The etched designs are amazing. My father in law left it to me along with some other excellent trumpets. He recieved the King brand new in the early 30s as a teen and played it in a brass band, called the, "Kings of harmony". They played all King horns. They played on a luxury cruise ship from USA to Britain. He played it regularly his whole life, till he passed away. I read, that at the time it was made, it was the best trumpet you could get. It is in perfect order, he took excellent care of it. I am so blessd and thankful. I miss playing with him on our trumpets to the wee hours of the morning. I also have a nice full bell pocket trumpet mid range in cost. Sounds nice, but still not as nice as my King. Thanks for the demonstration!!

[@MrDetroit69]

I am a old guy, and I've been thinking about a pocket trumpet. Maybe I've got a tin ear, because I could not tell the difference. I don't even know which was which.

[@eundoparkmusic]

Although I'd probably steer anyone from buying a pocket trumpet as a main instrument, if you learn to play correctly any horn will be just fine. Also you don't have a tin ear... There really isn't a huge difference between the two as far as tone.

[@Omar-tw1wl]

Thanks for making this video. Based primarily on your comment about the noticeable difference, I decided to track down a used CarolBrass pocket trumpet rather than going the cheaper $100/new route. After playing the CarolBrass, I'm glad I did. It was much better than an old but well-made Bundy school horn that I started on, blowing surprisingly free for such a small size. It's not as open as my primary Bach Strad 43, but for the purposes of keeping up the chops while on vacation, it will do nicely.

[@eundoparkmusic]

Glad to hear my video helped! And I agree, the Carol Brass horn plays surprisingly open for such a small horn. The tuning is also actually very even on it, which is the furthest thing I can say about the cheap pocket trumpet.

[@WasatchWendigo]

Looked like you were fighting the first instrument more, but I appreciate the tone of the first more than the less brassy and more boring/smokey Carol Brass one. It's all subjective as to which someone prefers on that front.

[@Johnflugelhorn]

Good comparison,I like the smooth centered tone of the Carol Brass pocket trumpet much better than the Mendini pocket trummpet.

[@pavelvedernikov8502]

I agree

[@juniortavarez3472]

sorry,they both sound the same

[@pavelvedernikov8502]

You have to work a bit on your listening techniques... They are pretty different.

[@dstorfer]

For me the difference is that there are more overtones in the Carol. I don't know if I want to characterize it as smooth or centered, it's just bigger, like eating something that needs salt, and then adding the salt. I did take me about 25 times switching back and forth between 0:20 and 1:31 before I could really hear the differences. The first 10 times I didn't hear the difference, so I turned up the volume more and started hearing it, but couldn't quite identify what I wanted to call it until another dozen listens. What I would really like to hear from a comparison video, ideally, is snippets being A/B'd in loops so I didn't have to do what I did.

[@eundoparkmusic]

KaraZorEl_94 thanks for th suggestion about going back and forth more frequently when doing a comparison. That's actually a great idea and I will most likely do that if I make another comparison vid

[@shastastan1935]

I had a Carol Brass C trumpet (great intonation) which didn't get much use so I sold it. I have a Getzen trumpet and cornet. I've decided to play at church again and I'm tired of transposing from C to Bb so I just ordered a C pocket trumpet (Shiller Center Tone) which is $500 cheaper than the Carol Brass C pocket trumpet. The tone sounds okay in the demo for the playalongs to the hymns. For solo work, I'll still use my trumpet or cornet which I play in a brass quintet. Thanks for the video. Nice playing, too.

[@bruin4937]

Great chops, bro. And, yeah, Carol Brass the clear winner.

[@eundoparkmusic]

Thanks!

[@Lalaphive]

I can hear the difference not sure if its actually $800 worth tho. Your tone sounds great in both by the way sir. Thats more of a testament to you than the horns. Cheers!

[@jowt5588]

thing is, i'm fairly sure the diameter of the bell is what's causing them to sound different. smaller diameter on the cheaper trumpet makes it sound brighter or harsher, larger diameter on the carol brass makes it sound more mellow and soft.

[@eundoparkmusic]

you're absolutely correct. The more expensive horn has a much larger bell as well as lead pipe. However, the more expensive horn also has a highly superior build quality, and holding both horns, you can most certainly feel the difference in the quality of parts used to make the horns. So the actual quality of the metals used also effects the sound.

[@darylwizzard5832]

They both sound good. I guess I will buy the cheap one. Lol

[@eundoparkmusic]

@@darylwizzard5832 I would most certainly recommend that

[@contactpq]

Last month I forked up $2500 for my son to purchase a $3500 trumpet ... yesterday, I ordered him an inexpensive "Ammoon" pocket trumpet from EBay for Christmas .. just to have some fun on it .. I just know he's gonna find everything wrong with it .. such a picky little broke rascal ... BTW...nice playing .. love the sound

[@mrhornful]

There's a 'richness' to the sound of the Carol but I do agree, that for most audiences, they would sound the same. I LOVE CarolBrass horns and have owned a couple of their pocket trumpets, and whilst they are great, they still aren't as good as a full-sized horn IMO. So.., for most, a cheaper one which is mechanically good and in tune, would be just as useful.

[@DylansTrumpetPage]

I have the Mendini model and will someday move up to a standard size trumpet! I love mine

[@aminorerror]

Had to hop back and forth but yea.....the Carol Brass sounds better lol I've got the Carol Brass Nickel Plated and I love it! BTW nice playing!

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

I hear a lot of Roy Hargrove in your playing (R.I.P. Roy Hargrove)

[@eundoparkmusic]

He's most certainly one of my big influences so that's a huge compliment!

[@alexbern5188]

I was in his Blue Note show 3 year ago.... RIP...

[@toro5338]

A bit more warm sound the 2nd one.

[@wiiu7640]

From a dynamics point, I prefer the $100 nickel-plated trumpet; but in a marching band, the $900 brass trumpet would sound nice because it gets a louder sound naturally, which marching band would probably use a pocket trumpet more compared to just a concert player. If I were just using it to practice for concert pieces, by myself, or even in a setting where you perform with high dynamics, definitely the $100 trumpet because of it's dynamics, portability, and price. If I'm on a field where dynamics don't matter as much, but being able to hear it does, definitely the $900 trumpet.

[@ezesosa8398]

F. ! ASOME !!!! SO SO SO SO GOOD !

[@NatanSupel]

THAT JAZZ HE PLAYS AT THE BEGINING

[@brokenwave90]

Sweet vid!

[@CornetBlues]

You would never know this is a pocket Cornet if you close your eyes 😊☘️🎺🎶🎺☘️

[@intuberably]

Carol wins!

[@ReZnMusic]

You got skills homie

[@eundoparkmusic]

Thank you!

[@dimagass7801]

i may possibly get the blue pocket trumpet

[@pauldance7387]

Just been playing that song myself lately, cannot improvise like you but I love that piece....( if you ever get an opportunity to hear one of Jack Jones recordings of that song you’ll very much enjoy it)

[@BrazilianScopel]

Very kind of you to show that not always more money brings more quality (although not everyone agree with that). I had a blue Mendini pocket trumpet some time ago and it surprised me about it's very sweet voice - even sweeter than my cornet -, great intonation e good valves action. Now I discovered another Chinese brand - Ostrich - wich offer a pocket trumpet that looks just like Mendinis. Do you know if is the same factory that makes both?

[@craviid]

I've been playing trumpet for four years and I've been thinking about investing in a pocket trumpet, I already have a regular trumpet and thought a smaller trumpet would be fun. Thoughts?

[@eundoparkmusic]

a cheap pocket trumpet is a great little backup/travel horn to have for any trumpet player. I leave my cheap one in the trunk of my car just in case something happens to my actual horn on gigs, and there have been a handful of times I'm very very glad I had it. But it also fits in a backpack pretty easily and makes a great travel horn, so I would actually highly recommend buying one. However, if you do, I highly recommend getting a cheaper horn and not buying an expensive pocket trumpet.

[@SamanthaMonday5]

They have the same sound as in pitches n stuff but it’d be fun to have on the go or just a side hobby sort of thing. The sound quality may not be better or even equal but it would sure be fun.

[@toy4115]

You sick!👍👍👍

[@Gman44044]

nice playing man ...

[@eundoparkmusic]

Thanks!!

[@Gman44044]

what song are you playing?

[@goodcyrus]

The first trumpet (I assume the cheap mendini) sounded noticeably better than the 2nd one (Carol Brass). I was afraid of saying that, but reading your comments below seems like you thought so too.

[@brianwolle2509]

first one sounded better -if thats the cheap mandini, then ok.

[@shpe78]

I have had a pocket for a week..piston number 3..it often slowly returns to its position, despite putting oil...suggestions? A thousand thanks

[@eundoparkmusic]

Most valves reardaless of the type of trumpet need some sort of break in period so the best thing to do would be to just play it as much as possible. You can also try to take a paper towel and wiping your valves everyday and reapplying oil.

[@shpe78]

@@eundoparkmusic max thanks

[@ZabDevin]

You sound great. What mouthpiece are you using?

[@eundoparkmusic]

Thanks! I'm using a mouthpiece made by a company called Austin Winds. Austin Winds horns and mouthpieces are actually what I play on for any of my professional work.

[@ZabDevin]

Eundo Park Thank you.

[@ljbegnaud]

Yes, nice sound and chops. Did you prefer the Carol Brass over the Austin Winds pocket trumpet?

[@alexn1482]

Hello, I have a question. Do you think that nickel plated is a good choice for a low-maintenance (probably not gonna clean it very often/at all) instrument, or would one of the lacquered ones be better?

[@hayesman76]

Please be specific regarding your claim to be able to “feel” the difference. The CarolBrass trumpet (which I’ve inky seen positive comments about) looks like it has a larger bell so I’m wondering if that made it freer-blowing than the Mendini (which brand also gets top reviews for very less-expensive trumpets).

[@truusargent5287]

Go Astros!

[@tjw5747]

Not gonna lie, the first one still sounded bomb

[@korelly]

I heard many negative comment about Jupiter instruments. I saw several pocket trumpets on Amazon for as low as 130$, would you recommend it? Thanks

[@bradfreshtv2133]

Hey! Do the pocket trumpet good for beginning's

[@eundoparkmusic]

Glory Boy Hi there. I would actually not recommend a pocket trumpet for a beginner. For the same cost you could actually purchase a cheaper full sized trumpet which would be much better to start learning with.

[@MxAvA]

Dang. I bought an old "Olds" trumpet. I'm actually a horn player, but a neighbor was selling it for $175 and on a lark, I bought it. I've actually been enjoying it a lot, but lower register doesn't sound good. I tried a $900 used Benge pocket trumpet at a music store and found I could play it much better. So I'm all excited about getting a pocket trumpet, probably from mackbrass.com as someone in the band I play in bought a good euphonium from them for a very decent price. I could get a nice silver pocket trumpet from them for about $400 or a regular trumpet for about $500. What is better about a regular trumpet for a beginner? I'm not out to become a great trumpet player, but maybe I could at some point play in a band. I thought as an extra instrument that is more for fun, a pocket trumpet would be ideal.

[@Nikosi9]

Get a cornet... They are generally cheaper than trumpets, and in my opinion, sound nicer. More mellow...

[@fresitabonbon5143]

I liked the second horn you could hear every single bell and the sound is more quality I thought the second one was the cheaper one at first I'm still not so sure but either way I prefer the second one every note transition was good on that one the first which I thought was the more expensive one had difficulty or sloppy transitions the sound was ok though

[@eundoparkmusic]

Fresita Bonbon the second is the far more expensive of the two. I actually really prefer the sound of the first (cheaper one). However, the second one is far easier to play and actually plays in tune. The first one is very stuffy to play and you have to really fight the tuning

[@biggdan4]

Keeping in tune and easier to play is why I went for the Carol Brass I have the Carol Brass Dizzy version upgrading from my EC Durant pocket trumpet that has all the issues you mentioned with the cheaper one. I agree the cheaper one has a better sound (though my EC Durant doesn't sound as good); you might want to check out the Horn trader HT-3 Jazz mouthpiece it's shaped like a flugelhorn mouthpiece. I wish I could play as well as you; great playing. Thanks for the post!

[@harambewentz833]

I'm getting a black nickel plated Allora pocket trumpet. It's about $350

[@siarez]

Did you get it? How is it? I'm very close to pulling the trigger :)

[@byronpratt9697]

He is comparing full bell to not full bell

[@eundoparkmusic]

Byron Pratt very true. But this was not meant to be an apples to apples comparison. I wanted to show people the difference between 2 horns in two different price points. To be honest I actually prefer the sound of the cheaper smaller horn although I prefer playing the bigger more expensive one.

[@lineost]

hey, i played 3 years worth of cornet in marching band.. i was wondering if it's any harder playing a pocket trumpet than a cornet? also the first trumpet/$900 trumpet sounds so well! i'm sure it's because you have a lot of experience under your belt to make it sound that good as well :-). you even made the 2nd trumpet/$100 trumpet sound decently ok!

[@brianwolle2509]

no difference.

[@newsofthenerd]

Can you imagine if he heard a full size cornet or trumpet he would be willing to pay millions if not billions for the sound difference alone.

[@MxAvA]

You "feel" the difference, as in the way the valves move under your fingers, or the way the air flows through your mouth, or the way your lips vibrate, or all of these? If you're a serious player, then of course, you'd go for the better one, but as an amateur or beginner, the cheaper one seems to me like it's a better deal.

[@eundoparkmusic]

You mostly feel the difference in how the air flows through the horn. The Carol Brass horn feels pretty open, especially for such a small horn. It also plays very well in tune, and the lower register actually speaks, unlike the cheaper one. I really don't think most people actually need an expensive pocket trumpet (or a pocket trumpet period), so you are correct, the Mendini is a much better deal and what I would recommend for 99% of people out there looking to get a pocket trumpet. But there is a small niche of trumpet players who the Carol Brass is a good fit for, myself being one of them.

[@adamf.4823]

Cotton vs. Velvet. Sugar vs. Syrup.

[@beansama171]

I play b flat trumpet and imma buy one of these for fun 😃 but please tell me if they sound different

[@roygumpel8415]

"imma" ? what the hell? hope you play better than you write.

[@yomi1454]

Que de diferencia de un pocket vs una trompeta convencional?

[@nizarkarim5086]

Solo el tamaño.

[@TheBasirKarim]

Nice! What is the tune you played?

[@eundoparkmusic]

Mark Tennon it's "What's New"

[@TheBasirKarim]

Eundo Park awesome! thanks!

[@GrumpyStormtrooper]

would this be recommended for beginners? i see these are usually cheaper than normal size trumpets

[@eundoparkmusic]

I would not recommend it for beginners . You can actually find equally priced full sized trumpets, some even as cheap as $100 US and I would most certainly recommend going that route

[@lucassantosreis9740]

Que bocal é este ?

[@mellowdevil1088]

what sheet music is that ???

[@DavidAndersoniiVI]

I don't know if you went any lower than a G on that medini, or any higher than a high A. But I need to know what these ranges sound like too. Well?

[@eundoparkmusic]

The high range on the Mendini is fine... The low range is terrible

[@DavidAndersoniiVI]

@@eundoparkmusic I bought one shortly after my initial comment. I've been playing a TR300 for a little over a year. No formal training, and still a beginner! Frustrating to say the least, but I've never taken it out on my instrument. You play really well and thank you.

[@risalia7638]

THE POCKET TRUMPET IS SO CUTE I CANT

[@milesmorales5929]

Risalia Can't what? CAN'T WHAT

[@davidx4096]

She likes it= getting one tomorrow lol

[@giladkay3761]

Kind of feels the same, don’t know if it’s a good enough excuse to waste 140 dollars for it though

[@candypunch7441]

What music?

[@auret51]

Skylark

[@Nikosi9]

Candy Punch It's called, "What's New"...

[@juniortavarez3472]

again,same sound,he just put more feeling on their one promoting.

[@dstorfer]

Try listening to the segments at 0:20 and 1:31. Use good headphones or speakers, and put it at a good volume. Keep switching back and forth and eventually you will notice the latter horn has something a little bit more in the sound. There is a width to the latter sound that the first one doesn't have. It's not that either is more bright or dull, that would be the wrong description. There is simply "more" to the sound in the latter one. Seriously - the first bunch of times I switched back and forth I didn't hear it either, but take some time and try this.

[@byronpratt9697]

Yeah just how long they will last

[@slimeymusicalmadness493]

I agree

[@tedtedsen269]

but only if that's the sound you're after

[@adamf.4823]

Nope. Wrong. Sorry. No.

[@RRIA_America]

Hopefully you realized these are $350-$1,000 trumpet made by Mendini, Anywhere from beginner, intermediate, and starting to go professional. When buying a Mendini trumpet for $100 your not getting it for the whole price. I got my trumpet for $150 and it is worth $650 alone. If you don't believe me go onto the Mendini Cecilio website. Ps- your just putting more feeling into the expensive trumpet. A pretty obvious thing you can hear.

[@slimeymusicalmadness493]

the sound coming out of both of the pocket trumpets is the same. hes purposly playing the 900$ one better than hes playing the 100$ one.

[@eundoparkmusic]

slimey musical madness bradlee lyons thanks for the observation. But if you listen carefully (and if you heard it in person), there is a big difference in how the horns sound. However I am not trying to show that the more expensive horn sounds better and in fact, I greatly prefer the sound on the cheap horn, although I prefer the way the more expensive horn plays since it's a larger bell and feels much more open. But if I'm going strictly off of sound, the cheaper horn wins to me.

[@slimeymusicalmadness493]

Okay

[@adamf.4823]

No. This is crazy. I'm starting to feel pretty good about my ears. At least I know I'm not completely tone deaf like this guy.

[@seoul_forest]

한국인인가요?

[@EggyBoi]

Where r ur eyes?

[@adamf.4823]

If you have to be a dick at least try to be funny.

[@piedpeter1]

Where is your brain? you are probably a generic white European clone!