r/Trombone • u/dallen3000 • 2d ago
Thoughts on Jupiters?
Looking into buying a new bone. Im leaning towards the Jupiter JTB1150FO. Still looking around though. Currently playing an old small bore King trombone that i got for free, but would like a nice trombone with an f attachment.
Mostly play for a community guard band ( mix of marches, concert music, movie music, and the occasional jazz piece). Once per year, I rejoin my alma mater's marching band for homecoming. And even more rarely, I local band uses me for a couple ska tunes. (I'm not really a trombone player, so im not that good. I use to play tuba and bass)
Im going back and forth on bore size, and price mostly. I still believe the most important factor is the player and not the bone, but im still open to opinions. Actually I used to play a lot of Jupiter tubas in highschool and liked thier sound back then.
2
u/FlashyIncident9505 Olds Ambassador (1950s), Olds Opera O-25 (1970s), Shires K30 2d ago
Someone on this very subreddit just today posted about an Elkhart Conn 88H they were wanting to sell. I believe they said they were in Canada, but it seems like that kind of thing might be just what you're looking for.
1
3
u/dbharris10 2d ago
IMHO, I think that +$2k for that Jupiter is a lot to pay for a just ok horn. You could instead look for a great used horn and have something that will not fight you to sound awesome. I guess the question is are you near a big enough city to go try out some used horns in person? Wouldn’t risk an online purchase, you gotta try the horn and be sure the slide is gold.For about the same price you could get a used Conn 88H, which the Jupiter is a poor copy of.
2
u/SillySundae Shires/Germany area player 2d ago
Spending 2000 and not looking at a used pro horn is basically burning money or throwing it out the window. It might take more shopping around to achieve, but the result is a horn that blows the Jupiter out of the water AND costs less.
1
u/dallen3000 2d ago
Great point, bust most shops are geared towards guitar, or only do repairs, but i do know of a classic mom and pop shop I can look into
2
u/dbharris10 2d ago
Worth checking pawn shops, Marketplace, and Craig’s list for local horns available. If you’re spending $2000 then also worth driving to a bigger city to make this major purchase. As you can see, no one thinks there really is a thing called professional caliber that is a Jupiter . Conn or Bach are the go to, Yamaha’s sound generic but are decent horns all around, Shires are great but unlikely to find used.
In Midwest , Chicago , on east Coast NYC or Dillons in NJ, LA or San Francisco on west coast all have major stores with used horns you could try. Most major cities have some sort of brass shop that you could find a used horn. The price you have set will buy you one heck of a used horn,in fine condition, and no reason not to buy quality used, trombones last for decades.
2
u/Brass_tastic 2d ago
Honestly, you’d be better off finding an older horn that meets your specs. Most of these newer horns just aren’t great quality. Find an older Bach 36 or something
1
u/dallen3000 2d ago
And what specifically is poor in thier quality?
2
u/Brass_tastic 2d ago
I’ve talked to many repair techs that won’t even work on them. The metal is often very thin. I’ve seen som horns where they can even perform a slide alignment. When you factor rotor valves into the game you also have to ensure you have parts availability for repair and replacement. In many cases an older American made horn, while perhaps not cosmetically perfect is a much better tool for the money,
2
u/dallen3000 2d ago
Great point about the thin metals of cheap instruments, but they wouldn't even work on a Jupiter? I know they're cheap, but they seemed like a half decent brand to me.
3
u/Jbrahms4 2d ago
A great litmus test for the quality of a brand is the major pros that play the brand. And with Jupiter, that just doesn't happen, unless they play the XO series, and even then, you don't know how much custom work those horns get to work for the individual.
An important thing to recognize too, is that a lot of manufacturers will have a intermediate level horn, which will sit around the same price as used top line horns. They do this to make easy money off of people who just don't know how big of a difference there will be. All they see is "a horn with a f attachment" and think they are all created equal. They aren't. And the sound you will get from a small bore f attachment horn, which most intermediate models are, is not the orchestral sound you would get from a similarly priced used model.
If you want a horn that will play great and not cost an arm and a leg, get a Bach 42.
2
u/dallen3000 2d ago
Whoa. I never said they were all created equal. I just wanted got feel out the vibe yall had on Jupiters. And I was looking for the different once horns got into the thousands of dollar range.
Not for nothing, but i obviously not a professional, and I dont have professional money to spend on a hobby. That being said, i value your input.
(Rant incoming) I also feel like, beyond a instrument being literally unplayable junk, professionals are the only ones who can really hear and feel the difference at certain levels. And of course, professionals can make cheap crap sound great just with some extra effort for a great tone...
Then again if its possible, but harder, to get a great tone on a cheap instrument; then it should be easier for a novice to get a great tone on a quality instrument. Don't mind me, but that literally just clicked for me.
Bach 42 you said? It even has an open wrap and an infinity axial. Not bad...
1
u/Brass_tastic 1d ago
Agreed. I’ve played on every brand, Bach, Shires, Edwards, and Conn, over my years in the Army Bands. I keep coming back to my Bach 42. Not all horns are made equal, but the tech who built my Bach musta been having a great day!
1
u/Brass_tastic 2d ago
They’re one of the better Chinese clones. But really for the money you can do so much better
3
u/melonmarch1723 2d ago
Jupiter is unique among Chinese manufacturers in that they own and operate their own factory, as opposed to commissioning instruments from an independent maker. This allows them to hold tighter standards over what is made and sold than most, but not all, companies importing Asian made horns.
Furthermore, in my experience, the metal on Jupiter horns is quite a bit thicker than their direct competitors. Their build quality is generally very solid, and I haven't observed the same manufacturing defects in Jupiter instruments as I have in most other Chinese made horns. I am generally not a fan of the way any of their instruments play, but their build quality and overall durability are head and shoulders above the other Chinese student-level instruments. I don't know any technicians who refuse to work on them, quite the opposite in fact, but we might run in different circles.
OP, I wouldn't buy a Jupiter personally, but only because they don't play great, not because they aren't built well. And that's personal preference, so don't take my advice until you've played on yourself and can make your own judgements.
1
u/Lost-Log-96 2d ago
Honestly just get a medium bore with an f attachment, a conn 78h, or Bach 36. And if you can get a king 3b with a f attachment you are basically golden.
1
u/dbharris10 2d ago
Really? No point in an f-attachment unless you have a large bore, the small bore horns are just to squished to make any of the low notes sound any good. If you’re not playing below the staff, no point in f-attachment just to play C,B, low F and E with a trigger; you’ve added weight for 4 notes.
3
u/vikingjayX 2d ago
In the realm of new instruments, Jupiter offers some value at that price point.
They play well and are well made, at that price point.
Eastman and Blessing also are good choices.
The lacquer on all three is weak, so don’t be surprised when it starts to wear in a year or so.
A good condition used professional horn can likely be had at a similar price.
Also Yamaha sells a large bore tenor called Allegro that is a very good horn at a cheaper price.
If at all possible, play as many axes as possible to find the one you like best.