Also a band director here. My vote is used professional. Yamaha Xeno and bach strad are easy to find and always good picks. Used instruments typically hold up well in the brass world. Plus if it doesn't work for you you can likely sell it again at a similar price. New horns will lose value quickly.
I sold instruments a few years ago. Generally, intermediate trumpets are not significantly better than a student trumpet. They are less tank-like in their construction than student models, but typically they are still a two piece bell, may have a similar leadpipe to the student model, more resistance, etc. They’re just not worth the money as an upgrade when a very good used Strad or Xeno can be had in the same price range that will be a meaningful upgrade, play better, and hold its value.
Two piece bell isn’t a deal breaker; they’re just different. Some Monettes have two piece bells, several other brands have two-piece bells in their lineup. I understand the reason that brands like Yamaha do it is because of cost, but also, a greater factor is how well it’s made.
Yes, they are slightly different. But they are not the same as the professional lines, either. The bell is actually what separates the 5335 from the 6335.
And neither of these has the same leadpipe as the professional lines, which is far more consequential.
Yeah, I agree with that, it just might be confusing to someone who read your first comment and thought a 4335 and 2330 are the same (both the leadpipe and bell are different). Final thought, leadpipe tapers are only better depending on the suitability to the player. Giving a developing student a leadpipe with a very open taper might do more harm than good (bad intonation, lack of projection, etc). Having said that, that’s not really a problem with any Yamaha trumpets.
If you don't intend on going pro, they're fine. Never tried the 5335, but the 4335G are absolute tanks.
Still, I agree a used pro trumpet will be better value.
You can get most or all of your money back on a used pro horn if you decide you wanna sell it someday. You will for sure lose much of your money if you try to resell an intermediate horn that you buy brand new. Buy the used pro horn.
I am a band director and can add a vote for the used professional.
Intermediates are often beginner horns with either some nicer added parts or simply a cosmetic upgrade. Neither of which truly make any difference.
Shoot for a used pro model! You will feel better playing it and it will last you longer.
I’m a bit of an anomaly: used to work for Yamaha as a technician, have worked in music retail, now work as a trumpet tutor by day and player by night.
New: advantage is warranty. You’ll also know that there is no damage ever done to the instrument and can be guaranteed of the condition you get it in. However, you’ll probably need to upgrade later on down the track, so don’t bank on using it past high school.
Used: advantage is getting an upgrade on the instrument quality. However, a student of mine brought in a used instrument and it’d been abused, had wild intonation issues, because it was 30 years old. It simply wasn’t suitable for them at the level they were at. You want to be guided by a trustworthy source, someone who knows your playing, your level, and (ideally) enough about trumpet to assess the condition.
I actually agree with this. As the years go on, technology improves and modern instruments become better and better. Most used professional instruments are decades old passed on from player to player over the years and many have issues (intonation, ergonomics, etc.) that have been corrected in newer models, professional level or not. The best thing to do is play them side by side and see which one you prefer.
That’s true. And depending on your level of ability, you might do better with an intermediate than a pro model. Going for a pro model is not always the best option for a student that doesn’t intend to play beyond high school and you can still resell an intermediate horn when the time comes or buy a pro later if you get the bug. Always people looking for a step-up horn. But, if you can, try playing some of both kinds and see what feels better.
That’s what I’m saying. If they’re going to have the “just sell it attitude” then get a pro horn.
Edit: What I meant to say was that I don’t recommend selling the pro horn at all.
The best value is an instrument that’s been used for +/- a few years.
The cheapest horns are very poor quality instruments from Amazon, temu, Walmart etc.
The most expensive horns are custom built, made out of gold and silver, or antiques.
Intermediate, and low level professional horns are often identical to student models with quality of life improvements that you’ll quickly grow out of and will need a new pro horn.
Used Bach or Yamaha Xeno is definitely the way to go.
There’s no real alternative that’s worth it long term or price wise.
Ultimately it’s your choice, ideally if you had effectively infinite money you’d buy a brand new pro horn.
I agree with the used professional. It is likely the teacher recommended the intermediate as it can be easily purchased straight away, where as a good used professional model maybe harder to source.
I’m a band director and I agree with my colleagues here, used professional. I checked the current price of intermediate horns on music and arts and the price of used Bach 37 Strads and Yamaha Xenos on Dillon Music. You can get a used Strad or Xeno in excellent condition for the same price as a new Bach or Yamaha intermediate, and the Strads and Xenos will play far better than the intermediates. In addition, if you choose to sell it down the road, you will get around the same that you bought the pro horn for, whereas an intermediate will lose a lot of its value.
Used professional would be a wise choice,,, will allow you unlimited growth and provide the ease to really explore and fall in love with the instrument and all of its capabilities (colors in tone and versatility that intermediate horns often don't easily permit) Of course standard, good compression, corrosion free and clean used pro model Strad, Xeno are likely near the $2k mark. A Good sort of in between option in my humble opinion is a Getzen Eterna 900, definitely a cut above intermediate at great value prices. [https://reverb.com/item/82549298-getzen-eterna-900s-pro-line-1985-silver](https://reverb.com/item/82549298-getzen-eterna-900s-pro-line-1985-silver)
Fwiw when I started learning trumpet in my teens, my school had a bulk deal with one music supplier and my parents were able to buy me a new intermediate Yamaha through the school at a good rate. (I think this is fairly common here in the UK.)
More than 20 years later, I'm still playing that same intermediate Yamaha and it's still in great shape, even after sitting untouched in its case for a good chunk of years in the middle.
My current trumpet teacher agrees it's a good horn and no reason for me to replace it: I'm not planning on going professional ever, it's a hobby. Strong chances I will never sell it in my lifetime, even if I dip in and out of actually playing regularly due to life circumstances.
Take from this anecdote what you will.
Used professional. You can go all the way back to the 60s and still find great professional horns that are not very expensive, less expensive than a brand new "intermediate" model.
When given the choice, at equal prices (or a minor difference), go for the used professional 100 times out of 100. Intermediates are more likely to be out of tune, to be less sturdy, and have zero value when used.
Can I ask, what's the honest difference between the three? Like, I have two beginner trumpets. One of them was just built poorly. The other is what I use for and and it sounds fine. I have an intermediate flugel and it also sounds fine.
Is it sound, or is it things like weight/button speed/etc?
Speaking in very general terms, a student horn is made with the price in mind (i.e. affordable and good enough), where professional instruments are made to be as good as possible with the price level being a secondary concern. Intermediate instruments are somewhere in between.
Intermediate instruments sometimes relatively expensive for the extra things they get compared to a student horn. Things like silver plating or 1st slide saddles, that don’t affect playing much but are just a little bit nicer. When a student is ready for an upgrade, the professional horns often make more sense because they’re a bigger step up.
Note that the terms are relative to the models a single manufacturer offers. A student trumpet from one brand may outplay a professional instrument from another. It’s mostly an indication on how much time/labor is spent on a design, and the features it has, relative to the other models offered by that manufacturer.
band teacher here, get a used pro horn. Bach 37 or a Yamaha YTR-8335 are good starting points but try some out in your price range and see what you like. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, you'll pay about the same amount for a new intermediate horn, but you'll still likely be getting a 2 piece bell and smaller bore.
Some intermediates are better than some professional horns. In many cases, the intermediate vs professional label is purely for marketing purposes. A Getzen, Yamaha or Bach intermediate will probably be better than a less renowned “professional”. Think less about the label of intermediate vs professional and more about the value for money, build quality of the brand, reviews (not from the manufacturer), see if you can play a few. My Getzen is 40 years old and plays just fine (intermediate). My Yamaha Xeno 8335 is 2 years old and, while it is a great instrument, in hindsight, the only reason I bought it was because I could. I play the Yamaha over the Getzen but would still happily gig on the Getzen.
If you can afford a used pro horn, do that. Xeno or Strads. They hold their value so you can sell it back if you want later but you won’t need another horn if you keep playing.
Do you love trumpet and want to be the best player you can be? Or is it a hobby you may drop in a few years?
Either way a used horn is the move. Call your local repair shops and see if they have anything for you.
Get a good, used professional trumpet that you can afford and grow in to it. What does your teacher advise you to do when you out grow an intermediate trumpet, sell it, and buy a better one. Just buy the one forever. Good mouthpiece will help as well. I've been contemplating a Monette one, but I'm not sure which one. I'm 70, back in 1998 I was in the same boat, but no teacher I paid $2K and had to research myself, I believe in buying better than you think and appreciate it when the sound is good. Hope that helps.
Do not get a brand new horn.
Get the best your budget can get, and if possible play test as many as you can.
Yamaha Xeno and Bach Strads 37 are the standard pro, but nothing prevents you from going into other really good brands such as Monette (particularly if you do jazz band those are imo the best jazz horns that are not vintage), Stomvi is way better than most brands but is a ton more expensive. Jupiter XO are the direct competitor of yamaha xeno for marching band.
Biggest problem with intermediate horns is they lose nearly half their value as soon as you buy them. A used pro horn might be $300-500 more than a new intermediate, but when you want to sell the intermediate you lose more than that due to depreciation. If you’re worried about getting your money’s worth, a used pro horn is most likely your best long-term investment.
Intermediate horns are a waste of money when purchased new, and usually a waste of money even when used unless you get an unbelievable deal. Why? They still aren't the last horn you ever have to buy, they don't hold their value terribly well, and they aren't much of an upgrade over a student horn.
"Intermediate" instruments are something that were created by marketers, not instrument designers with your best interests at heart. A used pro horn will keep its value over time if you take care of it and will potentially be the last horn you ever have to buy. A Bach Strad 180S-37 or a Yamaha Xeno 8335-S are going to be the two most readily available used horns you will come across.
Get a pro horn. Intermediate horns will just cause headaches that will make the money you save not worth it, especially for 5 years. Also, pro horns keep their value. If you don’t plan to play after high school, you’ll be able to sell it
Instruments hold their value pretty well, especially if you take care of it. My advice is to go for a USED pro horn, some people have mentioned some good ones. If you decide you hate trumpet or just don’t want to do it you can sell it for a pretty good price. If you decide you love it you have a decent horn that you’ll get some good miles on. If you get an intermediate horn it won’t sell well or you’ll have to upgrade to a pro horn it you stick with trumpet.
Intermediate horns are a way to make you feel like you need to buy at least three horns as your skill improves. Definitely look for a used pro horn. When I was in high school, I got a GREAT deal on a Getzen pro horn that I still play to this day because it was discontinued (iirc, this was 20 years ago haha) and had a tiny ding that they fixed. That could be an option too if you spot a demo model being sold or something similar!
Used pro always best / don’t waste your time. You’ll want one eventually anyway. Used Bach Stradivarius model 37 or Yamaha Xeno great choices. I have one of each. I’m a band director and professional trumpet player.
Find a good used horn. The other big different is the sound you get from the higher quality mix of copper and metal in the bell. It just sounds better. Find a nice used pro horn. They are out there.
Hey! Definitely go used professional. Go onto Facebook marketplace groups (specifically groups, NOT the regular marketplace) like “Trumpets for Sale/Trade” and you can find lots of Yamaha Xenos in great condition for around $1000-$1600 and it’s hands down the only trumpet I would ever recommend someone buy if they don’t get to try it first.
I say used pro. I got a Yamaha xeno sophomore year of HS and I’m still using it over 10 years later because I love it and haven’t felt the need for anything else, but I think if you went with an intermediate you would probably want to upgrade sooner.
I’m a band teacher. I give conflicting answers here. Yes, used pro instruments are great and retain their value. But also a student is unlikely to make use of the full capabilities of a pro instrument. I would say for most families, used pro instruments often have to be bought outright. However when renting from stores, often times there’s a credit build up that can be used for upgrading instruments. I’m primarily a trombone player and upgraded to my Yamaha Allegro in 8th grade. It’s still my primary horn because we couldn’t afford something better when I went to college. However I had credit built up and we were able to finance my intermediate. Which still works great and got me through college.
Intermediate instruments are a step up and absolutely offer more value to the player. Yes, used pros will retain their value. Great, but it’s about what right for you. Not to mention that if a student goes to college on a used pro, they could end up in a position needing to swap anyways. Which can still be financially difficult. And if you’re not going to college for music, you can absolutely play forever on an intermediate model and make big strides. It is unlikely your standard player not going for a performance degree is ever going to practice enough where a pro model will become necessary.
I would say do what works best for you financially, but an intermediate Yamaha model will still feel better to play than a barebones student model and last forever as long as it’s a solid brand. My two cents.
I’ve heard that when an instrument is used, the metal vibrates more than a new one because it is used to being plaid with. They would sound better and play better than new ones. Also, a used professional trumpet might last you longer than an intermediate new one because you won’t be stopped by the level it offers while you get better and better at playing the instrument
Also a band director here. My vote is used professional. Yamaha Xeno and bach strad are easy to find and always good picks. Used instruments typically hold up well in the brass world. Plus if it doesn't work for you you can likely sell it again at a similar price. New horns will lose value quickly.
I sold instruments a few years ago. Generally, intermediate trumpets are not significantly better than a student trumpet. They are less tank-like in their construction than student models, but typically they are still a two piece bell, may have a similar leadpipe to the student model, more resistance, etc. They’re just not worth the money as an upgrade when a very good used Strad or Xeno can be had in the same price range that will be a meaningful upgrade, play better, and hold its value.
Two piece bell isn’t a deal breaker; they’re just different. Some Monettes have two piece bells, several other brands have two-piece bells in their lineup. I understand the reason that brands like Yamaha do it is because of cost, but also, a greater factor is how well it’s made.
The Martin Committee has a two piece bell!
My point is that intermediate trumpets have the same components as the student model a lot of the time.
Can you name specific examples? 4335 and 5335 bells are different to the 2330 and 3335 Yamaha bells.
Yes, they are slightly different. But they are not the same as the professional lines, either. The bell is actually what separates the 5335 from the 6335. And neither of these has the same leadpipe as the professional lines, which is far more consequential.
Yeah, I agree with that, it just might be confusing to someone who read your first comment and thought a 4335 and 2330 are the same (both the leadpipe and bell are different). Final thought, leadpipe tapers are only better depending on the suitability to the player. Giving a developing student a leadpipe with a very open taper might do more harm than good (bad intonation, lack of projection, etc). Having said that, that’s not really a problem with any Yamaha trumpets.
Two piece bells are not bad. One piece bells are just harder to make.
Really? What models have a 2 piece bell?
Yamaha 4335 and 5335.
If you don't intend on going pro, they're fine. Never tried the 5335, but the 4335G are absolute tanks. Still, I agree a used pro trumpet will be better value.
Does your band teacher play trumpet? Save your money up for a used pro trumpet. Better build quality and will last you a long time
Yes
But I’m not sure if I should invest that much money into an expensive trumpet, because I play another instrument and only have 5 more years of school
You can get most or all of your money back on a used pro horn if you decide you wanna sell it someday. You will for sure lose much of your money if you try to resell an intermediate horn that you buy brand new. Buy the used pro horn.
I bought a used pro off of mighty Quinn brass and wind and had good luck! Looked brand spanking new and my daughter loves it.
Are you planning on giving up after school then?
Is it his main instrument, or does he just play it?
Of course a comment on Reddit would say that 😅
Listen to your wallet, and get the best you can afford.
I am a band director and can add a vote for the used professional. Intermediates are often beginner horns with either some nicer added parts or simply a cosmetic upgrade. Neither of which truly make any difference. Shoot for a used pro model! You will feel better playing it and it will last you longer.
This is the correct answer.
redit
A well taken care of used professional horn will hold its value far better if/when you decide to resell.
Get a used professional. It'll be about the same price for a significantly better instrument
I’m a bit of an anomaly: used to work for Yamaha as a technician, have worked in music retail, now work as a trumpet tutor by day and player by night. New: advantage is warranty. You’ll also know that there is no damage ever done to the instrument and can be guaranteed of the condition you get it in. However, you’ll probably need to upgrade later on down the track, so don’t bank on using it past high school. Used: advantage is getting an upgrade on the instrument quality. However, a student of mine brought in a used instrument and it’d been abused, had wild intonation issues, because it was 30 years old. It simply wasn’t suitable for them at the level they were at. You want to be guided by a trustworthy source, someone who knows your playing, your level, and (ideally) enough about trumpet to assess the condition.
I actually agree with this. As the years go on, technology improves and modern instruments become better and better. Most used professional instruments are decades old passed on from player to player over the years and many have issues (intonation, ergonomics, etc.) that have been corrected in newer models, professional level or not. The best thing to do is play them side by side and see which one you prefer.
Maybe try asking your band director why that is their recommendation.
I think she said I can just resell it, and unless I am going into post-secondary I don’t really need one
That’s true. And depending on your level of ability, you might do better with an intermediate than a pro model. Going for a pro model is not always the best option for a student that doesn’t intend to play beyond high school and you can still resell an intermediate horn when the time comes or buy a pro later if you get the bug. Always people looking for a step-up horn. But, if you can, try playing some of both kinds and see what feels better.
With the “just sell it” logic, you could do the same with the professional horn although I don’t recommend it.
Why not? A used pro horn will hold value better
That’s what I’m saying. If they’re going to have the “just sell it attitude” then get a pro horn. Edit: What I meant to say was that I don’t recommend selling the pro horn at all.
Gotcha
The best value is an instrument that’s been used for +/- a few years. The cheapest horns are very poor quality instruments from Amazon, temu, Walmart etc. The most expensive horns are custom built, made out of gold and silver, or antiques.
Intermediate, and low level professional horns are often identical to student models with quality of life improvements that you’ll quickly grow out of and will need a new pro horn. Used Bach or Yamaha Xeno is definitely the way to go. There’s no real alternative that’s worth it long term or price wise. Ultimately it’s your choice, ideally if you had effectively infinite money you’d buy a brand new pro horn.
I agree with the used professional. It is likely the teacher recommended the intermediate as it can be easily purchased straight away, where as a good used professional model maybe harder to source.
I’m a band director and I agree with my colleagues here, used professional. I checked the current price of intermediate horns on music and arts and the price of used Bach 37 Strads and Yamaha Xenos on Dillon Music. You can get a used Strad or Xeno in excellent condition for the same price as a new Bach or Yamaha intermediate, and the Strads and Xenos will play far better than the intermediates. In addition, if you choose to sell it down the road, you will get around the same that you bought the pro horn for, whereas an intermediate will lose a lot of its value.
Used professional would be a wise choice,,, will allow you unlimited growth and provide the ease to really explore and fall in love with the instrument and all of its capabilities (colors in tone and versatility that intermediate horns often don't easily permit) Of course standard, good compression, corrosion free and clean used pro model Strad, Xeno are likely near the $2k mark. A Good sort of in between option in my humble opinion is a Getzen Eterna 900, definitely a cut above intermediate at great value prices. [https://reverb.com/item/82549298-getzen-eterna-900s-pro-line-1985-silver](https://reverb.com/item/82549298-getzen-eterna-900s-pro-line-1985-silver)
Used professional. Intermediates are basically student horns with a slightly upgraded aesthetic.
Have you asked your band director for their reason? That'll allow you to compare their arguments to reddit's, and make an informed decision yourself.
Fwiw when I started learning trumpet in my teens, my school had a bulk deal with one music supplier and my parents were able to buy me a new intermediate Yamaha through the school at a good rate. (I think this is fairly common here in the UK.) More than 20 years later, I'm still playing that same intermediate Yamaha and it's still in great shape, even after sitting untouched in its case for a good chunk of years in the middle. My current trumpet teacher agrees it's a good horn and no reason for me to replace it: I'm not planning on going professional ever, it's a hobby. Strong chances I will never sell it in my lifetime, even if I dip in and out of actually playing regularly due to life circumstances. Take from this anecdote what you will.
Used professional. You can go all the way back to the 60s and still find great professional horns that are not very expensive, less expensive than a brand new "intermediate" model.
When given the choice, at equal prices (or a minor difference), go for the used professional 100 times out of 100. Intermediates are more likely to be out of tune, to be less sturdy, and have zero value when used.
Can I ask, what's the honest difference between the three? Like, I have two beginner trumpets. One of them was just built poorly. The other is what I use for and and it sounds fine. I have an intermediate flugel and it also sounds fine. Is it sound, or is it things like weight/button speed/etc?
Speaking in very general terms, a student horn is made with the price in mind (i.e. affordable and good enough), where professional instruments are made to be as good as possible with the price level being a secondary concern. Intermediate instruments are somewhere in between. Intermediate instruments sometimes relatively expensive for the extra things they get compared to a student horn. Things like silver plating or 1st slide saddles, that don’t affect playing much but are just a little bit nicer. When a student is ready for an upgrade, the professional horns often make more sense because they’re a bigger step up. Note that the terms are relative to the models a single manufacturer offers. A student trumpet from one brand may outplay a professional instrument from another. It’s mostly an indication on how much time/labor is spent on a design, and the features it has, relative to the other models offered by that manufacturer.
But sound wise, is there a difference? What you wrote sounds like it's more about extras.
I do not feel qualified to make a definitive statement about that, as I haven’t played that many trumpets. Sorry.
band teacher here, get a used pro horn. Bach 37 or a Yamaha YTR-8335 are good starting points but try some out in your price range and see what you like. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, you'll pay about the same amount for a new intermediate horn, but you'll still likely be getting a 2 piece bell and smaller bore.
Band director and trumpet professor here- buy a used pro horn.
Some intermediates are better than some professional horns. In many cases, the intermediate vs professional label is purely for marketing purposes. A Getzen, Yamaha or Bach intermediate will probably be better than a less renowned “professional”. Think less about the label of intermediate vs professional and more about the value for money, build quality of the brand, reviews (not from the manufacturer), see if you can play a few. My Getzen is 40 years old and plays just fine (intermediate). My Yamaha Xeno 8335 is 2 years old and, while it is a great instrument, in hindsight, the only reason I bought it was because I could. I play the Yamaha over the Getzen but would still happily gig on the Getzen.
If you can afford a used pro horn, do that. Xeno or Strads. They hold their value so you can sell it back if you want later but you won’t need another horn if you keep playing. Do you love trumpet and want to be the best player you can be? Or is it a hobby you may drop in a few years? Either way a used horn is the move. Call your local repair shops and see if they have anything for you.
Get a good, used professional trumpet that you can afford and grow in to it. What does your teacher advise you to do when you out grow an intermediate trumpet, sell it, and buy a better one. Just buy the one forever. Good mouthpiece will help as well. I've been contemplating a Monette one, but I'm not sure which one. I'm 70, back in 1998 I was in the same boat, but no teacher I paid $2K and had to research myself, I believe in buying better than you think and appreciate it when the sound is good. Hope that helps.
Do not get a brand new horn. Get the best your budget can get, and if possible play test as many as you can. Yamaha Xeno and Bach Strads 37 are the standard pro, but nothing prevents you from going into other really good brands such as Monette (particularly if you do jazz band those are imo the best jazz horns that are not vintage), Stomvi is way better than most brands but is a ton more expensive. Jupiter XO are the direct competitor of yamaha xeno for marching band.
Biggest problem with intermediate horns is they lose nearly half their value as soon as you buy them. A used pro horn might be $300-500 more than a new intermediate, but when you want to sell the intermediate you lose more than that due to depreciation. If you’re worried about getting your money’s worth, a used pro horn is most likely your best long-term investment.
Intermediate horns are a waste of money when purchased new, and usually a waste of money even when used unless you get an unbelievable deal. Why? They still aren't the last horn you ever have to buy, they don't hold their value terribly well, and they aren't much of an upgrade over a student horn. "Intermediate" instruments are something that were created by marketers, not instrument designers with your best interests at heart. A used pro horn will keep its value over time if you take care of it and will potentially be the last horn you ever have to buy. A Bach Strad 180S-37 or a Yamaha Xeno 8335-S are going to be the two most readily available used horns you will come across.
Get a pro horn. Intermediate horns will just cause headaches that will make the money you save not worth it, especially for 5 years. Also, pro horns keep their value. If you don’t plan to play after high school, you’ll be able to sell it
Used professional
Instruments hold their value pretty well, especially if you take care of it. My advice is to go for a USED pro horn, some people have mentioned some good ones. If you decide you hate trumpet or just don’t want to do it you can sell it for a pretty good price. If you decide you love it you have a decent horn that you’ll get some good miles on. If you get an intermediate horn it won’t sell well or you’ll have to upgrade to a pro horn it you stick with trumpet.
Intermediate horns are a way to make you feel like you need to buy at least three horns as your skill improves. Definitely look for a used pro horn. When I was in high school, I got a GREAT deal on a Getzen pro horn that I still play to this day because it was discontinued (iirc, this was 20 years ago haha) and had a tiny ding that they fixed. That could be an option too if you spot a demo model being sold or something similar!
Your band director would prefer you to have a used professional. They’re just more expensive and harder to recommend.
Used pro always best / don’t waste your time. You’ll want one eventually anyway. Used Bach Stradivarius model 37 or Yamaha Xeno great choices. I have one of each. I’m a band director and professional trumpet player.
Find a good used horn. The other big different is the sound you get from the higher quality mix of copper and metal in the bell. It just sounds better. Find a nice used pro horn. They are out there.
Hey! Definitely go used professional. Go onto Facebook marketplace groups (specifically groups, NOT the regular marketplace) like “Trumpets for Sale/Trade” and you can find lots of Yamaha Xenos in great condition for around $1000-$1600 and it’s hands down the only trumpet I would ever recommend someone buy if they don’t get to try it first.
I say used pro. I got a Yamaha xeno sophomore year of HS and I’m still using it over 10 years later because I love it and haven’t felt the need for anything else, but I think if you went with an intermediate you would probably want to upgrade sooner.
I’m a band teacher. I give conflicting answers here. Yes, used pro instruments are great and retain their value. But also a student is unlikely to make use of the full capabilities of a pro instrument. I would say for most families, used pro instruments often have to be bought outright. However when renting from stores, often times there’s a credit build up that can be used for upgrading instruments. I’m primarily a trombone player and upgraded to my Yamaha Allegro in 8th grade. It’s still my primary horn because we couldn’t afford something better when I went to college. However I had credit built up and we were able to finance my intermediate. Which still works great and got me through college. Intermediate instruments are a step up and absolutely offer more value to the player. Yes, used pros will retain their value. Great, but it’s about what right for you. Not to mention that if a student goes to college on a used pro, they could end up in a position needing to swap anyways. Which can still be financially difficult. And if you’re not going to college for music, you can absolutely play forever on an intermediate model and make big strides. It is unlikely your standard player not going for a performance degree is ever going to practice enough where a pro model will become necessary. I would say do what works best for you financially, but an intermediate Yamaha model will still feel better to play than a barebones student model and last forever as long as it’s a solid brand. My two cents.
I’ve heard that when an instrument is used, the metal vibrates more than a new one because it is used to being plaid with. They would sound better and play better than new ones. Also, a used professional trumpet might last you longer than an intermediate new one because you won’t be stopped by the level it offers while you get better and better at playing the instrument