Did you know trumpets were originally used as signaling devices during huntings and battles back in 1500BC? Musicians started using them as musical instruments only in the late 14th or early 15th century.
Today they’re most commonly known as brass instruments widely used in Jazz and classical music instruments. They are also used in other musical genres such as rock, ballad even in rap music compositions.
While researching it blew my mind how some of the most expensive trumpets cost more than cars like Porsche, Range Rovers, and Mercedes!
This list includes both pre-used and brand new trumpets that have already been sold or still in stock for you to buy today!
Here we’re listing the 10 of the most expensive trumpets in the world:
| 10 | Bach ADE190 Stradivarius Artisan Series Eb/D Trumpet ADE190S Silver | $4138 |
| 9 | Yamaha Limited Edition Vizzutti Trumpet (YTR-9335VSII) | $6315 |
| 8 | VPS Summit G-Series Trumpet by Harrelson | $6550 |
| 7 | Chicago-Style Monette Trumpet by David Monette | $8900 |
| 6 | 2020 Summit T3 Bb Trumpet in Silver & Gold (8/3X) by Harrelson | $9425 |
| 5 | 2020 Summit T3 Bb Trumpet In 24k Gold (2/11RX) by Harrelson | $11725 |
| 4 | Harrelson Summit Art Trumpet by Jason Harrelson | $20500 |
| 3 | Martin Committee Trumpet by Dizzy Gillespie | $55000 |
| 2 | Solid Platinum Trumpet by Yamaha | $125000 |
| 1 | The ‘Moon and Stars’ trumpet of Miles Davis | $275,000 |
TEN
Bach ADE190 Stradivarius Artisan Series Eb/D Trumpet ADE190S Silver
Price:$4138
This 14-pound silver-plated trumpet features a 450-inch bore plus two 4-1/2-inch one-piece hand-hammered tunable bells with a flat rim and special acoustic treatment for a pure, responsive tone.
It also features separate sets of slides for D and Eb. However, it doesn’t include a mouthpiece.
NINE
Yamaha Limited Edition Vizzutti Trumpet (YTR-9335VSII)
Price:$6315
YTR-9335VSII was designed in consultation with the famous trumpet maestro, Allen Vizzutti for the professional and elite orchestral performers in 2018.
This gold-plated versatile trumpet features silver-plated brass piston stems, 1st slide brace, and bigger 3rd slide pull knob, synthetic valve guide material, gold-plated valve buttons and caps, black mother of pearl valve buttons, and finally, an Allan Vizzutti signature mouthpiece with a gold-plated rim.
EIGHT
VPS Summit G-Series Trumpet by Harrelson
Price:$6550
The latest 2021 summit g-series is available in versatile jazz and lead configurations. In this new Innovative trumpet, buyers get to work directly with Jason Harrelson and choose the configuration of the VPS summit lead pipe and bell based on their needs.
One other impressive improvement is that the new custom handgrip system protects the valve casing while improving ergonomics.
With this new VPS summit trumpet, you can now play even longer with a horn that literally fits like a glove!
SEVEN
Chicago-Style Monette Trumpet by David Monette
Price:$8900
The new “Classic MB-111” weights approximately the same as their very famous custom XLT-STC model with improved bell, lead pipe, and valve casing designs. This is a great entry-level Monette for players who want better resonance, faster response, and even sound in all registers.
The raw brass finish trumpet comes with a Monette mouthpiece of the buyer’s choice.
SIX
2020 Summit T3 Bb Trumpet in Silver & Gold (8/3X) by Harrelson
Price:$9425
The 2020 summit T3 BB trumpet by Harrelson proved to be immensely popular that they extended it through 2020.
The “T3” designates the 3rd in a series of textured valve stems, tuning slides, bell crooks, and receivers known as crosshatch.
This silver and gold plated model featured a Venturi Gap Receiver system combined with a Modular Mouthpiece system which ensures the player a perfect fit in all genres because the instrument is adjustable and can be fine tuned at any time.
This model was a limited edition. They’re not taking orders for this model currently.
However, it was sold for $9425, taking 6th place on our list.
FIVE
2020 Summit T3 Bb Trumpet In 24k Gold (2/11RX) by Harrelson
Price:$11725
Harrelson keeps bringing out high-quality trumpets with higher demand.
The full 24k gold summit trumpet is one they offered after 5 years since the Harrelson Summit One Bb trumpet in a 24k gold plate and only 1 is in stock. The VPS Summit T3 design features a 5MM modular mouthpiece along with an 11RX bell.
It also offers HEVS(High-Efficiency Valve Stems) and Saturn water keys with 1/4″ ergonomic finger rings and a 3rd Slide screw stop.
FOUR
Harrelson Summit Art Trumpet by Jason Harrelson
Price:$20500
Harrelson Summit Art Trumpet-Where technology meets beauty is by far the most technologically innovative trumpet on the list.
With over 24 years of research, they’ve come up with SWE(Standing Wave Efficiency) and VPS(Variable Performance System) technologies which set Harrelson apart in playability, efficiency, and versatility.
Harrelson summit trumpets are now limited to 2 orders per year. You can choose from either a Bb or C trumpet with custom artwork of your liking.
THREE
Martin Committee Trumpet by Dizzy Gillespie
Price:$55000
The founding father of the ‘bebop’ style of composing and improvising is widely known for playing on his trademark ‘bent horn trumpet’.
The most amusing part is that the discovery of this bent horn trumpet was completely accidental. In the early 1950s, during his wife’s birthday party, one of the dancers from the famous dancer duo Stump and Stumpy fell on his trumpet thereby bending the horn at a 45-degree angle which created a different sound than before. Dizzy liked the way the bent horn sounded and played on a bent horn trumpet for the rest of his career.
In 1995, his silver-plated Martin Committee trumpet, with a 4.75-inch bell at a 45-degree angle, was sold at a Christie’s auction for $55,000, making it the 3rd most expensive trumpet ever sold.
The Martin Committee, Elkhart, Ind, the USA along with his name was inscribed in the brass body of the trumpet. It also has floral engraving. Truly iconic!
TWO
Solid Platinum Trumpet by Yamaha
Price:$125000
It’s pretty obvious from the name that it is a trumpet plated with platinum. The use of platinum makes it less heavy and effortlessly shiny.
However, Yamaha didn’t continue making them because these don’t offer any special features other than its beautiful exterior and therefore not much in demand considering the high price. But it still makes trumpet.
Collectors want to get their hands on this rare expensive musical instrument which previously owned the title of the world’s most expensive trumpet until 2019.
ONE
The ‘Moon and Stars’ trumpet of Miles Davis
Price:$275,000
The legendary ‘Picasso of jazz’ renowned musician Miles Davis’ Moon and stars trumpet was sold in Christie’s auction on 29 October in 2019 and currently holds the record of the most expensive trumpet ever sold.
The gilt-decorated blue-lacquered Martin Committee trumpet in B Flat, Model T3460 was custom made by the Martin Committee for Miles Davis since he was a huge fan of the company. Its gilt crescent moon and stars were also designed by Mr. Davis.
The current owner of the trumpet is Mr. Don Hicks, the owner of the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He held the winning bid with US$220000.With the addition of Christie’s commission, the final price was US$275,000.
Not only did it break the previous record owned by the Solid Platinum Trumpet by Yamaha but also set a world auction record for any trumpet. It also set a world auction record for any jazz instrument, beating the $225,000 that Charlie Parker saxophone garnered at a 2005 auction to benefit Lincoln Center.
Just after the sale, Mr.Hicks told Reuters that it’ll be on display. So if you want to catch a glance at this breathtaking trumpet, you can visit his Jazz club in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ What is the most expensive trumpet brand?
It’s pretty hard to determine which trumpet brand is the most expensive since there are multiple brands that are renowned for making amazing trumpets that sell out in hours.
However, here I’ll mention some of the most expensive trumpet brands based on popularity, quality, and the average price of their trumpets:
Martin Committee
Martin Committee is like the father of trumpet manufacturing brands. It was founded by a German immigrant named John Heinrich Martin in 1866.
The first factory was destroyed in a fire according to Jim Donaldson, who wrote about the company’s history on his website. After a few years, Martin, once again with his sons, opened a factory.
In the late 1930s, a committee consisting of trumpet players started designing new trumpets.
Martin Committee trumpets were so popular that players wouldn’t play any other trumpets. Even Dizzy Gillespie’s 1st accidental bent happened on a Martin Committee trumpet.
Miles Davis played Martin trumpets throughout his career as well as Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, and even Al Hirt.
Today both the titles ‘most expensive trumpet ever sold’ and ‘most expensive auctioned jazz instrument’ are held by the ‘moon and stars’, a Martin Committee trumpet previously owned by legendary trumpet player Miles Davis.
Without a doubt, Martin Committee is one the best and most expensive trumpet brands.
Yamaha
Yamaha started its journey when its founder, Torakusu Yamaha, repaired a broken reed organ in 1887. Shortly thereafter, he successfully completed the first reed organ to be built in Japan.
Today Yamaha is a multi manufacturing company producing multiple products. Up until 2019, their solid platinum trumpet held the title of the ‘most expensive trumpet ever sold in the world’. Their trumpets are very popular and they have trumpets for every level player.
Monette
Monette trumpets are designed by David G. Monette, an American craftsman. He designed his first trumpet in 1983.
He’s the Innovator of flumpets, a combination of trumpet and flugelhorn.
Monette trumpets are very expensive. He has designed trumpets for players like Maynard Ferguson, Wynton Marsalis, and Charles Schlueter.
Harrelson
Harrelson trumpets are designed by Jason Harrelson. This company is comparatively new but his trumpets are already very innovative and popular among players.
The trumpets are also expensive, but despite the price, they sell out very quickly.
I think Harrelson is the most scientifically innovative among the trumpet brands. They experiment with the trumpets and try to bring new flavor and sound using technology.
➤ Why are trumpets so expensive?
The price of a trumpet varies greatly depending on various factors. A trumpet can cost from around $200 to a whopping $275k.
Whether a trumpet will be expensive or less expensive depends on the materials used, the condition of a trumpet, the manufacturing quality, the mouthpiece, case, and retail offers, etc.
The main reasons are described here:
Firstly, the material used to coat a trumpet can be a deciding factor. Most of the less expensive trumpets are coated with lacquer while the more expensive ones are plated with silver or some other expensive material such as gold and even platinum.
Secondly, the condition of a trumpet also influences its price. Newer trumpets might be more expensive than a pre-used one.
Thirdly, the manufacturing quality also impacts the cost of a trumpet. Sometimes poor manufacturing quality leads to more damage to the trumpet that cannot be repaired. Hence, if the manufacturing is good and innovative the cost of a trumpet goes up.
Then comes the quality of the case and mouthpiece. These impact the price of the trumpet as well, especially the mouthpiece. Some mouthpieces cost a lot depending on the quality. Moreover, extra features like Monel pistons, larger bores, etc can impact the cost.
Lastly, retail offers after the sale, including repair service, support of community bands, and local activities can make a big difference in price.
➤ What is the most expensive pocket trumpet?
Pockets trumpets are generally regarded as novelty. However, for new players, pocket trumpets are perfect as they’re much affordable and easily portable.
Here are our most expensive pocket trumpets that are also of great quality:
Phaeton Pocket Trumpet PHTP-3000
Price:$949
This Bb pocket trumpet with gold lacquer finish features 1 pc yellow brass 4.88”/124mm w/soldered bell wire ring along with Monel w/rose brass ports and brass springs.
Only 4 are available to buy. This is the most expensive pocket trumpet on the list.
Jupiter Bb Pocket Trumpet 516L
price:$849
This gold lacquered trumpet features a standard size bell and redesigned 3rd loop.
It has the ability to produce the sound of a trumpet four times its size.It’s a great trumpet to buy specially for intermediate players.
Pocket trumpet with case and mouthpiece by Karl Glaser
Price:$748
This pocket trumpet is made by a german brand.It features a gold brass mouth pipe with rotary cylinder valves,130 mm sound cups and 11.5 mm bore.
Carol Brass Pocket Trumpet CPT3000-GLS-Bb BlackHawk
Price:$678.78
It’s a black nickel pocket trumpet featuring gold plated trims, valve caps, and water keys. It also features heavy valve bottoms which help to improve the sound.
Jupiter 700 Series JTR710S Key of Bb Silver Plated Body Pocket Trumpet with Case
Price:$620
It features stainless steel pistons that have remarkably smooth, fast action for improved agility and playability.
➤ What is the most expensive trumpet mouthpiece?
Vincent Bach Corp Mt Vernon NY 3C
Price:$882.41
The most expensive mouthpiece is the vintage Vincent Bach Corp Mount Vernon.
This silver-plated mouthpiece was made between 1959 and 1964 by the legendary “no dot” Mount Vernon.
Famous trumpet players Chris Botti and Arturo Sandoval were known for using Mount Vernon 3C mouthpieces. No wonder the price of this rare mouthpiece is so high!
I hope you found this article worthwhile.
About Dawson Kutch
Dawson Kutch is a born and raised Alaskan who loves the outdoors and everything it has to offer. Kutch has been an avid hunter and fisher his entire life, and takes great pride in providing for himself and his family. While he enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, Kutch also has a passion for fashion and loves to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. In his free time, Kutch enjoys spending time with his wife and one young daughter. He is always looking to learn more and better himself, both as a writer and as a person.
