Best Cornet Reviews 2023

The structure of a cornet is particularly complex; they are made from special materials that can withstand wear and corrosion. Because of this, these instruments can be relatively expensive. Careful thought should be put into the features you want in your cornet.

Price will generally vary depending on the material the cornet is made of. For instance, the emergence of lightweight plastic designs has seen the introduction of some quite affordable models. You can grab yourself a good quality plastic cornet for as low as $70. High-end cornets are made from a combination of nickel, copper, and zinc in different percentages. They can cost as much as $1,600, but you’ll be getting value for what you pay for in terms of durability and sound quality.

Several factors contribute to the quality of your cornet. Depending on your level of expertise – beginner, intermediate, or expert – different features will be more suitable for you. Let’s look into these features in detail:

Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece is composed of the rim, cup, backbore, and throat. By varying the sizes of these components, the sound of the instrument is significantly changed. A wider ream offers better comfort to the player, but choosing a narrower ream means a greater range of sound. A deeper cup brightens the tone of the instrument while a shallower cup has the opposite effect.

The throat is what determines how smoothly the air flows through the mouthpiece, from the cup to the backbore. A larger throat allows for better control of the instrument’s volume. The backbore works by channeling sound through the instrument. A cylindrical backbore generates a choppier sound while a conical backbore generates a fuller sound. Additionally, smaller backbores make tones that can be easily focused while bigger backbores allow greater depths in sound.

Bore Size

The bore is the diameter of the cornet’s interior tubing that defines its tone. The bore is typically conical in shape to produce a warmer, mellower tone. The bore size greatly impacts the cornet’s sound and is usually measured in thousandths of an inch (typically ranging between 0.410 inches and 0.485 inches). A smaller bore produces sharper, peppier sounds while larger bores produce deeper and darker sounds.

Shape

The cornet’s shape is what differentiates it from the trumpet. A cornet has a smaller and more compact shape as a result of the tighter coiling of its tubes. This shape makes cornets easier to hold for younger players. The wrapping of the tubing can be varied to give the instrument two different shapes: the Shepherd’s Crook and the Trumpet Style cornet.

Valves

All cornets come with a set of three valves that are used to change the pitch of the instrument. The first valve lowers the instrument’s pitch by one step, the second one by half step, and the third one by one and a half steps. The combination of all the three valves produces unique melodies as dictated by the player. High-end cornets have Monel valves that are made from nickel-copper and zinc alloys for more resistance to corrosion.

The sound produced by the cornet is somewhat similar to the sound from a trumpet but is uniquely deeper and mellower. The pitch or the frequency at which an instrument produces vibrations will define the type of cornet you buy. Cornets typically come in two distinct types: Bb cornets and Eb cornets.

Bb Cornet – The Bb cornet is also known as a standard cornet. It produces the pitch range of trumpets with a gentle, mellow tone characterized by cornets. They are favored by beginners and are common in marching bands and orchestras.

Eb Cornet – Eb cornets are less popular than the Bb counterparts. They produce a higher and sharper sound that is one-fourth of a pitch higher than Bb cornets. These cornets can be used in larger orchestras and ensembles and are generally considered more difficult to play.

Finish - Before settling on a cornet, make sure you’re aware of the finish’s cost and maintenance requirements. Two common finishes are silver-plating and lacquer.

Lacquer is a transparent finish that allows the instruments actual color to shine through, but it can sometimes have gold tint mixed in as well. It’s a common finish on most brass instruments due to its affordability. Lacquer is quite durable and will help the instrument last several years without need for maintenance.

A silver-plated finish is considered to be better quality than lacquer. More advanced players prefer this finish due to its attention-grabbing appearance and warm tones. However, it requires a good amount of maintenance to keep up its appearance. Frequent cleaning is also necessary.

Material

Cornets are categorized as brass instruments but can still be made from a variety of materials including yellow brass, gold brass, and nickel silver. These are basically a combination of zinc, copper, and nickel. The percentage composition of each material can affect the sound the cornet produces. Yellow brass contains 70-percent copper, 30-percent zinc, and produces bright and sharp tones due to low levels of copper. Gold brass is darker in color and has 85-percent copper and 15-percent zinc. Rose brass is 90-percent copper and 10-percent zinc and produces a warmer sound due to the softness of the materials. Nickel silver produces a higher tone and is made from 60-percent copper, 20-percent zinc, and 20-percent nickel.

It’s important that the instrument you choose is easily portable and up to the rough and tumble of daily use. Cornets are quite compact in size, which makes them convenient for young musicians. Young and enthusiastic learners sometimes want cheap and cheerful cornets – it all depends on your commitment to playing the cornet and whether it will be subjected to constant wear and tear. For older learners or players, it’s always rewarding to consider cornets that are at the top end of beginner-level instruments. They have higher resale values in case you want to upgrade to a bigger brass instrument.

Like most musical instruments, cornets need proper maintenance to stay at top condition for longer. Whenever you’re not playing the instrument, keep it in a padded case to prevent unnecessary dents and scratches. When cleaning the interior tubing of the cornet, use a soft cornet brush. The valves should be cleaned using appropriate valve oil – usually included with your purchase. Since the mouthpiece can be susceptible to dirt and germs, you should frequently clean it with soap and water.