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I've been watching the Trumpet market on eBay for the past 2 weeks and it's absolutely incredible what people are paying right now for them.   I've never seen trumpets sell for this much money and it's not just the highly sought after trumpet makers.  It's almost every single one that pops up on eBay.    Here's a sample of a few from the past 2 weeks:

Richard Hudson   $270
Kevin Dorsey.      $348
John Koepp.        $226
Daryl Slaton.       $403 & $261
AGE.                   $390, $435, & $495
Brian Mero.          $440
Marlin Watkins.    $811
LF Cox.                $1325
Bill Lester.           $305 with 5 days left

It seems as though the trumpet market has gone the way of ammo.    Big demand and short supply. 

I understand paying more for ones you can't buy easily but paying twice as much for one the maker will make you in a month or so is crazy to me.

Trumpets are big on the youtube and rumble. People don't understand about ordering calls but the do understand that big check they got.

Quote from: howl on April 20, 2021, 08:06:46 PM
Trumpets are big on the youtube and rumble. People don't understand about ordering calls but the do understand that big check they got.

That does make sense.

Lots of stimulus money floating around right now, give it a few more weeks and everyone will have blown it all. The lesson here is don't buy anything that you have to bid on when stimmy checks are being distributed.

Pretty expensive photo props for facebook.

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Don't forget that gorgeous Charlie Trotter trumpet (don't think it sold but it was a beaut) or the Rev. Zach Farmer that's on there. But, yeah, Dave Owens blew up the trumpet market! And I kinda hate him for it right now


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People here are just as responsible for paying the crazy prices and encouraging others to sell at high pricing.

It seems to have gotten really bad in the last few months.

I saw a Buice made in 2021 with a push in MP in what looked like osage sell immediately for 500 and a Watkins adjustable for 800+.

I wish pot calls would jump like that, I would thin a bunch of mine down.

One from Zach Farmer was posted for about a day before it sold, somewhere around $3,200. Another Wakins on there now. Matching set of Buice's sold for $890. Its pretty wild.

Quote from: davisd9 on April 20, 2021, 10:36:22 PM
People here are just as responsible for paying the crazy prices and encouraging others to sell at high pricing.

Here we go with the "ethics" of selling something for more than what you paid, again. If someone asks what a call is bringing at a certain time and you know for a fact that those calls are bringing $500 on average, I find it disingenuous and dishonest to try and convince that person they should sell it for what they bought it for.

Quote from: Gobble! on April 21, 2021, 10:45:41 AM
One from Zach Farmer was posted for about a day before it sold, somewhere around $3,200. Another Wakins on there now. Matching set of Buice's sold for $890. Its pretty wild.

Someone asked on here recently what a pair of Buice's (a 5" and a 6") would bring and I said likely north of $800 (maybe even reaching $1,000) for the pair and people jumped all over me for suggesting he sell them on eBay for that, as Mr. Buice doesn't get that for his calls. I caught hell over it. But I knew what they were bringing because I watch those auctions. The folks who jumped on me also knew they were bringing that because almost everyone on this forum watches those auctions. So why in the world would you lie and take some moral stance to try and convince someone to sell them for less? What they're bringing on the secondary market is what they're bringing. If you don't want to pay that (I don't; I won't) DON'T. Simple as that. In the end this will all stabilize and there will be a pile of people with thousand dollar calls in their collections that are really worth half.


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Not a trumpet, but I saw a MAD Super Aluminator Pot sell for over $200 on ebay. I have one in great shape with the original striker and I certainly would take that for mine. I saw a HS Slate Witch sell for $85 and could not believe that either, but it happened. And yes, I agree that Dave Owens had a lot to do the with the trumpet value increase. At current prices, me and a lot of y'all on OG are sitting on top of a small fortune. Might be time to sell down to what I use instead of what I just look at sitting in a cabinet.

Quote from: Gobble! on April 21, 2021, 10:45:41 AM
One from Zach Farmer was posted for about a day before it sold, somewhere around $3,200. Another Wakins on there now. Matching set of Buice's sold for $890. Its pretty wild.

IMO that was a reasonable price for the Buice matched set. Black and white ebony if I do recall, not a cheap species of wood to buy. Can't remember what they had for mouth pieces or ferrules but I know what I paid for a tulipwood matched set from him and it was very close to what those went for. There is no way those calls will lose value, Mr. Buice is a legend.

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I get nowhere near that for my Trumpets even though I spend a lot of time to not only sound good but I like for them to be pleasing to the eye, so I take a  few extra steps with mine,  but the whole point I want to make is, if you want a Trumpet that doesn't break the bank and sounds amazing,  then get ahold of Darrell Gipson. I received one of Darrells Trumpets a few days ago and let me tell you it was the best sounding Trumpet I've ever heard,  with his new internals he's really got something there,  he sells them on the - side of a 100.00. Check it out and you'll see for yourself!

Quote from: Crawdad on April 21, 2021, 05:02:35 PM
I get nowhere near that for my Trumpets even though I spend a lot of time to not only sound good but I like for them to be pleasing to the eye, so I take a  few extra steps with mine,  but the whole point I want to make is, if you want a Trumpet that doesn't break the bank and sounds amazing,  then get ahold of Darrell Gipson. I received one of Darrells Trumpets a few days ago and let me tell you it was the best sounding Trumpet I've ever heard,  with his new internals he's really got something there,  he sells them on the - side of a 100.00. Check it out and you'll see for yourself!

Don't know Gipson's calls, but will check him out! Agreed, there are many, MANY callmakers without year or more wait times turning out incredible trumpets for under $150. Don't know that they'll ever be highly collectible or appreciate like a lot of those currently demanding big money, but as far as hunting calls there's a pile to choose from that won't break the bank and sound as good as any.


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You tube caused the trumpet craze. It does not matter because most of the guys buying them wont put in the work to learn to use them. They think they can buy a trumpet , pick it up and sound like Zach Farmer. Another example is Mark Prudhommes trumpets. He makes a really good one. Dave owens does a you tube video and everybody wants a MP trumpet. They think they can buy that trumpet and sound like Mark right off the bat. It alludes them that Mark has put in a ton of time learning to run it like that. Most of these guys will not put in a quarter of the time to learn it. The craze will die down.

This craze is similar to when the Haint gobble call came out. Everybody bought them and almost nobody can play them. However, for the few that do eventually become proficient with them, they will kill many more turkeys than they did before.

Quote from: deadbuck on April 22, 2021, 01:28:58 PM
This craze is similar to when the Haint gobble call came out. Everybody bought them and almost nobody can play them. However, for the few that do eventually become proficient with them, they will kill many more turkeys than they did before.

Shhhhhhhh

its a wonder more callmakers don't sell on ebay or raise their prices

Quote from: gaswamp on April 22, 2021, 07:18:37 PM
its a wonder more callmakers don't sell on ebay or raise their prices

Some makers do sell their trumpets on ebay.

I noticed the up tic in orders.  I don't watch eBay.

Guess we better keep an eye on eBay for after they all give up.

Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 22, 2021, 12:26:26 PM
You tube caused the trumpet craze. It does not matter because most of the guys buying them wont put in the work to learn to use them. They think they can buy a trumpet , pick it up and sound like Zach Farmer. Another example is Mark Prudhommes trumpets. He makes a really good one. Dave owens does a you tube video and everybody wants a MP trumpet. They think they can buy that trumpet and sound like Mark right off the bat. It alludes them that Mark has put in a ton of time learning to run it like that. Most of these guys will not put in a quarter of the time to learn it. The craze will die down.

I agree with this. Took me 3 years of practice to sound good enough to call in a bird with one. Still working on it.


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this is my first year using a trumpet, it has nothing to do with you tube and more to do with reading this forum the last few years haha, i also i like using new calls. over the winter i did a lot of reading and experimenting and built a few, so far i am happy with how things are going, i used it to call in my stepsons bird in youth season. it has defiantly been the hardest call for me to learn and some days it seems like i have more trouble than others but i keep clucking away.

Quote from: warrent423 on April 23, 2021, 05:43:00 PM
If Dave Owens posted a youtube video declaring that eating Gobbler turds off public ground would increase your odds of killing one, his pinhead cult following would be gobbling them up  :laugh:

Thats a fact. I started to make a post wtb dave owens used mouthcalls as a joke but some of the girls would get their panties in a wad.

I've only got two trumpet calls and one wingbone call. I think you have to figure on what it takes to make either, labor-wise, because material-wise it really isn't much. So...if you figure a couple hours per call at, say $50 per hour, the call should be in the $100 range or thereabouts. Now...if I'm off on my estimates I'd like to hear from a trumpet or wingbone maker who says it requires far more labor time than what I've stated. Just sayin'.

You forgot to add in the thousands of dollars worth of equipment that the big name makers have, got to pay for it some way. Also I've made trumpets that the mat. cost over $100.

Quote from: Turkeyman on April 24, 2021, 04:38:37 PM
I've only got two trumpet calls and one wingbone call. I think you have to figure on what it takes to make either, labor-wise, because material-wise it really isn't much. So...if you figure a couple hours per call at, say $50 per hour, the call should be in the $100 range or thereabouts. Now...if I'm off on my estimates I'd like to hear from a trumpet or wingbone maker who says it requires far more labor time than what I've stated. Just sayin'.

Takes me much longer than 2 hours to build a trumpet, and material cost can easily be $50+ depending on the wood,MP,etc...Maybe I am a slow builder, but it takes me a lot of time to get things right. I could shave time off of my builds by not turning my own ferrules (or not using ferrules), or leaving the MP tapered and not contoured. I could cut material cost by only using inexpensive wood, but I like cool wood, and I think most people buying calls do too. There are also expenses like finish, solvents, rags, machine/tool repairs, drill bits/reamers, dust protection, CA glue, epoxy, sandpaper, you would be surprised how much sandpaper a guy can go through. I have sold a lot of trumpets for $100.00, but really just doing it for fun at that price.

Quote from: gergg on April 24, 2021, 07:21:40 PM

Quote from: Turkeyman on April 24, 2021, 04:38:37 PM
I've only got two trumpet calls and one wingbone call. I think you have to figure on what it takes to make either, labor-wise, because material-wise it really isn't much. So...if you figure a couple hours per call at, say $50 per hour, the call should be in the $100 range or thereabouts. Now...if I'm off on my estimates I'd like to hear from a trumpet or wingbone maker who says it requires far more labor time than what I've stated. Just sayin'.

Takes me much longer than 2 hours to build a trumpet, and material cost can easily be $50+ depending on the wood,MP,etc...Maybe I am a slow builder, but it takes me a lot of time to get things right. I could shave time off of my builds by not turning my own ferrules (or not using ferrules), or leaving the MP tapered and not contoured. I could cut material cost by only using inexpensive wood, but I like cool wood, and I think most people buying calls do too. There are also expenses like finish, solvents, rags, machine/tool repairs, drill bits/reamers, dust protection, CA glue, epoxy, sandpaper, you would be surprised how much sandpaper a guy can go through. I have sold a lot of trumpets for $100.00, but really just doing it for fun at that price.

I would venture to say there's a WHOLE lot more time going into trumpets than say pot calls.


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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on April 24, 2021, 07:44:44 PM

Quote from: gergg on April 24, 2021, 07:21:40 PM

Quote from: Turkeyman on April 24, 2021, 04:38:37 PM
I've only got two trumpet calls and one wingbone call. I think you have to figure on what it takes to make either, labor-wise, because material-wise it really isn't much. So...if you figure a couple hours per call at, say $50 per hour, the call should be in the $100 range or thereabouts. Now...if I'm off on my estimates I'd like to hear from a trumpet or wingbone maker who says it requires far more labor time than what I've stated. Just sayin'.

Takes me much longer than 2 hours to build a trumpet, and material cost can easily be $50+ depending on the wood,MP,etc...Maybe I am a slow builder, but it takes me a lot of time to get things right. I could shave time off of my builds by not turning my own ferrules (or not using ferrules), or leaving the MP tapered and not contoured. I could cut material cost by only using inexpensive wood, but I like cool wood, and I think most people buying calls do too. There are also expenses like finish, solvents, rags, machine/tool repairs, drill bits/reamers, dust protection, CA glue, epoxy, sandpaper, you would be surprised how much sandpaper a guy can go through. I have sold a lot of trumpets for $100.00, but really just doing it for fun at that price.

I would venture to say there's a WHOLE lot more time going into trumpets than say pot calls.


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I know a couple guys that can turn trumpets pretty quick.

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I know I got more than two hours in just getting my winbones ready to START building them, lol.

The number of hours it takes to build something has no impact on the price unless the time limits production to less than demand. Then the price will go up as people try to improve their ability to attain the item that is in high demand.

There are makers who command a higher price than the quality would draw if made by someone else. That's just how it goes. Sometimes it is all strategy. Raise your price and take it easy until people are on a waiting list and talking about it. There's a whole social game that goes on with people touting and shilling for makers to increase their prestige and the price of their collection.

However, as most of the quality of sound comes from the player, I personally cannot see paying extreme prices for a hunting call.

Quote from: howl on April 25, 2021, 11:00:31 AM
However, as most of the quality of sound comes from the player, I personally cannot see paying extreme prices for a hunting call.

There's a reason people like Mark Prudhomme started making their own trumpets: he couldn't achieve the sound he wanted from any of the trumpets he was running. That to say, once you can run a trumpet, you can run a trumpet. At that point the internals are what's controlling sound. Take someone like Greg Gwaltney who commented above, he's spent the last year fooling with internals that add rasp. I can run his old internals and it's a cleaner hen, run the new one identically and get a raspy hen. Sound damn sure ain't all in the player. Buy what you want, but most times you get what you pay for.


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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on April 25, 2021, 01:16:50 PM

Quote from: howl on April 25, 2021, 11:00:31 AM
However, as most of the quality of sound comes from the player, I personally cannot see paying extreme prices for a hunting call.

There's a reason people like Mark Prudhomme started making their own trumpets: he couldn't achieve the sound he wanted from any of the trumpets he was running. That to say, once you can run a trumpet, you can run a trumpet. At that point the internals are what's controlling sound. Take someone like Greg Gwaltney who commented above, he's spent the last year fooling with internals that add rasp. I can run his old internals and it's a cleaner hen, run the new one identically and get a raspy hen. Sound damn sure ain't all in the player. Buy what you want, but most times you get what you pay for.


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I suggest you pick one trumpet and learn to play it instead of chasing sound with a bunch of different ones. It's much easier to tell what is going on when you are only dealing with dynamic air flow of one design versus multiple. A trumpet is an air modulator and amplifier. You are the caller.

Quote from: howl on April 25, 2021, 07:03:10 PM

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on April 25, 2021, 01:16:50 PM

Quote from: howl on April 25, 2021, 11:00:31 AM
However, as most of the quality of sound comes from the player, I personally cannot see paying extreme prices for a hunting call.

There's a reason people like Mark Prudhomme started making their own trumpets: he couldn't achieve the sound he wanted from any of the trumpets he was running. That to say, once you can run a trumpet, you can run a trumpet. At that point the internals are what's controlling sound. Take someone like Greg Gwaltney who commented above, he's spent the last year fooling with internals that add rasp. I can run his old internals and it's a cleaner hen, run the new one identically and get a raspy hen. Sound damn sure ain't all in the player. Buy what you want, but most times you get what you pay for.


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I suggest you pick one trumpet and learn to play it instead of chasing sound with a bunch of different ones. It's much easier to tell what is going on when you are only dealing with dynamic air flow of one design versus multiple. A trumpet is an air modulator and amplifier. You are the caller.

It's not a matter of not having learned to play one trumpet. It's a matter of recognizing that different mouthpiece designs, different diameter holes in mouthpieces, different internals, different bell designs all affect sound. You pick up different trumpets they sound different. Makers change things to make them sound different. Period. If that weren't true people like Ralph Permar wouldn't offer different designs for different sounds, trumpets to sound like young hens to trumpets that sound like gobblers.


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Quote from: howl on April 25, 2021, 07:03:10 PM
I suggest you pick one trumpet and learn to play it instead of chasing sound with a bunch of different ones. It's much easier to tell what is going on when you are only dealing with dynamic air flow of one design versus multiple. A trumpet is an air modulator and amplifier. You are the caller.

That there was the best piece of advice I got when learning how to run a trumpet a dozen or so years ago.

I've got to apologize to you trumpet and wingbone makers. Obviously my "estimates" were way off. You guys are more dedicated and concerned about making a good call that sounds turkey for your customers than you are about money. It's a pride issue on our part and I understand that. I'm an electrician/electronics technologist/software engineer by trade...as you, my pride comes from perfectly satisfied customers...not what renumeration I receive. Thanks guys.

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on April 21, 2021, 11:02:14 AM

Quote from: davisd9 on April 20, 2021, 10:36:22 PM
People here are just as responsible for paying the crazy prices and encouraging others to sell at high pricing.

Here we go with the "ethics" of selling something for more than what you paid, again. If someone asks what a call is bringing at a certain time and you know for a fact that those calls are bringing $500 on average, I find it disingenuous and dishonest to try and convince that person they should sell it for what they bought it for.

Sorry for the later response but I was in Kansas hunting rather than sitting on the forum arguing.  No one ever said they should sell for the asking price from a certain call maker.  I see nothing wrong with someone making a little profit on a valuable call that one usually has to wait to purchase.  The problem is when a person is doubling the price for a call they have not had but for a couple months to a year.  Offering a call for $50-100 bucks profit so that the buyer does not have to wait is reasonable.  Guys seeing they can pay $250-300 for a call and then flip it for $500+ right away is the issue, as well as those encouraging them to do so. Now if the call is an older call then of course the value has risen more and the price could be higher so a lot goes in to determine value, but on a newer call it is the call maker that deserves the profit and not the flippers.

Quote from: davisd9 on April 28, 2021, 10:00:25 AM

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on April 21, 2021, 11:02:14 AM

Quote from: davisd9 on April 20, 2021, 10:36:22 PM
People here are just as responsible for paying the crazy prices and encouraging others to sell at high pricing.

Here we go with the "ethics" of selling something for more than what you paid, again. If someone asks what a call is bringing at a certain time and you know for a fact that those calls are bringing $500 on average, I find it disingenuous and dishonest to try and convince that person they should sell it for what they bought it for.

Sorry for the later response but I was in Kansas hunting rather than sitting on the forum arguing.  No one ever said they should sell for the asking price from a certain call maker.  I see nothing wrong with someone making a little profit on a valuable call that one usually has to wait to purchase.  The problem is when a person is doubling the price for a call they have not had but for a couple months to a year.  Offering a call for $50-100 bucks profit so that the buyer does not have to wait is reasonable.  Guys seeing they can pay $250-300 for a call and then flip it for $500+ right away is the issue, as well as those encouraging them to do so. Now if the call is an older call then of course the value has risen more and the price could be higher so a lot goes in to determine value, but on a newer call it is the call maker that deserves the profit and not the flippers.

I ain't arguing with you. I do inherently disagree with you. Hope you had success in Kansas.


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Takes me 4-5 hours to make a trumpet plus materials, that's the main reason I don't sell many trumpets. The average hunter thinks $100 is too much for a call, but when it comes down to the amount of time involved $100 is a bargain. I just make a few each year to make sure I remember how, keep my favorites and give some to friends and family. I don't make them to make money, I make them because I like too. I would rather keep them or give them away, than have to sell them cheap to to please a buyer. I like giving calls to people, I have made some good friends that way. I have given several calls to people on OG and they have all been most gracious. I could never get enough out of the calls I make, to pay for the time I put into call making, I am too selective on the sound a call must make to ever be able to produce very many calls. I have always felt that a quality made, good sounding trumpet is worth about $150- $200 whom ever the maker may be.

What about the person that buys a house, adds $2500 of paint and $8,000 worth of new flooring and then flips it in 4-6 months for $80k profit?? Or the guy who purchases a used car, puts on new tires and rims and flips it for $2500 profit in 3 weeks??

What a person can do is entirely decided by what people will do (I.e pay).  Profit is not a sin.  The idea that someone is morally obligated to get back a minimum return on something is a dangerous slope.  Next will be limiting ones salary to what  "they" think is worth while. Calls selling for $500 dollars is a limited market, And the makers know that or they'd be $500 from them...... and then they'd be on eBay for $1000.????.  If one doesn't want to wait then they will play to play.  Don't see the problem.  Personally I have more patience than money, so I'll wait.????

There are call makers who know their calls sell for 2-3 times purchase price. They could easily double their price and still sell all they choose to make. They choose to keep it more affordable for customers. They try not to keep making them for guys who just flip them for profit.


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Quote from: larry9988 on April 28, 2021, 01:39:15 PM
Takes me 4-5 hours to make a trumpet plus materials, that's the main reason I don't sell many trumpets. The average hunter thinks $100 is too much for a call, but when it comes down to the amount of time involved $100 is a bargain. I just make a few each year to make sure I remember how, keep my favorites and give some to friends and family. I don't make them to make money, I make them because I like too. I would rather keep them or give them away, than have to sell them cheap to to please a buyer. I like giving calls to people, I have made some good friends that way. I have given several calls to people on OG and they have all been most gracious. I could never get enough out of the calls I make, to pay for the time I put into call making, I am too selective on the sound a call must make to ever be able to produce very many calls. I have always felt that a quality made, good sounding trumpet is worth about $150- $200 whom ever the maker may be.

$100 was cheap for a good trumpet before all this madness.   A very good trumpet that you can run well is priceless.

That you can run well.... Key nugget for any call(er).

Quote from: West Augusta on April 29, 2021, 06:45:18 PM

Quote from: larry9988 on April 28, 2021, 01:39:15 PM
Takes me 4-5 hours to make a trumpet plus materials, that's the main reason I don't sell many trumpets. The average hunter thinks $100 is too much for a call, but when it comes down to the amount of time involved $100 is a bargain. I just make a few each year to make sure I remember how, keep my favorites and give some to friends and family. I don't make them to make money, I make them because I like too. I would rather keep them or give them away, than have to sell them cheap to to please a buyer. I like giving calls to people, I have made some good friends that way. I have given several calls to people on OG and they have all been most gracious. I could never get enough out of the calls I make, to pay for the time I put into call making, I am too selective on the sound a call must make to ever be able to produce very many calls. I have always felt that a quality made, good sounding trumpet is worth about $150- $200 whom ever the maker may be.

$100 was cheap for a good trumpet before all this madness.   A very good trumpet that you can run well is priceless.

I don't pay any attention to prices I just don't feel it's appropriate as a call maker to base prices on secondary market. 

Very few can you get what you paid in aftermarket so most would have to lower price to meet secondary market.


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Seems Marlin Watkins is selling a trumpet market value on the Bay right now:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133745905366?hash=item1f23e08ed6:g:-ncAAOSwX1VggMf5

Unconfirmed if it is him but it's written as if it is and it comes from Ohio, which is where I believe he resides. Price at 435$ and started at 200$.

Quote from: hpo on May 03, 2021, 08:09:14 PM
Seems Marlin Watkins is selling a trumpet market value on the Bay right now:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133745905366?hash=item1f23e08ed6:g:-ncAAOSwX1VggMf5

Unconfirmed if it is him but it's written as if it is and it comes from Ohio, which is where I believe he resides. Price at 435$ and started at 200$.

It's him

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Quote from: drenalinld on April 28, 2021, 05:40:01 PM
There are call makers who know their calls sell for 2-3 times purchase price. They could easily double their price and still sell all they choose to make. They choose to keep it more affordable for customers. They try not to keep making them for guys who just flip them for profit.


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When I purchased my first Don Bald trumpet, the price he quoted (and asked if I thought was fair) was ridiculously low for the time I know it must have taken him to make it.  Carved and painted Cocobolo trumpet, intricately carved ivory mouthpiece, carved sterling silver band and carved and painted lip stop.  A true work of art.  Rev. Farmer asked me what I wanted to pay for the trumpet I got from him.  The price we agreed upon was easily six times less the price it would fetch on eBay.  Some guys make calls for the enjoyment of pursuing an artform that is extremely difficult to master (making trumpets) and some for profit and as a business and some for both.  Any motivation is ok, but it all comes down to supply and demand.  If there were dozens of Rev. Farmers' calls floating around on the market or you could order and get one in 2-3 months, his calls wouldn't fetch $3000-plus.  But having made about a dozen trumpets myself, it is a time-consuming, exacting process.  Drilling a buffalo horn mouthpiece with a 3/32" bit, step drilling the horn to the right dimensions, getting everything to line up right, fitting and finishing are a process that takes a lot of time to figure out and master.  I can turn and finish a slate or glass call in less than one hour, total.  Trumpets take several hours, at least for me.

Quote from: MS on May 04, 2021, 04:59:33 PM

Quote from: drenalinld on April 28, 2021, 05:40:01 PM
There are call makers who know their calls sell for 2-3 times purchase price. They could easily double their price and still sell all they choose to make. They choose to keep it more affordable for customers. They try not to keep making them for guys who just flip them for profit.


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When I purchased my first Don Bald trumpet, the price he quoted (and asked if I thought was fair) was ridiculously low for the time I know it must have taken him to make it.  Carved and painted Cocobolo trumpet, intricately carved ivory mouthpiece, carved sterling silver band and carved and painted lip stop.  A true work of art.  Rev. Farmer asked me what I wanted to pay for the trumpet I got from him.  The price we agreed upon was easily six times less the price it would fetch on eBay.  Some guys make calls for the enjoyment of pursuing an artform that is extremely difficult to master (making trumpets) and some for profit and as a business and some for both.  Any motivation is ok, but it all comes down to supply and demand.  If there were dozens of Rev. Farmers' calls floating around on the market or you could order and get one in 2-3 months, his calls wouldn't fetch $3000-plus.  But having made about a dozen trumpets myself, it is a time-consuming, exacting process.  Drilling a buffalo horn mouthpiece with a 3/32" bit, step drilling the horn to the right dimensions, getting everything to line up right, fitting and finishing are a process that takes a lot of time to figure out and master.  I can turn and finish a slate or glass call in less than one hour, total.  Trumpets take several hours, at least for me.

If I had the money I'd probably pay $2,500 or so for a Farmer just because there's likely not going to be anymore made and I sure would love to own one. Yep, supply and demand, and with regards to makers still making calls but with long lists, PATIENCE.


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$2,500 will not get you a Farmer on the secondary market I'm afraid.

Quote from: nitro on May 04, 2021, 07:57:50 PM

$2,500 will not get you a Farmer on the secondary market I'm afraid.

Yeah, I know, but that's what I'd be willing to pay. Even if I had it I wouldn't pay $3,500 or more. Luckily I don't have to worry about it. I don't have it and likely never will


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Quote from: gergg on April 24, 2021, 07:21:40 PM

Quote from: Turkeyman on April 24, 2021, 04:38:37 PM
I've only got two trumpet calls and one wingbone call. I think you have to figure on what it takes to make either, labor-wise, because material-wise it really isn't much. So...if you figure a couple hours per call at, say $50 per hour, the call should be in the $100 range or thereabouts. Now...if I'm off on my estimates I'd like to hear from a trumpet or wingbone maker who says it requires far more labor time than what I've stated. Just sayin'.

Takes me much longer than 2 hours to build a trumpet, and material cost can easily be $50+ depending on the wood,MP,etc...Maybe I am a slow builder, but it takes me a lot of time to get things right. I could shave time off of my builds by not turning my own ferrules (or not using ferrules), or leaving the MP tapered and not contoured. I could cut material cost by only using inexpensive wood, but I like cool wood, and I think most people buying calls do too. There are also expenses like finish, solvents, rags, machine/tool repairs, drill bits/reamers, dust protection, CA glue, epoxy, sandpaper, you would be surprised how much sandpaper a guy can go through. I have sold a lot of trumpets for $100.00, but really just doing it for fun at that price.

I just read this topic for the first time.  I know its 8 months old but I wanted to respond to the trumpet building time.  I've been turning 8 hours a day for going on 25 years building taper bored musical instruments that are built extremely close to trumpet calls.  Bagpipe bores have the same characteristics as a trumpet with a tapered bore with a short throat below the reed staple "mouthpiece on a trumpet". I still spend 8 hours minimum to make a trumpet call and build it using the same methods I use to build woodwind musical instruments.  There are plainer designs that could be done quicker but the method I use takes at least a normal full days work, often it goes into a second day depending on the call.

Seth

Sorry for the late reply on this thread but I just came across it today.