pTrumpet (Blue)

About the pTrumpet (Blue)

The pTrumpet is built entirely from ABS and POM plastic, including a patented, fully plastic valve system that replaces the brass pistons found in conventional trumpets. A one-piece patented leadpipe and an all-plastic water key round out the construction, and the plastic itself incorporates BioCote antimicrobial technology. At around 500 grams the finished instrument weighs less than half of a comparable brass Bb trumpet, while keeping a standard .460-inch bore and roughly 4-13/16-inch bell. It ships with two acrylic mouthpieces (3C and 5C sizes) and a canvas carrying bag, though any standard metal trumpet mouthpiece also fits. Despite the unconventional material, it is pitched in Bb exactly like a standard brass trumpet.

Where to buy

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Sound character of the pTrumpet (Blue)

Replacing brass with plastic throughout the body and valves produces a noticeably thinner, less resonant core tone than a conventional trumpet, most audible as a stuffy, closed-in quality in the middle and lower register. The upper register responds comparatively freely, but overall projection and articulation clarity fall short of brass instruments - the trade-off for an instrument built primarily around weight and durability rather than tonal depth.

What owners of the pTrumpet (Blue) say

Opinions on the pTrumpet split cleanly along one line: as a lightweight, forgiving first instrument it earns real praise, but it is never mistaken for a substitute for a brass horn. High notes come easily and the reduced weight is consistently welcomed for young beginners, while the middle and lower register tend to feel stuffier and less willing to project than brass - a limitation some musicians flag as unsuitable for marching band or ensemble playing. A handful of owners reported a valve failing within weeks on earlier units, though broader feedback suggests manufacturing consistency has improved since the instrument's early days.

Playability & handling of the pTrumpet (Blue)

The dramatic weight reduction is the biggest practical difference for players: at roughly 500 grams, the pTrumpet is noticeably easier for small hands and young beginners to hold and support over a full lesson or rehearsal than a brass instrument. Forum feedback describes high notes as surprisingly easy to produce, with good embouchure flexibility. The trade-off shows up lower in the range - owners report a stuffier, less open response in the middle and lower register, reduced projection, and less articulation precision than a brass horn offers, which some consider a dealbreaker for marching band use. Early production units were reported as more fragile with occasional valve issues, though more recent feedback suggests build quality has improved over time.

Recommended accessories & strings for the pTrumpet (Blue)

Because the valve system is entirely plastic, the classic brass-trumpet maintenance routine of regular valve oiling largely disappears. The two included acrylic mouthpieces (3C and 5C) cover typical beginner needs, and switching to a standard metal mouthpiece later is possible without any modification. The canvas carrying bag is adequate for everyday transport given how dent-resistant the plastic body is claimed to be, so a hard case upgrade is not a priority.

Technical data for the pTrumpet (Blue)

The history of the pTrumpet (Blue)

The pTrumpet comes from pInstruments, a UK company founded by trombonists Simon Hogg and Steven Greenall, who originally ran a music publishing business before turning their attention to brass instrument design. Frustrated by how heavy, expensive, fragile and poorly suited to small hands conventional brass instruments could be, they launched the plastic pBone trombone in 2010, which won Best in Show at NAMM in 2012. Building on that success, they developed the pTrumpet as the world's first fully plastic, fully playable Bb trumpet, followed later by the pBuzz, pCornet and the hybrid hyTech trumpet. Trombonist Jiggs Whigham backed and invested in the brand early on, which is why several product variants carry his name.

About pTrumpet as a manufacturer

pInstruments positions itself as a design-driven alternative to traditional brass manufacturing, built around the idea that plastic can make brass instruments more accessible rather than less legitimate. Since the pBone's 2012 NAMM award, the company has expanded its plastic-instrument range methodically (pTrumpet, pBuzz, pCornet, hyTech) and achieved independent carbon-neutral certification in 2020, underlining a focus on sustainable, low-cost music education tools over premium acoustic performance.