Bravura Trumpet - Incredibly Vibrant Resonance!

EARLY Rewards have sold out!

You'll feel like a better musician playing the Bravura trumpet. 

The Bravura is the 1st trumpet with built-in tracking , the 1st with a 3D printed Stainless Steel leadpipe , the 1st with solder-less Nylon bracing, and the 1st with adjustable finger rings! 

The Bravura will go down in history as the very first of its kind setting the industry standard for high quality trumpet production. Revolutionary in design, innovation, production techniques, and durability.

Bravura Innovations

• 24/7 Active Tracking (T designation)
• Higher Efficiency and easier to play compared to leading pro factory trumpets
• Very competitive pricing - higher quality - more features - better price
• Choice of Pro custom configuration - Leadpipe and Bell variations (upgrade)
• Extreme Durability (X designation)
• 3D printed precision Stainless Steel Leadpipe
• Solder-less super strong Nylon Bracing
• Adjustable Finger Rings in Nylon (Stainless Steel available as an upgrade)
• Venturi Gap Receiver (VGR) system - adjustable to your preferences (V designation)
• Choice of round or semi-round Tuning Slide
• Choice of Nylon color (upgrade, black is standard)
• Choice of polished Brass or polished Silver (upgrade)
• Saturn water keys (upgrade)
• Custom engraving available - inside nylon window or on bell flare (upgrade)
• Deliveries begin in July 2025 (production begins May 1st)

Now in production!

Follow our YouTube channel to see the latest production updates including amazing full color upgrades, play testing of leadpipe and bell options, and answers to every single question.

Continuous Active Tracking - Now you can keep track of your trumpet location and history on your smart phone with a built-in tracking device. (XT and XVT models)

Extreme Durability - Designed from the ground up to be the most durable professional trumpet ever built. Check out our extreme durability short video Torture Tests on YouTube and our full-length Impact and Durability Tests video. 

Bravura SS Leadpipe - Bravura SS Leadpipes are laser sintered (3D printed) from Stainless Steel powder to create the highest efficiency to weigh ratio ever on a trumpet. This means your trumpet plays easier with less weight. And the pinky ring/hook is adjustable!

Pro Custom Configuration - The standard configuration is designed to play great in most performance situations exhibiting a medium bright tone. You have the option of choosing the exact leadpipe and bell configuration to fit your performance needs by selecting the Custom Configuration upgrade. Lead/commercial playing requires a very different setup when compared to Classical, Jazz combo, and many other genres. With this upgrade, you will have the opportunity to discuss your playing preferences with our team to build your Bravura exactly the way you want it to perform. 

Adjustable Finger Rings - Now you can adjust the position of all three finger rings. And you can choose the size of each ring to fit your hand grip perfectly. New finger ring styles will be introduced throughout 2025. 

Improved Efficiency Rating - Play with less effort and project higher quality sound thanks to 33 years of brass acoustics research. The higher Standing Wave Efficiency rating of the Bravura trumpet will give you an advantage over the leading professional factory-built trumpets on the market today. 

Venturi Gap Receiver - The VGR is a pillar of our Variable Performance System and the ultimate solution offering fully adjustable flexibility, slotting, and air flow. Fine tune your setup to match impedance between your oral cavity, mouthpiece, and instrument to produce maximum resonance. Works with all mouthpieces. You will learn to use this very capable system in just a few minutes. 

2 Tuning Slide shapes - Choose from round and semi-round tuning slides. Round offers a more open feel encouraging the player to increase oral cavity volume. Semi-round offers more consistency in the upper register with more feedback. 

High Efficiency Laser Sintered Nylon Bracing - Improved efficiency through design includes bell coupler, leadpipe to bell bracing around valve casing, first slide to bell brace, and 3rd slide stop brace. This new bracing is less than 25% the weight when compared to our previously CNC machined designs and offers more than four times the surface area contact. This results in further increasing SWE while improving stability in the upper register, overall response, and stretching the dynamic range beyond that of our 2nd generation Summit. You can learn more about Nylon 3D printed bracing in this YouTube video. 

Solder-less Assembly - Through special engineering and mechanical fasteners, the vast majority of the Bravura series trumpets are assembled without solder. This improves accuracy while reducing labor, clean-up, buffing, and related finishing challenges. The end result is a trumpet that more closely resembles the original intended design providing a higher level of consistency than soldered instruments.

Color options - While black is the standard color for all Nylon components, we will offer various colors to make your Bravura unique to you. Follow our progress as we test a wide range of color options to be released after the Kickstarter campaign is complete.

Brass & Silver - The standard finish is polished raw brass, which may be preserved with carnauba wax or an off the shelf clear finish. Many players prefer a patina to develop over time, which gives the brass an oxidized protective layer. Or you can choose polished Silver plating, which includes the valveset body, slides, tuning slide, and bell. There's a good chance the leadpipe may be plated silver as well, so watch for updates. And by request, you can now upgrade to a hand brushed finish in brass or silver.

Saturn Water Keys - The simplest water key solution is also the most reliable

Custom Engraving - Custom engraving is available inside nylon window or on bell flare (upgrade) - ask about other engraving options

Modular Mouthpiece - Harrelson Mouthpieces will improve your performance from day one. You can choose from a wide range of diameters and three rim profiles to maximize comfort, range, and endurance. The fully modular design allows you to adjust tonal color and upgrade any parameter as you progress over time. This is especially helpful for students, comeback players, and professionals who will experience growth, both physically and musically, in the coming years. 

How to Order your Bravura

• Select the Bravura model that meets your needs from the pledge options on the right
• On the next page, you will select upgrades such as silver plating, custom configuration, VGR, mouthpiece, finger button inlays, custom engraving, etc.
• Your credit card will be charged on May 30th when this campaign ends
• You will receive an email directly from Harrelson Trumpets verifying your order details including an invoice for shipping charges based on your location
• We will ship your custom Bravura trumpet and any added accessories with tracking and insurance (estimated delivery months are listed on each pledge level)
• There will be regular updates throughout this campaign showing progress on final designs, production processes, quality control, and play testing

Which model do we recommend? 

Selecting the best trumpet is on your mind, and you want to get it right the first time. We recommend the Bravura V model as the VGR system gives you the freedom to experiment with various resistance settings until you find the one that works best with each mouthpiece and performance scenario. If you need the added durability of the tuning slide and bell protection, we recommend the Bravura XV . And in cases where you're traveling often or playing a lot of live performances without security, the Bravura XVT adds reliable tracking. And we can set you up with a custom configuration of leadpipe and bell suited for your playing needs when you upgrade to the Custom Configuration, which is normally $500.

Bravura and Bravura V

The lowest priced feature-packed professional trumpet available today!

• 3D printed Stainless Steel Leadpipe
• Solder-less super strong Nylon Bracing
• Adjustable Finger Rings in Nylon 
• High Efficiency design, easier to play compared to leading pro factory trumpets
• Standard fixed mouthpiece receiver
• Choice of round or semi-round Tuning Slide
• Amado water keys
• Deliveries begin in July 2025 (production begins May 1st)
• You may add the VGR system (upgrade) to become a " Bravura V "
• And the Custom Configuration upgrade is only $100, normally $500!

Bravura X and Bravura XV

The most durable feature-packed trumpet available today!

 Includes all standard Bravura features above plus the following:

• Extreme Durability protection package
• Saturn water keys
• Deliveries begin in July 2025 (production begins May 1st)
• You may add the VGR system (upgrade) to become a " Bravura XV "

Bravura XT

Now you can track your Bravura everywhere you go!

 Includes all standard Bravura features above plus the following:

• 24/7 Active Tracking 
• Extreme Durability protection package
• Saturn water keys
• Deliveries begin in July 2025 (production begins May 1st)

Bravura XVT

The most capable Bravura variation is equipped with the VGR system!

 Includes all standard Bravura features above plus the following:

• Venturi Gap Receiver (VGR) system - adjustable to your preferences
• 24/7 Active Tracking 
• Extreme Durability protection package
• Saturn water keys
• Deliveries begin in July 2025 (production begins June 1st)

New Dealer opportunities

We designed the Bravura to strengthen local music store sales. All small locally owned music stores are encouraged to start with our Dealer Package. We will not be offering the Bravura to large online stores that unfairly compete with small local shops. In most cases, Jason Harrelson will travel to your store to offer in-store training to you, your team, and your customers. This will include a free clinic on the Physics of Brass Instruments with hands-on demos of Bravura trumpets, explaining all features including the VGR system. This offer is valid in the USA, and may include dealers in other countries with pre-approval.

Our Dealer Package includes: 

2 Bravura trumpets
1 Bravura X trumpet
1 Bravura XT trumpet
1 Bravura XVT trumpet
Each trumpet includes your choice of Deep Acrylic finger button inlays
$5 shipping on the entire order!

Where can I play a Bravura? 

You can play a Bravura trumpet in our Denver, Colorado showroom. While you're here, take a tour of our machine and assembly shops to see exactly how we build some of the world's finest musical instruments. 

Bravura Play-test cities will be announced throughout this Kickstarter campaign. We are recruiting individual Harrelson Ambassadors to host Bravura play-test sessions and short term (1-2 day) trials on a pre-qualified basis in 10 US cities beginning in early May. 

Harrelson Trumpets History

Harrelson Trumpets is a technology company. We are focused on finding solutions to both common and unique challenges by way of research and innovation . We collect data and get direct feedback from our clients to identify and address specific concerns within the subjective performance experience.

Harrelson is where musicians turn to find answers to their most important questions , often after playing and owning dozens of other instrument brands and models. We have done our homework. We built this company with your needs in mind.

33 years of Research & Development
Jason Harrelson has been researching and applying SWE technology since 1993 both in the lab and real world playing situations. In pursuit of lasting solutions, he has personally built well over 1000 unique trumpet designs and nearly 3000 individual trumpets as of 2025. Hundreds of acoustic, psycho-acoustic and mechanical experiments involving instrument/mouthpiece design and embouchure with thousands of students, colleagues and clients worldwide give Harrelson the knowledge and understanding necessary to match trumpet design properties with each client's specific needs.

Jason's early experiments on trumpet mouthpieces and mod kits involved adding inertia to existing designs. Today, we add inertia both through design using FEA software and specific mass design techniques to achieve added efficiency unmatched in our industry. The ultimate goal, to build the highest efficiency, variable performance trumpet weighing less than traditional designs is now within reach.

Retail vs Kickstarter pricing

We have been building high quality custom trumpets for three decades, and our instruments are known in the industry as "expensive". While our trumpets have earned a reputation for being a serious investment, they are also known as some of the very best playing instruments available today. The Bravura model was designed by Jason Harrelson based on the feedback of thousands of musicians who specifically asked for a pro-level, high quality, light weight, less expensive model that would endure daily playing in all environments. 

Beginning June 1st, retail pricing* of the Bravura will be as follows: 

Bravura - $3295
Bravura X - $3495 (Xtreme protection)
Bravura V - $3595 (VGR system)
Bravura XV- $3795 (Xtreme + VGR)
Bravura XT - $3695 (Xtreme + Tracking)
Bravura XVT - $3995 (Xtreme + VGR + Tracking)

*All prices in polished brass. Add $200 for brushed brass and $500 for silver plate.

In-House Production 

Harrelson has a long history of CNC machining and assembling all of our proprietary components including tuning slides, bell crooks, SWE leadpipes, VGR receivers/inserts, SWE bracing, finger rings, finger buttons, stems, top caps, bottom caps, screw stops, and over 2,000 modular mouthpiece component variations. 

Our primary goal in offering the new Bravura series to you via a Kickstarter campaign is to raise awareness of our 30+ years of innovation in the trumpet industry. By sharing this campaign with friends, colleagues, band directors, and fellow musicians, you can help us bring the new laser sintering production processes in-house . 

Laser sintering is a cutting edge technology that we outsource to two companies in Texas and New Hampshire. With your help, we will purchase this machinery to 3D print Nylon and Stainless Steel in our Denver shop. This will allow us to eventually make every piece of our trumpets in-house including valve casings, pistons, and a new generation of high resonance bells. 

Materials

360 Brass - Considered the best machinable allow of brass, we use 360 for all CNC machined parts, which originates from a foundry in Ohio, USA

PA12 Nylon - Currently, all Nylon components are made on an HP MJF printer in PA12 resulting in impressive strength, durability, and consistency. We've included basic mechanical specifications for our science friends below. 

Melting point 187° C = 369° F 
Density of parts 1.01 g/cm3/0.036 lb/in3 
Tensile strength, max load 48 MPa/6960 psi 
Tensile modulus, 1800 MPa/261 ksi 
Elongation at break, 20% 
Flexural strength (@ 5%) 70 MPa/10150 psi 
Flexural modulus, 1800 MPa/261 ksi 
Shore Hardness D, 80 
Thermal Heat deflection temperature (@ 0.45 MPa, 66 psi), 175° C = 347° F  

316L Stainless Steel - This Stainless Steel alloy is a high performance marine-grade austenitic stainless steel that is molybdenum alloyed for enhanced corrosion resistance in harsh environments. Say goodbye to "red rot" and say hello to a leadpipe that could last 1000 years! More mechanical specifications for our science friends below.

Melting point 1371° C = 2500° F
Tensile Strength: 590 MPa
Yield Strength: 500 MPa
Elongation @ Break: 47%

Nickel - We utilize Nickel for our inner tube material due to its hardness and low coefficient of friction. Nickel is the perfect material to moving slides when paired with the much softer cartridge brass used in our outer tubes. 

Shipping Charges

All shipping charges will be collected at the time of shipment to fairly calculate the total price based on weight, size, insurance, and destination. This will ensure the most accurate pricing possible. 

We do charge sales tax for all Colorado residents and anyone picking up in person.
All backers outside the USA are responsible for import duties originating from the USA.

Who are we? 

Jason Harrelson , founder of Harrelson Trumpets, was playing a 60's Bach Stradivarius in 1992. When asked to trade horns for a few minutes, he took his friend's brand new Bach Stradivarius into a practice room and was promptly blown away. The new Bach played circles around his own horn! And his friend returned the vintage Bach complaining that it didn't play very well.

This was the beginning of what has become the world's most comprehensive resource for the advancement of brass instrument technology. Jason began experimenting with trumpet design and the tedious work of dispelling hundreds of unfounded brass playing myths. Three years later, he began formally exploring the physics of sound and brass instrument design in the physics lab under the supervision of an accomplished acoustician. His mentor was the lead physicist working with Yamaha to re-design their line of acoustic guitars. Needless to say, Jason listened, learned and eventually dropped out of college to pursue his passion designing, building and performing a new breed of brass instruments. See for yourself how Jason's devotion to his craft has transformed the progress of thousands of musicians.

Jennifer Sandquist , co-owner of Harrelson Trumpets has been with us since 2001. Over the years, she has worn every hat in the shop including some she didn't know exist. Some of her favorite work has centered around photographing and interviewing trumpet clients around the world. Art and Music are some of her favorite things, which makes Harrelson Trumpets a perfect fit. When she's not in the office, you might find her hiking the mountains of colorful Colorado, orienteering, taking in a show at Red Rocks, traveling or plotting her next adventure.

Christine Palmer , customer service and finishing expert at Harrelson Trumpet joined our team in 2013, with a background in physics and trumpet. She has helped countless musicians with custom mouthpiece configurations, shop tours, and trumpets. Christine is most likely to answer your questions on the phone and chat as she has a wealth of experience working with musicians from around the world.

What trumpet players are saying...

"This is a great playing horn and it sounds as good as my other Harrelson Trumpets. Overall, I am super impressed. This horn is a winner, especially if you are offering it at a lower price point than the Summit line" 
- Peter from San Francisco, CA

"From the first note I knew this was a great instrument. It has a dense core that plays equally well quiet or pushed, and I can't overblow it. It also plays effortlessly in tune; each note is centered perfectly. I could not be happier with the way it plays." 
- Mike from WA

We are shipping Bravura trumpets to the first 6 Bravura Ambassadors in the coming days. Watch here for their feedback...

This is our 10th Kickstarter campaign

Over 1200 happy backers! We have a long history of crowdfunding new projects on Kickstarter with our first campaign funded in 2016. We've also run several successful campaigns on other crowdfunding platforms. We are the leading trumpet manufacturer on Kickstarter with a proven track record of delivering great solutions on time!

Where Science Meets Sound

Standing Wave Efficiency
Improved response, tone, dynamics, flexibility, slotting, range and endurance is achieved by reducing the energy loss in the standing wave. Standing Wave Efficiency (SWE) is the term coined by Harrelson used as a measure of energy transfer. SWE relates to the percentage of energy in the sound wave that is transferred into motion of the tubing at the high pressure anti-nodes. Increasing SWE results in improved Flexibility, Slotting and Stability.

Trumpets in the Lab
Most of us trust our ears and the feedback of our colleagues. While listening is an invaluable asset to any musician, trumpets belong in the physics lab at least some of the time when undergoing research and development. We understand the physics of sound and have employed scientific principles to measure efficiency, tone quality, tone color, intonation, projection and accuracy in the lab. Through this approach, we are better equipped to provide the working musician with reliable and proven solutions.

We have discussed adding Inertia by adding mass, but is there another way? Yes! We add Inertia to Harrelson Trumpets through the use of FEA software, which is designed to expose weaknesses in mechanical designs. FEA is short for Finite Element Analysis and before this software, we did our work and experiments for many years the hard way by measuring vibration of the air surrounding the trumpet with a specially modified ultrasound. This technique allowed us to video record the air molecules moving inside and outside of the tubing and bell at each anti-node. By first identifying an anti-node with low SWE, we could then experiment with adding mass OR adding structural support to prevent the tubing wall from vibrating. Remember, if the tubing wall does not vibrate, then the sound wave will maintain high integrity.

Resonance
A common myth is that the trumpet should be vibrating in your hands to produce a beautiful sound. This is true and not true. Resonance plays a role in the tone color of a brass instrument and it is most often desirable. However, resonating the entire instrument is counter-intuitive as this results in decreased SWE. At Harrelson Trumpets, we specifically focus on the resonance of the bell only. Have you noticed that our trumpets have less bracing on the bell than other manufacturers? We specifically increase the SWE value throughout the instrument up to the bell, then put all of that increased energy into resonating the bell surface to create a tone unparalleled in rich vibrancy.

3D Printing in Nylon & Stainless Steel

We have been implementing 3D printing into our trumpet and mouthpiece production for ten years. The latest innovations in metal printing have allowed us to develop high efficiency light weight mouthpieces and trumpet components that are unmatched in our industry. Here's a showcase of what is possible with Laser Sintering printing technology.

Visit Harrelson Trumpets in Denver, Colorado, USA

You are welcome to schedule a shop tour of our machine and assembly shops to see exactly how we build some of the world's finest musical instruments. And we have a showroom filled with custom trumpets that will make you feel like a kid in a candy store!

Harrelson Trumpets in the News

Harrelson Trumpets has been featured in numerous manufacturing publications, magazines, newspapers, and nationwide television programs. See for yourself how we create unique high quality trumpets designed to fit each client like a glove.