Firstly, with a P5-4 in the stable did I really need a new piccolo trumpet? Well after borrowing a friend’s JP 154 and really enjoying playing it for a week I found that I liked not only the sound but also the rotary valves...something which was quite foreign to me. So I opted to buy my own.

The outfit comes with four leadpipes, an A and three Bb pipes and although they are unmarked it was simply a matter of trying each to find which one best suited my needs. I find the trumpet free blowing and although bright, as one would expect from a picc, the sound is slightly more mellow than the Schilke. There is a train of thought which suggests tuning can be a problem with cheaper trumpets and in particular the smaller trumpets. However, this was not the case...even the infamous bottom C# works without alternate fingering!

If I have one adverse comment, it is that the mouthpiece which comes with the trumpet does not do the outfit justice. I used a cornet/trumpet adaptor with my Taylor cornet mouthpiece which Andy Taylor made for my Schilke. Maybe that combination just works for me but nonetheless it works well!

So, a rotary valve piccolo trumpet which sells for around £375. With the right mouthpiece it blows freely and in tune and thus far has handled Albinoni, Bach and Handel without any problems. For anyone considering buying a piccolo trumpet for the first time, the JP154 should be well up on the list of ones to try!

This is an excellent value piccolo trumpet for around £2,000 less than a Sherzer! The trumpet would consistently play flat in the upper register when using various trumpet mouthpieces, but when a Vincent Bach 3E cornet mouthpiece with a cornet mouthpiece to trumpet leadpipe adaptor was used, it played beautifully in tune throughout the whole range. The trumpet comes with a very good case and four different leadpipes (like the Sherzer!). You cannot go wrong buying this trumpet, but do be careful with the intonation, which may be rectified using a cornet mouthpiece.