Best Bb Cornets 2026
Top-rated bb cornets 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Thomann CR-960L Superior Cornet
by
Thomann
Marching Band
Traditional Band
British Brass
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Traditional brass band sound
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Limited orchestral applications
- • Less common in educational settings
Thomann CR-960L Superior CornetBb CornetModel: "Superior"Bore: 11.90 mm (0.469")Bell Ø: 123 mm...
⭐
4.9/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 423600
$878
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Thomann CR-950 GP Superior Cornet
by
Thomann
Traditional Band
British Brass
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for band literature
- • Essential for British brass tradition
✗ CONS
- • Limited orchestral applications
- • Less common in educational settings
Thomann CR-950 GP Superior CornetBb Cornet"Superior" model3 Perinet valves made of MonelL-bore Ø: 11.90...
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 379930
$548
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha YCR-4330 GSII Cornet
by
Yamaha
Wind Ensemble
British Brass
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
- • Essential for British brass tradition
✗ CONS
- • May require specialized instruction
- • Different embouchure than trumpet
Yamaha YCR-4330 GSIIBb- CornetShort designBore: ML 11.65mm (0.459")Newly designed rounded lead pipeBell Ø: 119.00...
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 279442
$1,208
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Thomann CR-960S Superior Cornet
by
Thomann
Wind Ensemble
British Brass
Traditional Band
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for band literature
- • Traditional brass band sound
✗ CONS
- • May require specialized instruction
- • Different embouchure than trumpet
Thomann CR-960S Superior CornetBb Cornet"Superior" modelBore 11.90 mm (0.469")Bell Ø: 123 mm...
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 423601
$934
#5
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Thomann CR-950 L Superior Cornet
by
Thomann
Marching Band
Brass Band
Cornet Band
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Warmer tone than trumpet
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Different embouchure than trumpet
- • Less common in educational settings
Thomann CR-950 L Superior CornetBb Cornet"Superior" model3 Perinet valves made of MonelL-bore Ø: 11.90...
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 379924
$438
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha YCR-4330 GII Cornet
by
Yamaha
Marching Band
Cornet Band
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• Excellent for band literature
✓ PROS
- • Essential for British brass tradition
- • Excellent for band literature
✗ CONS
- • Smaller market than trumpet
- • Less common in educational settings
Yamaha YCR-4330 GIIBb- CornetShort designBore: ML 11.65mm (0.459")Newly designed rounded lead pipeBell Ø: 119.00...
⭐
4.6/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 279441
$1,098
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha YCR-8335 GS 02 Cornet
by
Yamaha
Brass Band
Wind Ensemble
British Brass
Key Feature:
• Excellent for band literature
✓ PROS
- • Traditional brass band sound
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Limited orchestral applications
- • Smaller market than trumpet
Yamaha YCR-8335 GS 02, Bb-CornetThe model YCR-8335 was developed together with David King - cornet soloist and...
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 216138
$3,738
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Yamaha YCR-6335 II Cornet
by
Yamaha
Marching Band
British Brass
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• Essential for British brass tradition
✓ PROS
- • Essential for British brass tradition
- • Traditional brass band sound
✗ CONS
- • Smaller market than trumpet
- • Less common in educational settings
Yamaha YCR-6335 II CornetBb CornetProfessional classCompletely new design concept - new valve housingnewly designed...
⭐
4.7/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 176862
$2,144
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha YCR-2330 III Cornet
by
Yamaha
British Brass
Brass Band
Traditional Band
Key Feature:
• More mellow than Bb trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Traditional brass band sound
- • Warmer tone than trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Less common in educational settings
- • May require specialized instruction
Yamaha YCR-2330 IIIBb- CornetShort designBore: ML 11.65mm (0.459")Newly designed rounded lead pipeBell Ø: 119.00...
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 279438
$878
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Schilke XA1 Bb-Cornet
by
Schilke
Cornet Band
Marching Band
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• More mellow than Bb trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Essential for British brass tradition
- • Traditional brass band sound
✗ CONS
- • Different embouchure than trumpet
- • Limited orchestral applications
Schilke XA1 Bb-CornetBb CornetShort English designØ 11.68 mm (.460") ML boreØ 5.00" (127 mm) L bell made of...
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 213865
$5,058
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Schagerl K-610L Bb- Cornet
by
Schagerl
Brass Band
Marching Band
Cornet Band
Key Feature:
• Warmer tone than trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for band literature
- • Essential for British brass tradition
✗ CONS
- • Limited orchestral applications
- • Smaller market than trumpet
Schagerl K-610L Bb- CornetBb CornetAcademica seriesBrass bell: 123 mmMonel valvesGold brass mouth pipeBore: 11.68...
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 473613
$977
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Thomann CR 600 G Bb-Cornet
by
Thomann
Wind Ensemble
Traditional Band
Marching Band
Key Feature:
• Excellent for band literature
✓ PROS
- • Warmer tone than trumpet
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Less common in educational settings
- • Limited orchestral applications
Thomann CR 600 G Bb-KornettBb CornetMonel valvesML boreLeadpipe and bell from gold brassBell: Ø 120 mmNickel silver...
⭐
4.6/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 176665
$329
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Yamaha YCR-6335 SII Cornet
by
Yamaha
Marching Band
Wind Ensemble
Cornet Band
Key Feature:
• More mellow than Bb trumpet
✓ PROS
- • Warmer tone than trumpet
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
✗ CONS
- • Smaller market than trumpet
- • May require specialized instruction
Yamaha YCR-6335 SII CornetBb CornetProfessional classCompletely new design concept - new valve housingnewly designed...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 553975
$2,308
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Besson BE2028-2 Prestige Bb-Cornet
by
Besson
Brass Band
Cornet Band
Traditional Band
Key Feature:
• More mellow than Bb trumpet
✓ PROS
- • More mellow than Bb trumpet
- • Excellent for band literature
✗ CONS
- • Different embouchure than trumpet
- • May require specialized instruction
Besson BE2028-2 Prestige Bb-CornetBb- CornetL-bore: 11.89 mm (.468")Handmade brass bell Ø: 124 mm...
⭐
4.6/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 178559
$4,927
#15
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Thomann CR-950 S Superior Cornet
by
Thomann
Cornet Band
British Brass
Brass Band
Key Feature:
• Essential for British brass tradition
✓ PROS
- • Warmer tone than trumpet
- • Excellent for band literature
✗ CONS
- • Smaller market than trumpet
- • May require specialized instruction
Thomann CR-950 S Superior CornetBb Cornet"Superior" model3 Perinet valves made of MonelL-bore Ø: 11.90...
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 379929
$494
How to Choose the Best Bb Cornets
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced bb cornets typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
