Student trumpets are designed for students, not for professionals, but we still want student horns to be built well and, of course, to play well. The Libretto by Antigua LTR-2500 is just such a horn—perfect for the beginner and more than just good enough to get them through until they are ready for a more advanced (and more expensive!) trumpet.
When I first received the Libretto by Antigua LTR-2500 horn, I noticed before I even opened the case that this trumpet was designed with the student in mind. The trumpet case has a heavy duty nylon wrapping that will no doubt withstand the cosmetic beating that often accompanies being under the "less than careful" care of a young student. Yet, it is firm enough to protect the contents. It also has two "backpack" style straps, a very popular (and convenient) method for carrying cases, especially as kids often have quite a few things to bring home every day. Most importantly, the Libretto trumpet case is light weight. I remember being a kid and having to carry my heavy wooden trumpet case home every day—what a chore! This case hits all the right marks.
Cosmetically, the LTR-2500 horn itself is quite nice. A well-polished lacquer and a streamlined design will give any kid a boost of confidence when it comes to having a "cool horn" amongst his/her peers. The included mouthpiece is a somewhat generic 7C. Teachers will argue over which is the best size trumpet mouthpiece to start out on, so I'd suggest conferring with a reputable trumpet teacher before diving in on only this mouthpiece. There's nothing wrong with it—mouthpiece choice is dependent on many factors, including and individual performer's lip and jaw structure.
I added a little oil (whenever a horn sits in a case for a while, it may need some new lubrication) and began to play the Libretto by Antigua trumpet. I was pleasantly surprised. The horn plays well right where it counts—in the middle register. It will be some time before a student needs to be exploring the upper range (and even the extreme lower range) so what really matters on a student trumpet is the middle register. Overall, the LTR-2500 trumpet's intonation is solid, although I had to use my own mouthpiece to evaluate the horn fairly on its own merits. I did notice the Libretto by Antigua LTR-2500 had a nice warm tone – many student trumpets can sound a little shrill. The airflow seems to be pretty free, not a lot of resistance like a lot of lesser-made student horns.
There is really only positive feedback to give about the LTR-2500 horn. At under $500 the Libretto by Antigua LTR-2500 student trumpet offers very good value for its price range and should serve any student—and even many hobbyists—very well.
