Made in Switzerland
Effortless Music-Making.
Carbon wind instruments, handmade in Switzerland. The bell stays still while you play.
Made in Switzerland
Andi assembles and tests every instrument in Lachen
2009
Carbon wind instruments since
10%
less energy for the same sound, measured in Vienna
LUX Award
Best Wind Instruments Producer
Why carbon instruments.
A brass bell vibrates while you play. The daCarbo carbon bell stays still. You spend less energy for the same result.
- You have more left at the end of the night. A stiff bell does not soak up your air.
- It survives the road. Carbon does not dent, corrode or need new lacquer.
- Nobody hears the difference. In a blind test, listeners could not tell carbon from brass.
| Brass bell | Carbon bell | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Part of your energy never becomes sound | About 10 percent less energy for the same result |
| Cold start | Metal warms up slowly | Warm in seconds |
| Dents and corrosion | Dents, corrosion, new lacquer | No dents, no corrosion, no re-lacquering |
| Breakage | Bends if you drop it | Five times stronger than it needs to be |
Made in Switzerland.
Andi Keller plays trumpet and trombone himself. As an engineer, he made loud machines quiet by eliminating vibration. The carbon bell does not vibrate. Every instrument is personally tested by Andi!
LUX Award 2019 Best Wind Instruments Producer
Behind the craftsmanship stand more than 40 years of Werner Spiri’s experience in instrument making.
The evidence
10% less energy for the same result, measured in Vienna
- The same instrument, once with a brass bell, once with a carbon bell.
- The Department of Music Acoustics in Vienna measured both bells.
- In a blind test the audience hears no difference.
Andi Keller
An independent check
Two acousticians in Vienna compared carbon and brass. Listeners could not tell them apart. The material mainly changes how the instrument plays, not how it sounds.
Who plays them.
Roy Hargrove †
Trombone Shorty
Skip Martin
Rick Braun
Toni Maier
Vienna Symphony
Rahmlee Michael Davis
Jim Seeley
Melvin Jones
Greg Boyer
I thought I was eternally connected to my former trombone. daCarbo has taught me better!
These instruments show you how to play more efficiently with less energy, which leads to more musicality.
Even if I was a vintage trumpet freak, I instantly loved the daCarbo instruments when I picked them up!
Our instruments.
Trumpets
All four models share the same carbon bell, assembled in Lachen.
ChangeMaker, Unica, Toni Maier, Large. From €2,990.
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn has a bell of its own, in two finishes.
Gold lacquer gloss, gold lacquer matt. From €4,690.
Trombones
The carbon outer slide does not bend and does not dent.
ChangeMaker, Tenor Jazz, tenor with F-attachment. From €2,990.
Saxophone necks
A carbon neck for the saxophone you already play.
Alto and tenor. From €840.
Common questions.
How does a carbon trumpet sound compared to brass?
In a blind test the audience hears no difference from brass. The models do sound different from each other.
What is the difference between carbon and brass?
A brass bell vibrates while you play. A carbon bell stays still. You spend about 10 percent less energy for the same result.
How much does a daCarbo cost?
Trumpets from €2,990, flugelhorns from €4,690, saxophone necks from €840. You order on the call and pay by bank transfer or card. The price includes tax, customs duty and shipping, so nothing is added when the instrument arrives.
What comes with the instrument?
A daCarbo trumpet comes in a full leather bag. A ChangeMaker trumpet comes in a trumpet case. Every trombone comes in a daCarbo gig bag. The flugelhorn comes in a full leather bag with room for one flugelhorn and one trumpet. Saxophone necks come in a small case.
Can I try a daCarbo before I buy one?
No shop or dealer near you? Then ask Andi on the call. Where it can be arranged, he arranges it. And you have 30 days to send the instrument back after it arrives.
What if I want to send it back?
You have 30 days from the day the instrument arrives. Custom builds are not included. You pay the return shipping. You get your money back once the instrument is back with us in as-new condition.
Does a black bell stand out on stage?
Our design does not distract from the overall stage picture. At the same time it looks high-end and modern.
How tough is a carbon instrument?
Five times stronger than it needs to be. None has broken since 2009. One bell was run over by a car and survived.
Talk to Andi.
Thirty minutes on video. You play a little, you tell him about yourself, and Andi recommends an instrument.
The call is free and commits you to nothing.
Rather not book a call? Write to us and say what you are looking for.
You are talking to Andi Keller. He assembles and tests every instrument.
1
You book 30 minutes with Andi.
2
You play a little for Andi and tell him about yourself.
3
Andi recommends an instrument. He also says straight out if none of them suits you.