I just purchased a ST308 silver plate, and this is a great horn , the instrument is flawless, beautiful silverplate, the valves are fast and smooth, the intonation is perfect and this horn plays very open and full sounding . The reverse lead pipe and ovate tuning crook make this horn play great. I am very happy with it.

It is a very free blowing horn. It starts to pay off beyond high C. Most horns shut off or get pinchy in this register, but this horn starts to sing in this register. Very easy and open from high C to high G. Nice allround horn with a potential for lead playing.
Great valves, good intonation.

I don't like the look of the logo on the tuningslide. All Holtons have this, but I don't like it so I had it replaced. The ring on the leadpipe is another thing I don't like. I had it replaced, and now it looks more like a Bach.

I play this horn for more than a year. I play it at the Montreal International Jazz Festival as a lead and the sound tech almost shut off my mic because the horn was projecting too much !!!

Rich and fat sound throughout all the register, from pedal F# to Double High C. Really consistant sound from pp to FF.

This trumpet is really easy to blow and really responsive to lip bend and air inflection.

The horn I have need a valve alignement and a mouthpiece receiver adjustment. But the horn still play great. I can't wait to have this fix!!!!

Despite all those positive points, this horn is UNFORGIVING. Tou need to control your air, apperture and tongue level. This is not a Bach or a Yamaha. She won't lie. This Holton give you excactly what you're putting in. Yours skills will be rewarded but your weakness will also be appearent ...

Well a great horn for advanced players.