Lower-cost bass trombone for college

[Hobart]

Alrighty, first post here, so wish me luck.
I'm currently graduating high school in about three months, and I am going to attend college, but not pursue a music degree. However, I would like to continue playing through college.

I came to the harsh realization, however, that the Holton bass trombone the school provides won't be available to me in about three months, and I'm currently looking for a bass trombone for less than $1000. I can get a Reynolds Contempora, but the bell has been patched in the past.

I would rather get this out of the way sooner than later. Are there any particular recommendations on what kind of bass trombone I should or can get for such a price? I don't want to immediately jump on the first thing I can get.

[BGuttman]

If you can live with a single trigger horn you miay find a lot of options (mostly used):

Bach 50B
Conn 72H, 71H (and others)
Reynolds
Olds
Yamaha 321

If you must have a double, look for a dependent in Bb/F/flat E (original doubles). They tend to be a lot less expensive.

Finally, keep looking at the Classifieds here and on the Facebook site. Stuff comes up pretty often.

[FullPedalTrombonist]

I really liked the Yamaha 321 I helped a prof with. Yamaha single basses like it pop up at good prices.

I don’t know what Benge basses are going for recently, but I hear they’re great!

If time isn’t on your side then you can’t wait to find something at the right price. What you find is what you find and if you need it now those are your choices.

If the bell patch isn’t so bad and the rest of the horn is good I think a popular swap was a Bach yellow bell. I could have been to take the valves and put them on a Bach...

[MTbassbone]

Contact the School of Music at the post-secondary institution you wish to attend. They may have a bass trombone available for use. The school I attended had a Holton TR181 available to trombonists who participated in an ensemble or studio lessons.

[AlexMcMahon]

There’s a decent looking Olds S-23 bass bone with dependent F/E valves being sold locally to me for $500. A little extra for a slide align and maybe to build a D slide and split the triggers and you’d have a pretty capable horn.

I also have a JinBao independent bass for sale locally that I had the triggers adjusted/bent. Slide is pretty good. Overall, really clean horn. Same as the Wessex King 7B clone. Send me a message if interested. Definitely below 1,000.