Beginner/Intermediate affordable Bass Trombone

[BrianJohnston]

Hi all,

I have a student who currently plays on a student-level p-shooter, and i'm looking into cheap yet reliable entry level bass trombones.

This student is intermediate/advanced for an early high schooler, has a natural ability to play bass trombone/tuba parts in youth orchestra at a high level.

I'm still not sure of the direction of bass/tenor, but I want to have an idea when the time comes to get something that will work better in the youth orchestra, so tenor/bass recommendations welcome.

Thanks all,
- Brian

[Crazy4Tbone86]

The Yamaha YBL-421G is a decent “starter” bass trombone and seem to be available (used) on Ebay constantly.

[BGuttman]

Does your student need a double trigger? Would a decent large bore tenor do well enough for now?

Going directly from pea-shooter to bass is not a normal route. Normally you would learn the F-attachment first, and a large bore tenor with F serves this purpose well. Once the student is comfortable with an F-attachment trombone, adding the 2nd valve is relatively easy.

Also, is there a price point?

[Mamaposaune]

Two bass trombones that can be had for a reasonable price and would be great for him at any level (until he needs a double trigger) are the Conn 72H and King 1480/5B. I don't think either is all that sensitive to mouthpiece choice, so anything between a 5G and 1 1/2 can work, so your student can gradually work up to a larger size if he does end up on bass.

[Burgerbob]

May be worth just getting a 42B and using it for everything for a while.

[Bonearzt]

May be worth just getting a 42B and using it for everything for a while.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

Stick a 2G in it and get him/her honking!!!!

THEN consider double valve horns!

The Benge 290 basses are WAY underrated horns!!!!

[BGuttman]

May be worth just getting a 42B and using it for everything for a while.

This was actually Emory Remington's idea, but using the Conn 88H. He felt that his students needed to be ready to cover any and all trombone parts and the 88H could adapt to them all.

[DougHulme]

The best 'cheap' secondhand Bass trombone to be had is an old Yamaha YBL321. Often mis described as a 'step up' horn it was in fact the only bass trombone they made at the time and they are of a professional standard and play as well as the conns they were modelled on but at a very much cheaper premium. That said as others have mentioned he's be better off with a large bore tenor.... Doug

[Kingfan]

Two bass trombones that can be had for a reasonable price and would be great for him at any level (until he needs a double trigger) are the Conn 72H and King 1480/5B. I don't think either is all that sensitive to mouthpiece choice, so anything between a 5G and 1 1/2 can work, so your student can gradually work up to a larger size if he does end up on bass.

Two different animals. The 5B is a .547 bore horn, basically a 4B with a larger bell. The 72H is a true .562 bore bass.

[Mamaposaune]

Two bass trombones that can be had for a reasonable price and would be great for him at any level (until he needs a double trigger) are the Conn 72H and King 1480/5B. I don't think either is all that sensitive to mouthpiece choice, so anything between a 5G and 1 1/2 can work, so your student can gradually work up to a larger size if he does end up on bass.

Two different animals. The 5B is a .547 bore horn, basically a 4B with a larger bell. The 72H is a true .562 bore bass.

Yes, different but both well-made instruments that could work well for a talented student looking to start bass trombone. The 72H has a .562 bore, but a slower taper in the bell flare than the 1480 (and most modern basses) and can almost work as a tenor with a smaller 5G-ish sized mouthpiece. I played one through college, using it for everything from principal in orchestra to bass in the jazz band. Still have it, although it mostly sits these days since I have a Courtois double-trigger for when I need to play bass, and a 42B and a 36B for tenor parts.
My hubby still has his 1480 that was his first pro horn that he bought in high school. Different, yes, but with the wide bell throat it works well as a small bass, even though it has a smallish dual-bore (.536/.547, I think) He also used it as his main horn through college, until he bought his 88H. He finds it ideal if he has a show to play that has a combined tenor/bass book.
And either can be had for a reasonable price, and are not too hard to find.
I also think he would do fine with a 42B, or a Yamaha 321 or 421, as others have suggested. Kids adapt easily, as long it has a decent slide and a trigger he'll make it work.

[Molefsky]

Basically everything said here but the Benge 290 seems to be the budget bass to get according to some of my bass colleagues.

[EOlson9]

May be worth just getting a 42B and using it for everything for a while.

This was actually Emory Remington's idea, but using the Conn 88H. He felt that his students needed to be ready to cover any and all trombone parts and the 88H could adapt to them all.

+1 for 88H and a 2G-like mouthpiece.

[elmsandr]

I agree fully with the above comments, go for a standard Large bore tenor and grab a couple of different mouthpieces and find something that works.

For the next level, a Rath R900 is not a bad option... though even the import-level horns are getting close to quality used pro horns at this point. But there are different risks with each.

Cheers,
Andy

[PaulT]

My guess is this Yamaha YBL-421G Bass Trombone could be had for around $900. I have purchased three trombones from this seller (Quinn the Eskimo*), including a 421G. When this seller says an instrument is "Mint", it is mint. The three horns I got from him were indistinguishable from new, I don't know if they were ever played, they were showroom horns or something.

I have played mine with mouthpieces ranging from a 6.5 AL to a 1.5 and the horn sounds great with all of them. In addition, this horn is extremely light and comfy for a bass bone. I haven't weighed it, but it "feels" lighter than my 620 (a standard .547 F-trigger horn). And the student will get a like-new horn with no issues or concerns and that has a buttery-smooth Yamaha slide that is a 12/10.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265322639285?e ... SwqSlgRYE7

* I know. I bet he would like a do-over on the name, but it's too late now.

[Posaunus]

Yamaha YBL-421G Bass Trombone ...

Have to agree. The Yamaha YBL-421G is really a fine instrument. As far as I can tell, the only thing "intermediate" about it is that it has only one valve. Very robust, excellent manufacturing quality and materials, slick slide (0.563" bore), nice valve, pleasant sound - for only a little more than $1,000. What's not to like?

[RConrad]

Lots of good suggestions here. I'll just say that I've played a good bit of bass for my band at this point and having a large bore tenor or a single bass isn't a bad starting point instead of jumping right to an dependent or independent valve bass. This semester we're playing a lot of "flex" pieces that, if I had a large bore or a single bass, I'd prefer to use one on since I usually don't need my second valve or it'd just be less weight to hold up.