Thoughts on M/W trombones? where to purchase?

[Bassmann]

Hi there!

I am very interested in buying a M/W bass trombone 929 yellow brass but I understand that it is hard to get one.

Any help or advice?

[BGuttman]

The owner of M&W is here. His handle is Hornbuilder. You will need 2 more approved posts to contact him, but I understand he is very willing to help.

[Burgerbob]

You can contact him through the email on his website. Well worth it, my M&W is perhaps my best instrument.

[paysonmcc]

I currently own a 929 that I have owned for 5 years now. I am also in possession of a Thein Universal Bass and recently sold an Edwards 502. While the other instruments are excellent and play very well, the M&W has by far the best build quality of any of them.

I would recommend talking with Matthew about options that will suite your playing. Different options will drastically change the way the instrument sounds and feels.

[harrisonreed]

I don't play the brand, but I've tried it -- it was blatantly obvious that it had the best build quality of any instrument I've played in the 26 years I've been playing trombone.

[RJMason]

I wish I could try a jazz horn. Or a medium one. Or any M&W that isn’t built for a guy in tails. Maybe that’s too much to ask. But if I found the right setup, I’d buy it.

[CalgaryTbone]

Anyone know if M & W will have a spot at the ITF this summer in London, ON Canada? I'd certainly like to try one or two of their horns too.

Jim Scott

[hornbuilder]

To answer Bassman, send me an email, please. I would be happy to discuss things with you.

[email protected]

M&W is a One-Man shop, and I'm the chief Cook and Bottle Washer! My wife is my Business Manager. I make each individual instrument to order, and I do have a wait list. If someone would like to try a particular type instrument, they just need to contact me, and we can discuss things.
Yes, I make altos, small, medium and large bore tenors, and bass trombones. I have plans for some other projects too, including contra and German style instruments (have already made/sold 2 German style Alto trombones thus far) I'm happy to discuss any/all ideas anyone may have. Obviously large Bb/F tenors and bass trombones are my Bread and Butter.
Unfortunately no, I won't be at ITF. If I'm not in the shop, instruments aren't being built. Add in the cost of travel accomodations, etc and the trip becomes pretty expensive for a small business like mine.
I'm an active freelance player, and my driving question while building a trombone is "would I be happy to take this horn on the gig myself?". I will not sell something to someone if I wouldn't personally accept it.
Cheers!

[JLivi]

So I understand that the build quality is unmatched, but can anyone talk to the sound these instruments put out?

I was at a convention recently and when I was at another small builders booth I was telling them how much I enjoyed playing their horns and that I would love to try a M&W small bore horn one day. And I'm paraphrasing, but they said, "it's going to be built incredibly, but it's going to be sound like one of Matthew's horns."

Having never played M&W I'm not sure what that meant. I don't think it was meant as an insult by any stretch, but it lead me to believe that there are characteristics that are consistent in the horn regardless of size of horn.

Does anyone have any insight to this? Everyone I know that owns an M&W horn absolutely loves it, but they all play classical music and I don't.

[hornbuilder]

Interesting...

The sound of the instrument is dictated, largely, by the bell construction, weight, and material. My 2 piece bells sound and respond noticeably different to my 1 piece bells of the same material. If you wanted a trombone to play/sound like a King, I would suggest a bell with some very specific features, which would be different if you asked for a "Conn" or Bach" type of instrument. All of my horns respond quickly and easily, but there are absolutely variations within the style of instruments that I make.

[Posaunus]

I was lucky enough to try one of Matthew's trombones (large-bore Bb/F tenor) at a meeting (ITF?) a few years ago. Hard to tell conclusively in only 5 minutes, but I still have memories of the nicest, most beautiful, easiest-to-play, best-sounding instrument I've ever held.

[CalgaryTbone]

Matthew, I get it about the costs, etc. of having a booth at the ITF, and adding staff can change the quality of a shop like yours besides adding huge costs. I'm really supportive of the idea of a small "Master-Craftstman" business model.

It would be nice, however, if for some future trombone event you could have a retailer carry a couple of your horns for people to try. At the ITF in Salt Lake City a couple of summers ago, I tried a couple of the new Stevens trombones (Steve Shires new company) at the Horn Guys booth. I also enjoyed some offerings from Shilke/Greenhoe, Adams, Thein, etc. I know that I would love to try one of your horns, but a trip to Wisconsin just to satisfy my curiosity is not in the budget.

Anyway, keep it up producing high quality instruments for the trombone community!

Jim Scott

[JLivi]

Interesting...

The sound of the instrument is dictated, largely, by the bell construction, weight, and material. My 2 piece bells sound and respond noticeably different to my 1 piece bells of the same material. If you wanted a trombone to play/sound like a King, I would suggest a bell with some very specific features, which would be different if you asked for a "Conn" or Bach" type of instrument. All of my horns respond quickly and easily, but there are absolutely variations within the style of instruments that I make.

Interesting! I figured that'd be the case. Again, I'm not really sure how that comment was supposed to be interpreted, but that could also be this person trying to sell their horn. One of these days I'll get up to the shop.

Have you ever put a valve on one of your small bore horns? Similar to a King 3bf?

I was lucky enough to try one of Matthew's trombones (large-bore Bb/F tenor) at a meeting (ITF?) a few years ago. Hard to tell conclusively in only 5 minutes, but I still have memories of the nicest, most beautiful, easiest-to-play, best-sounding instrument I've ever held.

I have the same memory from trying one of his bass trombones over 15 years ago?!? It's still one of the best bass bones I've every played. But it was also in a giant convention hall so who really knows, but the feeling in my hand and the openness of the valves were magical.

a trip to Wisconsin just to satisfy my curiosity is not in the budget.

I actually live 100 miles away, so I have no excuse to go out and try the horns. Well except that I have two small kids. My fear is that I'll end up spending $4-6k if I make the trip though LOL

[johntarr]

I have a large bore M&W and it is a really great horn. As has been written above, it is very well built and easy to play with a beautiful sound. At some point, I’d like to possibly get a small bore horn, but living on another continent doesn’t make it so easy to test play.

Good luck with your search,

John

[Schultz]

I have a middle bore M&W with a valve and TIS. It’s probably closest to a 79H Conn, but Matt will know the exact specs better than I do I mainly use it in my day job on the tenor book of the German production of the Lion King, but have used it on the MJ show, Hercules, Frozen and a variety of mainly jazz and commercial style gigs. It is honestly the most versatile and best trombone i’ve ever owned and pretty much every colleague who has ever heard me play it or played it next to me when i’ve been playing the bass trombone chair at LK has been a huge fan as well. It’s a super versatile instrument that sounds like a large bore horn at times and like a small bore if i use a smaller mouthpiece. Has an amazing free blowing valve register too. Matt built it for me without me having played any of his instruments and i couldn’t have been happier with what i got. I’m currently waiting for delivery of a new bass trombone he’s making for me and I couldn’t be more excited!

[RJMason]

Never had much luck with one-person shops. Roy Lawler was the exception, but he’s retired. I sold that horn during a summer when my brain was off.

I’ve paid top dollar for builds that took forever and still weren’t finished. Weird design choices, wrong parts, different alloys, peeling lacquer. Guesswork in a nice case. Maybe if I played 2nd in a major orchestra and ordered a .547 I’d get more respect.

None of this is aimed at M&W. Never tried one. Never seen one on a gig. But I dream of it. Good to see the nice reports from those who have been lucky enough to try or own one. My old teacher Tom Hutchinson plays one and his horns always rang. If he’s on one I know it’s good.

Because of past experiences, I’d need to try a strong example before I commit. Most builders aren’t set up for my weird little corner of a trombone career so maybe I’m not the right customer and that’s fine too.

[Floridatrombonekenneth]

I teach in Wisconsin and have only had pleasant experiences with M & W Trombones, whether with the instrument or with Matt.

[EriKon]

I have a middle bore M&W with a valve and TIS. It’s probably closest to a 79H Conn, but Matt will know the exact specs better than I do I mainly use it in my day job on the tenor book of the German production of the Lion King, but have used it on the MJ show, Hercules, Frozen and a variety of mainly jazz and commercial style gigs. It is honestly the most versatile and best trombone i’ve ever owned and pretty much every colleague who has ever heard me play it or played it next to me when i’ve been playing the bass trombone chair at LK has been a huge fan as well. It’s a super versatile instrument that sounds like a large bore horn at times and like a small bore if i use a smaller mouthpiece. Has an amazing free blowing valve register too. Matt built it for me without me having played any of his instruments and i couldn’t have been happier with what i got. I’m currently waiting for delivery of a new bass trombone he’s making for me and I couldn’t be more excited!

As someone who plays regularly with Schultz and just recently tried this horn at a show as well, I can confirm all of this. Such an amazing instrument, incredible built quality. I hope I'll get a chance to try more M&W horns in the future, but couldn't justify to get one by myself with my current stable.

[JoeAumann]

Hi there!

I am very interested in buying a M/W bass trombone 929 yellow brass but I understand that it is hard to get one.

Any help or advice?

It's not hard to get one, but you'll have to be patient. Just order one. It's worth the wait. Best trombones on the planet.

[JoeAumann]

As someone who plays regularly with Schultz and just recently tried this horn at a show as well, I can confirm all of this. Such an amazing instrument, incredible built quality. I hope I'll get a chance to try more M&W horns in the future, but couldn't justify to get one by myself with my current stable.

Sell some of your stable, then you can justify it

[ZacharyThornton]

Dillons, Brass Ark, and Windy City are listed as dealers. I have seen some M&W horns at ATW with Dillon’s in 2020 and I visited Windy City and they had two tenors in stock.
Matt is a great dude and I have tried one of his early bass trombones. Played great but I just have played the same horn for a long time now and it fits me perfect. If it didn’t exist… M&W would be the company I would look at.

[WGWTR180]

Hi there!

I am very interested in buying a M/W bass trombone 929 yellow brass but I understand that it is hard to get one.

Any help or advice?

Just curious. Don't get me wrong as you've gotten some good honest answers here. But if you google M&W Matthew's site comes right up. Then it's just so easy to contact him and get the answers directly from the source. I'd also be curious as to who make the interesting/slightly snarky comment regarding Matthew's instruments. I'm assuming that their instruments don't sound like their own but someone else's? Almost sounds like they were trying to direct you away from M&W. Not cool.

[StevenHolloway]

How long of a wait are we talking after trombone is ordered?

[ZacharyThornton]

I doubt Matt would want to quote that on this forum. People could find this years from now when doing research on his trombones and will take the quote as gospel. Say it is a 3 month wait now? Or 2 year wait? People will see this in 2028 and think it’s the same.

[CalgaryTbone]

If you find a great horn, it's worth a bit of a wait. Back when I was in school, you could go to Giardinelli's and try half a dozen Bach's and Conn's - it's not like they were all good horns. Now, stores like that are rare because of the cost of running a business in a large city. If you can find what you want, a wait shouldn't be an issue.

Jim Scott

[WGWTR180]

If you find a great horn, it's worth a bit of a wait. Back when I was in school, you could go to Giardinelli's and try half a dozen Bach's and Conn's - it's not like they were all good horns. Now, stores like that are rare because of the cost of running a business in a large city. If you can find what you want, a wait shouldn't be an issue.

Jim Scott

So true. I bought my first bass trombone at Giardinelli's in 1985. I tried out about 6 Bachs and found a good one. Waiting for something is foreign to most now-instant gratification is the norm BUT I agree with you. Waiting for an instrument that you have tried and love is completely worth it.

[GabrielRice]

I bought my first bass trombone at Giardinelli's in 1987. Per Brevig told me to buy a Bach 50B3. I called on Monday and they had none in stock but to call back on Thursday because they were expecting a shipment. On Thursday they told me they had gotten 2. On Friday I went to try them. Both had gold brass bells and lightweight slides. One was terrible; the other one wasn't. I wish I still had it.

[Wade]

Back when I was in school, you could go to Giardinelli's and try half a dozen Bach's and Conn's - it's not like they were all good horns. Now, stores like that are rare because of the cost of running a business in a large city. If you can find what you want, a wait shouldn't be an issue.

Jim Scott

We are lucky enough here in Seattle to have The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds! Lots of trombones in stock like the Woodwind and Brasswind or Giardinelli's of the 80's.

[hornbuilder]

Something to mention...
We have just discovered that there is an AI chatbot/answerbot on our website, which we didn't ask for, nor know it was there!! A number of people left messages. If you were one of those people, please forgive our lack of response. We didn't even know it was there!! Trying our best to turn it off. Please use email. [email protected]
Cheers

[jacobgarchik]

I'm gonna need one of those videos where somebody plays back to back a M&W, Greenhoe, Stephens, O'Malley, and Sawday.