TromboneChat

Sorry if this is the wrong place to put this -- I wasn't sure where to start
Hello! My name is Riley (rye) and I'm starting college this year (woop) after playing trombone from 5th grade through high school, and I'm looking for help finding an instrument that'll fit my needs and hopefully cost as little as possible, but I'm willing to splurge a little (hopefully under $1.5k). I really just want a large bore tenor with an f attachment that'll do me well for as long as possible, the brand doesn't matter (but the one time I tried a Yamaha I think I was sent to heaven, so, you know) etc and I'm willing to buy used, I just don't know where to start or look and the trombone discord sent me here. A major concern for me is I have a really, really hard time with any sort of travel at all (anxiety ;( ) and I probably wouldn't be able to go check anything out in person, which has made the search doubly difficult.

Thanks for your help in advance and again really sorry if this is an inappropriate place for this post

Hi Rye, It is a taking a bit of a chance buying a horn cold without seeing it, but honestly, a Bach 42B, Conn 88H or Yamaha Xeno 800 or 600 series will most likely be a good buy and a good starting point for college.
Do keep in mind that your playing style will probably change when you get cranking in the more intense atmosphere of college, and this horn might or might not sustain your progress. Just a heads up.

Most sellers here on the chat are straight up people and won't steer you wrong. But do keep your wits about you.

No worries on post placement! If someone complains, we'll smack them around a bit & maybe move the post somewhere else....

Best of Luck!!
Eric

Question: What do you have now?

I usually recommend you wait until you start college and meet with your prof for a lesson or three. Then you will have a better chance of finding "the" horn. Often the Prof may have a line on a good horn being sold by another member of the studio who is "moving up".

If you have nothing, there are a lot of instruments available that could work:

Bach 42 (B, A, K, or T -- different valves)
Benge 190F
Conn 88H
Getzen 3047
Holton TR-150, 158, 159
Jupiter XO 1242 (I think)
King 4B or 5B
Olds Opera O-23 or O-25
Shires Q Series
Yamaha 648, 682, 620, or Xeno 882

Used versions of many of these will be at or below your price point.

ryeob02 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:08 pm

Thanks for your help in advance and again really sorry if this is an inappropriate place for this post

Message sent!

Burgerbobs 42 would probably serve you well and if you need to change it out for something down the road you can always resell it and get back what you paid for it. If you dont go with that, you cant go wrong with a yamaha.

The mainstream horns that most college/conservatory kids use are: Bach 42, Shires, Edwards, Getzen 1047 or 3047 and Conn 88. There are advantages and disadvantages to all horns (these and others). There are also Greenhoe (originals and new Schilke versions), M&W, Courtois, and I am sure some I am forgetting or don't even know about (I haven't been looking for any new trombones bass or tenor in about 10 years).

If you have a horn already, play it and have your college professor help you choose the next horn. Also, be aware that you might never find a perfect horn, and honestly you will most likely change a lot about your playing during college.

For reference my progression of Tenors was: Bach 42BOG (7th grade-10th grade), Getzen 1047FR (11th grade - end of 12th grade), Shires Custom (summer before college till I switched to bass bone after undergrad). I still own the 42 and the Shires. Sold the Getzen and regret it. While in college I ended up with a 42A and an 88HTO which I only had for a few months before selling them to different studio mates who were looking for horns.

Also, depending on where you go to school (and Covid-19 conditions) you might be able to try studio mates horns later, so again, waiting might be beneficial. I know where I did undergrad I was constantly trying my studio mates old horns, current horns, etc. I was able to try a few 42s, 88s, Shires, Edwards, and a getzen or two.

What do you currently play?

Have you had a lesson with your college prof? If not do it before the year starts then when he/she states you need a different horn because of and then gives reasons, then you buy one and ask for his/her help in selecting the right horn for your needs

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 8:19 pm

ryeob02 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:08 pm

Thanks for your help in advance and again really sorry if this is an inappropriate place for this post

Message sent!

Can confirm Burgerbob's horn will be good, was probably blessed by his playing

Get a 3B for college. That way, your teacher can say "oh good, you already have a horn you can earn money playing. We can figure out what you need after you try out some larger bores."

Just an FYI, Dillon Music has a BUNCH of Yamaha Custom 800 level horns for sale right now, all around the 1500-1600 mark. I don't know if an endorser just offloaded their collection or what, but a lot of the model numbers are ones I haven't even heard of before:

TWO YSL-882U Bb/F Tenor Trombones, one for only 1195 (lots of lacquer wear).
TWO YSL-820G Bb/F Tenor Trombones
YSL-822Uii Bb/F Tenor Trombone
YSL-8420G Bb/F Trombone

These look to be Japan Only models.

If you’re taking lessons in college, talk to the trombone professor. I’m a college trombone professor, and I always prefer to work with my students to point them in the right direction based on their current playing, their intended use of the instrument in college and beyond, their budget, and their preferences (musical and otherwise).

You can find all kinds of advice (some it great) on Internet forums like this, but none of us have heard you play and don’t really know what kind of music you like to play, have to play, and might play in the future. So carefully weigh any advice you get and make sure your investment is a good one.

That said, a trombone purchase isn’t a life sentence. They can be bought and sold as your needs and playing change. If you’re in the used market, you might lose less money in the buying and selling process.

are you a music major or just wanting to be in the college marching band? What kind of school? Large state school, regional state school, jr/community college? Is this for vocation or avocation?