TromboneChat

Hello all!

I'm a euphonium player, but I'm trying to get more into playing trombone. I'm looking for a moderately expensive tenor trombone that will serve me well without feeling too much different from my euph. (Besson Sovereign (1990's))

I'm really just looking for suggestions on horns to try, or a good place to start. Right now my horn is a King 3B, Silver Sonic. Great horn, but there is too much of an adjustment between that and my euph. I'm selling that horn as an ebay auction (I have another post waiting on approval).

So, what horns do you all think I should try first? I've always been a fan of Yamaha...

what sort of bone playing will you be doing? This should influence which direction you go in

Have you got a trombone teacher? Where in the world are you?

You will get lots of different personal recommendations, so set a budget, yamahas are good trombones and in the words of a well known player. Try everything, use what works for you

You will look long and hard to find any trombone that feels like a Euph. They are more conical and have different resistance feels.

Also, I'd like to hear your answers to Vegasbound's questions before making any recommendations.

Also, note that more expensive is not necessarily better.

It depends more on what sort of music you want to play. Euphonium is lovely, but trombones are used widely in many more types of ensemble than you would generally find a euphonium.
It will feel different to euphonium. One of my friends who is a very good euph player (brass and wind bands) bought himself a trombone to learn last year for retirement (with some lessons from another friend). He bought a new Conn 88H. Being a large bore it may be nearer to the euphonium than a 3B, but really it depends more on what you want to do.

I started out on baritone and when I took up trombone it felt like I was just blowing though a straight pipe -- there was just no resistance at all. It took a long time to get used to that but now when I play valved instruments, it feels like I'm blowing into a pipe with the end plugged up.

I'd recommend going with a small bore since it's easier to fill up. The 3B is really not a bad option or maybe something like a small bore Olds with F-attachment.

Me, I think a .547 large bore tenor would be the first place to look. Besson Sovereign trombones in that size might be a good fit. I've never played one or know much about them, I just think a trombone by the same mfg. as your euphonium might be a good match. Otherwise, there are good horns in that size by Bach, Conn, Yamaha, and plenty of other makers. Which is best for you? Only by playing them yourself will tell you for sure. If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio area you are welcome to borrow my .547 King 4B-F for a week or two and try it out.

You might want a large-bore, though. Reason being your euphonium MIGHT be a large-bore. Nothing will feel much like the euphonium, though. You can spend a ton on trombones (just ask me...I have a bunch of very high-end horns) but you don't have to. Some of the Yamahas are very reasonably priced and I like them a lot. You can sometimes pick up a large-bore Yamaha for a very reasonable price.

If you are a fan of yamaha, try a large bore YSL 682G , 448G, or a medium bore 356G. They do come up for reasonable prices and play easy and great. But it will never feel like an euph.

The trick to doubling is to embrace the difference, and to practice the change. This, plus first class teachers for both instruments.

Don't try to make them equal, don't go for equal feel, it will not work. Accept and love the differences ...

OK, I see by your eBay post you are in Lancaster, PA. Funny description, BTW! There is a Bach 42B near you on Craigslist that might be worth checking out.

I switched from euph to trombone after my first year of conservatory. It's my opinion that you aren't going to find a trombone that feels anything at all like playing euph. It's a totally different beast, and you'll need to approach it that way. If you somehow manage to put together a horn and mouthpiece combo that feels like euph, it will be unlikely to sound much like a trombone. I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for but this is my experience.

You can get used to the difference, but different it will be. Try a Bach 36. It is still different from th eu, but I believe you can find a sound in that horn easier then in the King 3b.

The King 3B can be a completely reasonable choice with the right mouthpiece that matches the rim of your euphonium mouthpiece and is otherwise appropriate for the 3B. That's a much more likely way to make them feel close than trying to find a trombone that feels like a euphonium, which isn't going to happen.

3Bs are amazing. Just a thought here: the Conn 32H Burkle has as close to a conical bore as you will get on a trombone. Great horns.
Trombones need to be seen as trombones; they are just completely different, and one needs to get comfortable with that fact.

Whenever I’m out of practice in doubling, I always find it easiest to use the same mouthpieces (or variants of if different bore sizes) on euphonium and trombone.

In the past I played on a 90s sovereign euph with a Dennis Wick 4AL as my main instrument. One of my main criteria for choosing a trombone as a second instrument was something I liked the sound of with that mouthpiece. I tried all the locally available non-boutique large bore options, Bach 42, Various Conn 88h, King 4B, Yamaha 6-series (not sure which exact model). The Bach was the only one which really didn’t work for me, it was just too tubby with the 4AL for my tastes. I chose a Conn 88h with the thin wall bell in the end.

Nowadays I play much less euph and when I do it’s a medium-bore imperial euph with a Denis Wick 4AM. Although my main trombone mouthpiece is no longer a 4AL, I still revert back to it if I have a doubling gig and am out of practice at swapping. I find it harder to swap from a small or medium bore trombone to euph unless I‘ve specifically prepared with some extra practice.

If you haven‘t done already, it is well worth trying the same (or small bore version) of your preferred euph mouthpiece on the 3b. Alternatively, one with a smaller cup but similar as possible rim diameter, width and profile is also worth a try. If these aren‘t available as standard products, I‘m sure there is one forum member who can help you out to put together the suitable parts.

If you‘re already intent on selling the 3b, then try to find a trombone which works well for you with your usual euph mouthpiece to get the most familiarity where it matters. It might sound counter-intuitive but the biggest, darkest, heaviest option which on paper could sound more familiar to a euphonium sound might not be the way to go. I‘d start with the slightly lighter (still large bore) options which can more easily be brightened up and work from there. It all depends on what sound you‘re trying to achieve and what type of music you play though.

My background before I move to thoughts on this - Started on trumpet, tried all of the other brass family and landed on trombone with euphonium as a close second. Went to undergrad as a trombone major then spent two years doubling on euphonium. My trombone was a Bach 36B and the school euphonium was a Yamaha YEP321S. I used the same mouthpiece on both.

As others have said, a trombone will not feel like a euphonium and the opposite is also true. Using the same mouthpiece on both allowed me to jump back and forth easily. Now I am using a Doug Elliott setup and use the same rim size on small/medium/large trombone and euphonium.

As for a Conn 32H, that is a dual bore .500"/.522" and I have one. Great horn but not my thing. I also have two .522" Conns - a 78H and a 79H. The 32H would feel small to you and I'd suspect the 79H would also feel small.

As for a trombone, what are you using it for? My initial though for a trombone is a .547" horn. The Yamaha Xenos are really nice horns and incredibly consistent. You'd probably like the wide slide too.