TromboneChat

I am a trumpet player but have a son starting trombone this summer.

He is a beginner and looking to graduate him up if he keeps up with it, but for now I have found a good deal on the below models and I am looking for feedback or thoughts on which I should get him. Costs are all pretty equal at about $300-400.

Blessing B-88-O Open Wrap F Attachment Trigger Trombone

Yamaha Advantage Model YSL 200AD Trombone

Conn Director’s Student Model ( in not sure the model foe the one actually.

Thoughts? Appreciate any feedback or help you could give.

First of all, don't bother with an F-attachment trombone for a rank beginner (B88). It's a horn he can step up into once he masters the basic instrument.

The Yamaha 200AD (or 354, same horn) are good quality instruments and play well above their "standard".

The Conn Director comes in a number of different flavors (and a variety of model numbers). The latest one is identical to the King 606 (except for the bell nut, which is on the slide on the King and the bell on the Conn). Some Directors play very well. The King 606 analog is excellent as a beginner horn.

If you are buying a used instrument, condition is the trump card. A trombone with a balky slide makes playing uncomfortable. Imagine having a valve on your trumpet with a dent in it.

Good luck.

The Yamaha would be my first choice, but I wouldn't necessarily dismiss the Blessing. It depends on how old and how big he is.

Have you got a trombone teacher lined up?

The Yamaha is a good horn, but as Doug said consider the blessing

Yamaha, their student trombone is unreasonably good.

Appreciate all of the feedback. Both the Yamaha and the Blessing all are in pretty great condition. My boy is 11 but a little bit bigger build. I think I’m going to go with the blessing. The weight is fairly similar and it saves us from having to up grade later should he stick with it. The price is almost too good to pass up as well. I think right off the bat I have equity built it.

Good choice!