TromboneChat

Are Jean Baptiste Trombone JBVT480BX any good?

Compared to what?

Compared to the Indian valve trombones that flood Ebay? Yes.

Compared to a JP-Rath or Wessex Tubas? Probably not.

Biggest problem is the inconsistency in the instruments. They can vary from OK to horrid.

But none of them can hold a candle to a good Conn 5G.

rleegabe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:56 pm Are Jean Baptiste Trombone JBVT480BX any good?

No.

It’s probably fine. I have a Jean Baptiste slide trumpet that’s actually plays pretty well. But it’s also a slide trumpet. I’m not exactly going to take it on any gigs. It’s a novelty. If I wanted to play professionally, I’d probably modify it or get something else. If the valve trombone is a novelty to you it’s probably totally adequate. If you’re going to perform on it, there are probably better options you want to consider.

EDIT: Yay autocorrect

BGuttman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:02 pm Compared to what?

Compared to the Indian valve trombones that flood Ebay? Yes.

Compared to a JP-Rath or Wessex Tubas? Probably not.

Biggest problem is the inconsistency in the instruments. They can vary from OK to horrid.

But none of them can hold a candle to a good Conn 5G.

Just learning to play, a Conn,Getzen, Jupiter will have to wait

Matt K wrote: ↑Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:55 pm It’s probably fine. I have a Jean Baptiste slide trumpet that’s cruelly plays pretty well. But it’s also a slide trumpet. I’m not exactly going to take it on any gigs. It’s a novelty. If I wanted to play professionally, I’d probably modify it or get something else. If the valve trombone is a novelty to you it’s probably totally adequate. If you’re going to perform on it, there are probably better options you want to consider.

Just learning to play, a Conn,Getzen, Jupiter will have to wait

Yeah for that purpose it's probably a-okay. If you want to learn valves and aren't set on a valve trombone, obviously a baritone, euphonium, marching trombone, etc. also have valves and can frequently be found for better prices than a valve trombone.

A friend of mine recently purchased an in-house brand flugabone at Schmitt Music in the Minneapolis area and absolutely loves it. Of course he had the opportunity to physically go to the store and play-test it extensively before plunking down his cash. He said the price was under $900. He needed a valve trombone or something similar for some work he was doing but was unsatisfied with what he was seeing on internet sources.

Matt K wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 8:51 am Yeah for that purpose it's probably a-okay. If you want to learn valves and aren't set on a valve trombone, obviously a baritone, euphonium, marching trombone, etc. also have valves and can frequently be found for better prices than a valve trombone.

You would not want to perform on it, but a jHorn is fun and $129 new.

Matt K wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 8:51 am Yeah for that purpose it's probably a-okay. If you want to learn valves and aren't set on a valve trombone, obviously a baritone, euphonium, marching trombone, etc. also have valves and can frequently be found for better prices than a valve trombone.

I'd do this. I picked up an old Olds baritone for just a song. Not a looker, but a great sounding horn.

--Andy in OKC

In my opinion, if you're going to buy a Chinese valve trombone (nothing wrong with that as long as you're not expecting it to be professional quality - I've had a lot of success with my Chinese instruments), you should buy one from a music retailer (rather than a general retailer like Amazon) that has established good customer service and return policies. With that in mind, I'd recommend the Thomann valve trombone over a Jean Baptiste.

I just bought a Conn Elkhart 3 valve trombone today, it's in really nice shape. I am trying to find the year it was made which I think is 1965 serial number E3099. I want to clean the inside real well before I start practising, also came with a Yamaha 48 mouthpiece. Any suggestions for a mouthpiece for this trombone?

The Yamaha 48 would be a good mouthpiece for this instrument. So would a Bach 7C, Conn 3, Conn Remington, Bach 6 1/2 AL, and any of a number of mouthpieces. Depends on your mouth structure and what you are accustomed to playing (if anything). Remember that the instrument uses a small shank mouthpiece, which is probably the only limit on what you can try.

If it’s like my students Jean baptiste trumpet I would pass on it. We are constantly fighting the valves. On his two are great. One valve is slow or sticks. It has been lapped and worked on, but I have a feeling something else is causing the binding. Also the case is horrible.