TromboneChat

I am considering buying a new instrument, and would really appreciate suggestions on models! I am a happy amateur in my fifties, and I play mostly wind orchestra; indoor concerts as well as marching. I want the f-attachement, but other than that I don´t know where to start looking, and there is no retailer nearby where I can go and try out different instruments.

Hi and welcome!

We need a couple of ground rules (background) to help:

1. Do you play now? What instrument are you playing (brand)?
2. Have you ever played an F-attachment trombone before?
3. Do you want "brand new" or will "good used" be OK? You get a lot more instrument for your money with "good used".
4. Where are you located: US? North America? Europe? Asia? Mid-East? Northern Africa? Southern Africa? Oceania? Australia/New Zealand? We don't need a country if you don't want to say, but sometimes it is easier to recommend a brand that is more local to you.

If you are currently playing in a group, are there other trombone players who can let you try out their instruments? It would help to narrow the field.
Do you want a large bore (13.9 mm) or medium bore (13.3 mm)? Maybe something else?

I should mention that most F-attachments are difficult to hold when marching, but there are a couple that I have had an easier time with. If your marching also involves fancy maneuvers like snap-tos or "trombone suicides" there could be a problem with an F-attachment since whipping a trombone around puts a lot of stress on the tubing near the valve.

My personal preference for brand if you have to buy untested is the Yamaha line. Their quality control is much better than most and you have a very good chance of getting a perfect instrument "out of the box". Since you haven't given us much to go on, i can't really recommend a model.

1. Yes and Conn. I would say I am a fairly good amateur, my weak spot is hitting those high notes.
2. Yes.
3. Good used is absolutely fine!
4. I´m located in northern Europe.

At the moment there is only a bass-trombonist in the orchestra, except for me, so unfortunately no instruments to try there. I have a large bore today, but medium would also be an option. I am used to march with the F-attachment, but there is no fancy maneuvers involved.

You might want to check the Web site of Thomann (located in Germany). They ship all over Europe (and the rest of the world for that matter). I really like the Yamaha F-attachment trombones. I own a 682G that has served me well for some 30 years. The 682 replaced the 648 and was replaced by the 620 (all good instruments). There is a Zeno 882 that is a premium instrument. If the Yamaha 6xx series are too pricey, try the 548, which is a step-up instrument. Nice thing about Yamahas is that you can't tell which model it is from looks so nobody needs to know what you are playing. It's your sound that counts.

For new instruments you could consider the JP Rath or Wessex. These are Chinese made, but the seller does rigorous Quality Control on the instruments so they won't send you a dud. Not quite as nice playing as the Yamaha 6xx horns, but good instruments nonetheless.

There are a few TC members in your general area (mostly Sweden and Norway) and they might know of other dealers in the area. Also check our Classifieds -- we have instruments for sale in EU so you can get it duty free if you are also in EU.

Also, if your marching is in a Mardi Gras or Fastnacht ensemble, I understand. Anything will work. Marching Brass Band you may need a better instrument, depending on the group (competition judges use eyes as well as ears).

If you're planning on playing a lot, maybe a used Bach 36.

Although you do not have a nearby dealer, I'd suggest you book a trip to somewhere you can try some out in a test room, rather than chancing it on line, if at all possible. You may find something that just lights your fire. You don't have to buy unless it's just what you want. Probably any of the well known manufacturers are worth looking at. In my neck of the woods Getzen custom series seem to be popular with a few I know, including me.
If you have to buy online, Thomann have a good range.
Stephen

I recently purchased a used Conn 79H that I am very satisfied with. It is ~0.525 inches or 13.33mm. I also like or even prefer Bach’s with gold brass bells and light weight nickel slides.

I have a straight LT42G and LT42AG with Hagmann valve. I would not recommend marching with large bore instruments or any open wrap. I liked a closed wrap 88H that I played in the past. I think the 88H might be a little more nimble than the Bach’s large bore.

My experience with Yamaha is YSL-653 and YSL-697Z straight horns. They build good instruments new out of the box. When the slides required maintenance I had to take them to the best repairman I could find. Yamaha quits offering replacement tubes on discontinued models fairly quickly. Repairman shy away from replacing tubes if the Yamaha replacement part is not available. Yamaha may offer light weight nickel slides in Europe that are more damage tolerant, and less likely to require repair or replacement. That is my experience. Your’s may vary.

If I were going to march with an instrument I would prefer used instrument, 0.525 inch or 13.33 mm or less, and a light weight nickel slide. If the orchestra requires a large bore horn, I would go with a large bore Bach closed wrap bell and valve of your choice and light weight slide. There are plenty of them around and they are repairable. If I can’t try them I would go with used LT36BG or LT42BG trombones. 36B and 42B trombones are good, too I had a positive experience with a 42B.

That’s the very safe advice. Depending on the politics in your wind orchestra, King 3B and King 3B+ 12.90mm and 13.33mm bore trombones with f attachments are mis-identified as light weight nickel slides are actually not lightweight but they are very robust. Based on my experience with a 2B and listening, either trombone would cover concert band and marching parts very well. They may or may not be in production or obtainable new.

The opinions and experiences offered by others on this site are valid. This is my experience. Good luck.

If I were marching, I would probably use a King 3B/F. .508 bore. Great horn, easy to find, not super expensive.

For .525-bore, I would get a King 3B+/F (hard to find) or a Bach 36B (very easy to find) or one of the many Yamaha models.

Me, I would not march with a large .547-bore horn.

Some good advice already, imho Bach 36 will meet all your playing needs

And have a couple of lessons so your practice regime will help you ‘hit those high notes”

Thank you for your suggestions, now at least I have a clue where to start! It has been very helpful, there are so many instruments out there, and it has been 25 years since I last bought one...

Vegasbound: I do "hit those high notes". As I said it is my weak spot, which means that I need to practice it a little extra, compared to other stuff that comes easier for me. I believe that is the case for everyone who plays an instrument, and something you should identify and be aware of, for the benefit of your own development.

I can understand that a Bach 36B might be a good option and would certainly agree with a recommendation to try it but I wouldn’t entirely rule out a large bore horn. I might be in the minority but really enjoy playing in and listening to a trombone section with a massive sound at the front of the march. A Bach 36B can also do this of course, but so can a 42B, 88h or any other large bore.

If there is only one tenor playing next to a bass, a .508 horn like a 3B could be hard to blend, IMHO they can work well on 1st in concert band if there’s also a 2nd tenor to balance up the section. That’s a matter of personal taste though so if you could borrow a .508 horn to try in your band, it could be worth a try.

I’m assuming from what the OP wrote, their band doesn’t carry out any complex manoeuvres on the march, and anyway marching is only part of the story so looking at a horn best suited to the somewhat athletic choreography of some marching bands is probably not necessary.

Ergonomics and balance are important though. For horns with an F attachment, personally I like to have the lever behind the brace, like on a King 3B/F. I find this more comfortable for marching (and seated/standing) but it isn’t for everyone. There aren’t that many large bore horns with that arrangement though.

Some options which I wasn’t aware of 20-ish years ago when I was basically choosing between Conn, Bach and Yamaha and would now be on my radar, include: Getzen, K&H, B&S, Courtois and the boutique horns of Rath, Edwards and Shires. Also, smaller companies and even individual craftspeople are out there making their own unique and interesting designs. Depending on budget, getting someone to make you exactly what you want can be quite intriguing.

As much as I have criticized Yamaha, they build excellent quality instruments at very competitive prices when they are new or lightly used. I have two Yamaha trombones that are still good horns. Though I don’t have any experience with their f attachment horns, if I were purchasing an instrument sight unseen, I would consider Yamaha.

StephenK wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 10:11 am Although you do not have a nearby dealer, I'd suggest you book a trip to somewhere you can try some out in a test room, rather than chancing it on line, if at all possible. You may find something that just lights your fire. You don't have to buy unless it's just what you want. Probably any of the well known manufacturers are worth looking at. In my neck of the woods Getzen custom series seem to be popular with a few I know, including me.
If you have to buy online, Thomann have a good range.
Stephen

This is a really good idea. It may seem like extra bother to drive 4 or 5+ hours or whatever to a well stocked music dealer, then pay for hotel and such, but if you are serious about your music and getting the right horn, this is the only way to do it. If you go this route, then call the shop and let them know you are making a special trip just for that purpose so they can be ready for your arrival. Nothing worse than going through all that effort to find out the shop is closed that day because the owner is at a wedding or something.


A road trip for a musical instrument is very Rock-n-roll