TromboneChat

Hi all!

I am an experienced sousa player, and intermediate trombone player looking to upgrade to a pro-level jazz horn. I mostly play New Orleans trad music, small group Dixieland, and small group swing. I’ve been making do on a beaten up ex-middle school student horn, but its stuffy. It’s time to upgrade to something I can really grow into.

I found a used Edwards T302 on Reverb that looks good, but I have never played one. The only videos I can find of someone playing them is Trombone Shorty, who, while amazing, has a unique sound that I think doesn’t speak as much to the horn since he’d play like that on anything.

Anyone have opinions on the Edwards T302? Are there other pro level jazz horns you’d recommend?

The T302 is a pretty pricey horn. I had a friend in a Jazz Band playing one and he sounded great on it.

I played Dixieland on a Martin Imperial from the late 1940s (it's in my avatar). I own a Holton Stratodyne that was used by a great Dixieland player here in New England. There are all manner of instruments, especially older ones, that work great for Dixieland. Remember, the original players were using second-hand band instruments, often very beat up.

I guess the King 2B is the prototypical small bore jazz horn out there, but some prefer the larger 3B.

What kind of Sousa is that in your avatar?

BGuttman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 7:55 am The T302 is a pretty pricey horn. I had a friend in a Jazz Band playing one and he sounded great on it.

I played Dixieland on a Martin Imperial from the late 1940s (it's in my avatar). I own a Holton Stratodyne that was used by a great Dixieland player here in New England. There are all manner of instruments, especially older ones, that work great for Dixieland. Remember, the original players were using second-hand band instruments, often very beat up.

I guess the King 2B is the prototypical small bore jazz horn out there, but some prefer the larger 3B.

What kind of Sousa is that in your avatar?

Yeah I wouldn't be considering it if I didn't find one that seems to be in an okay price range.

And good to know about the other horns! Maybe the solution is just to only look at horns I can test play as well.

I'm playing on a 1915 Conn 24k sousaphone. It's silver with an inner gold bell. Gets a lot of looks, and I've done a lot of work to it so it plays like a dream!

I’ve played one and really liked it, but it got a little buried at max volume in a bigband, I found. That could’ve been to do with the bell material, the beauty of a modular instrument is you’ll be able to switch out parts if you’d like to head in another direction.

I’d also recommend the usual suspects that have stood the test of time, King 2B and 3B, Conn 6h, the small Bachs, and others. There’s many other great small bore horns out there and some exciting boutique offerings from makers like Shires, Greenhoe, M&W, Lawler, and Rath, to name a few.

Steve Wiest plays a small Edwards I believe, and there’ll be others to listen to that might give you more of an idea.

So many good options for you! Lots of fine used tenor trombones out in the wild. A good place to continue looking would be the TromboneChat Classified Ads. Most of us are honest and helpful, and will be candid about the condition of anything listed for sale. Feel free to ask questions. Good luck!

If you like Vintage instruments and are looking for a Jazz horn, Dillon Music currently had a bunch of small bore Bach trombones owned by Tom 'Bones' Malone of the SNL Band, David Letterman Band, Blues Brothers Band, etc.. They even show the shop cards for a bunch of them.

I have a T302 (basically the same set-up as Steve Wiest) that I use for Big Band playing and some Orchestral Pops. It's a great horn, but is kind of specific to my playing. It's quite heavy (a 20 gauge bell), so it handles a lot of air and volume (it always, however plays better when I get into small horn mode, and back off). I think that most players who use the small bore Edwards end up on a lighter bell for a quicker response and more "sizzle" at lower volumes. My horn is good for Pops shows where the rep. is mostly commercial, but there is a tune or two that are more classical. You can really customize an Edwards towards what your needs are, including having a couple of bells for different types of gigs.

Jim Scott

You could always look for a Getzen 3508 too if you want to save a little money.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it.

asmith wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:12 am You could always look for a Getzen 3508 too if you want to save a little money.

Indeed. I've played a Getzen 3508. Fine trombone. Probably shares lots of DNA with the Edwards T302.

asmith wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 11:12 am You could always look for a Getzen 3508 too if you want to save a little money.

Or a Getzen 1050, great horn!

If Trombone is not your "Major" instrument, why spend that kind of $$.
a Good used, Bach 12 or 16M, King 3B or 2B+, Conn 6H or 48H would be a good option.
Coming from being a Tuba player, Maybe a used Conn 78H, 32H or a Bach 36 would be a good option

dukesboneman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 7:13 pm If Trombone is not your "Major" instrument, why spend that kind of $$.
a Good used, Bach 12 or 16M, King 3B or 2B+, Conn 6H or 48H would be a good option.
Coming from being a Tuba player, Maybe a used Conn 78H, 32H or a Bach 36 would be a good option

Good points here. I actually spent all day driving around the Bay testing horns and discovered my tone is much better on the medium bore trombones. I tried a Bach 36, Bach 16, King 2B, Yamaha 891Z, and some cheaper student horns. The Bach 36 was the one I sounded the best on by far. My old repair shop has a beautiful Conn 78H for sale too. So now I’m just trying to decide between that horn or the Bach 36.

Good hunting, tell us what you decide on.

I know you have decided on a different direction but on this topic every t302 or 3508 I’ve played both from Getzen / Edwards pro shop have massively impressed me ! Great horns and very easy to play

Bob McChesney has recently switched to Edwards. Thats a heck of an endorsement.

Carl Fontana played one for the last few years of his life. He owned at least two - one of them had a sterling bell.

Jim Pugh played one for many years and I believe he used it while touring with Steely Dan. There are many recordings of Jim on YouTube playing his Edwards T302.

I have a small duo bore Edwards. The horn is the easiest horn to play. Easy color for smooth to edge. Tops for me, as I never got anything like this out of any other small horn.