Market for New Trombone

[Boba]

I am currently searching for a new trombone (made a few posts about trying some Bachs and thinking about Greenhoe). I currently play a Shires Q30GA and although there isn't anything terrible about it, there are things that could be better, and I want to look for a horn that would be an upgrade. I don't want to go into custom Shires parts because then it'd be a completely different horn and I am not in a position to do a fitting. In fact, I am not in the position to try out any horns because I live in an area without any good variety to try, and would REQUIRE me to spend ~$1000 fly roundtrip. I have saved enough via scholarship money that I can consider buying an instrument with a big budget (willing to spend $6k), but including a flight and stuff would very much go over. My Shires isn't a bad horn, so I am not in a rush, but I eventually want to get a horn more suited to me, as I am a music major thinking about getting a Master's at some point.

I have been looking at M&W, Greenhoe, and Courtois horns as I hear they always play/sound great and have good quality control. My friend (trumpeter) also recommended looking into B&S, and I heard they have good instruments as well, but are more popular with trumpeters and tubists. I have tried a few of my colleagues' and my teacher's Edwards, but never really truly enjoyed how they felt. What else would you recommend and how would I determine what model to purchase (such as Conn-like vs Bach-like, specific specs, etc.)? Or should I consider just "upgrading" my Shires parts? Or a different plan entirely?

[harrisonreed]

What year are you? What school or what area are you in? Your profile lists all these horns:

Bach 50BLGH, Bach 1G
Jupiter JST1100F, Bach 6.5 AL
Bach 36B, Bach 6.5 AL
Bach 42Bo, Bach 5G
Olds---, Bach 12c

So if you're a first year student, with all that gear plus your Shires, I would just wait. Don't be in a rush to blow your $6k. As a music major, you should have ample opportunity to try instruments from your peers and your teachers. You should also have an opportunity to attend some sort of music conference where you can try horns, but you may have to wait a bit.

[NotSkilledHere]

6k is a pretty solid budget. and honestly it seems like you have quite a number of horns with which to play. as mentioned above, if you are a first year student, unless you just want to collect horns, i would hold off on buying a new "perfect for you" horn because your playing and sound concept will undergo many changes as you learn and play.

The shires and bach42 may or may not occupy the same uses depending on how the individual examples you have play. If you really are looking for these higher end horns, you should consider trading in your shires Q or the 42 for more cash and keeping the other as a backup horn. it seems like they are what this new large tenor would more or less be replacing. Just a suggestion to free up some cash that could really open up traveling to get fitted. But like mentioned above, being a music major student, you should have plenty of opportunities to play lots of different horn.

I would also suggest maybe looking at going to ITF next year. there will be more horns than you could possibly think of trying there. some that you may not have thought about.

B&S is much more popular in europe than in the usa. Their horns are nice for sure.

honestly, if you are so determined to get a new horn NOW, the best thing I would say is go out and play as many horns as possible. new horns, used horns especially, friends' horns, teachers' horns, school horns, people at gigs' horns. just get as much facetime with as many different horns as you can. maybe you'll run across a random used 90s conn 88h that just is magic to you. maybe you'll come out still wanting to drop 6k on a new shiny blingy horn. try different mouthpiece and leadpipe combinations on all kinds of horns. sometimes a horn that doesnt seem to sing right just needs a different mp and/or leadpipe to react right for YOU.

but if traveling to play horns is a concern, go to ITF. Seriously. just to play the hundreds of horns that will be there. most of the major companies from across the world all love having a booth there. IIRC, there are also maybe some good discounts buying from there. (don't quote me on that one)

[Boba]

I guess I'll hold off and visit ITF next year then. I was really hoping for an "upgrade" for my recital next semester, but the Shires will be fine for my undergrad I guess.

[Boba]

What year are you? What school or what area are you in? Your profile lists all these horns:

Bach 50BLGH, Bach 1G
Jupiter JST1100F, Bach 6.5 AL
Bach 36B, Bach 6.5 AL
Bach 42Bo, Bach 5G
Olds---, Bach 12c

So if you're a first year student, with all that gear plus your Shires, I would just wait. Don't be in a rush to blow your $6k. As a music major, you should have ample opportunity to try instruments from your peers and your teachers. You should also have an opportunity to attend some sort of music conference where you can try horns, but you may have to wait a bit.

Junior in college! And I don't feel comfortable saying exactly where, but let's just say it's an island.

And I'm so sorry the stable in my profile has NOT been updated for years since I was in like sophomore year of high school. My current stable has literally shrunken down to the Shires and Bach 42 with a Griego 4M and LIBrass 600 coming in.

[Doug Elliott]

A true first world problem.
When I was growing up (did I ever?) a large bore horn was either a Bach 42B or Conn 88H, closed wrap... There were no removeable leadpipes (well maybe a few). Open wrap was just starting to be available. What's "axial flow"?Thayer valves hadn't been invented. Steve Shires was probably in high school.

And now those same horns are sought after.

[Posaunus]

You're a junior in college? With a Shires Q and a Bach 42 in hand? And $6,000 to invest in a new trombone (which will start depreciating the moment you leave the showroom)?

You are one lucky islander. My unsolicited suggestion: Keep playing and improving on your existing equipment ["there isn't anything terrible about it"] and consider upgrading (with your teacher's device) when (if) you begin your master's program.

Another suggestion (which you're fee to ignore): consider Music Education rather than Music Performance. That will give you a career path to fall back on. And that $6,000 may help pay for that expensive graduate education.

[Boba]

Yes, but my parents saved up for a a year or two to purchase the Shires in HS for me and I saved up a whole summer for the Bach. I am also poor enough where FAFSA gives me enough to cover most of my tuition (in-state) and I worked for a few scholarships in order to get refunds from them (that's how I managed to comfortable have a $6k budget after 5 semesters). Please don't assume that I am "lucky" because I have that budget now or I have the instruments that I own. So, no, I will not depreciate anything because I've gone through some stuff and know how limiting my situation is.

And I think, yes, I will go through my undergrad with the Shires and not rush into anything.

I am an education major at the moment and may pursue a masters in performance if there are no immediate jobs available. That $6k towards my graduate was definitely something I never thought about though, so thank you for that insight!

Edit: Like I said to Doug, I apologize if I seemed charged in my response to you as well. It's kind of a sensitive topic for me.

[Boba]

A true first world problem.
When I was growing up (did I ever?) a large bore horn was either a Bach 42B or Conn 88H, closed wrap... There were no removeable leadpipes (well maybe a few). Open wrap was just starting to be available. What's "axial flow"?Thayer valves hadn't been invented. Steve Shires was probably in high school.

And now those same horns are sought after.

We don't live in the past and the choices are here now, so why not use them to our advantage? For many, a 42B or 88H closed wrap would serve them (and maybe me) well, even in the present day. But there are more options, makers, and improved technology, so why not explore or consider them. Maybe I won't have to blow the $6k to find that horn, but that is my budget, and maybe going straight for the premium custom is the safest long-term bet for the horn I use the rest of my life, or maybe that's an old Bach 42 I come across. With my past situations, I can also assure you that I am grateful for all these advancements and choices that we have now that you may not have had before, I just want to take advantage of what I (we) have not to make the most out of it.

[harrisonreed]

The end of the day, I would not buy a $6k instrument without trying it. You'll just have to budget in a flight as part of the cost. If you end up flying to MA or Elkhorn, that's part of the deal but you might be flying home with something that you'll love for decades.

[Boba]

That's a good point! I'll reconsider budget and maybe wait another year or semester.

[Doug Elliott]

Going to ITF is always a good idea. I have bought a few horns at those exhibits myself. If you find something you really like, grab it.

I'm certainly not downplaying the advantages of new and better stuff. After all, I'm in that business myself. But there's some really outstanding older models that are a fraction of the price and will not hold you back at all.

[Boba]

Going to ITF is always a good idea. I have bought a few horns at those exhibits myself. If you find something you really like, grab it.

I'm certainly not downplaying the advantages of new and better stuff. After all, I'm in that business myself. But there's some really outstanding older models that are a fraction of the price and will not hold you back at all.

Looks like that is gonna be the plan.

Yes, I understand that as well, so I am not so much in a rush anymore (the tenors aren't holding me back in too many ways that require a new tenor immediately). Also, I apologize if I seemed a bit charged about it! It's just a bit of a sensitive topic to me in a way.