Firstly, when it comes to choosing to play an instrument, you have chosen wisely; the ‘King’ of Instruments, the mighty Trombone! Sonorous beauty and awesome power combined!! But when sifting through the myriad of starter or beginner trombones on the market, it can be somewhat confusing. So, let me help you. There are some ‘beauties’ that are more than capable of actually achieving the highest standards and grades without breaking the bank.
- For the younger beginners, you really can’t beat the wonderful pBone. A traditional Bb instrument that sounds amazing and has taken the world by storm! Of course, the first attraction is the array of fun colours the instrument comes in. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to the 8 different colours available. The much lighter weight - just 0.81kg - makes it easier to play, especially for school children.
- There is also the pBone Mini which is a much smaller alto trombone. This is ideal for young players and a great way to dive into learning the craft. For comparison: A brass trombone can weight around +7kg!
- Another key feature is how incredibly robust and durable the plastic instrument is, in comparison to its brass counterpart. You don’t have to worry about dropping it and causing horrible dents. Best of all, being completely waterproof means no water damage!
- Naturally, the traditional brass trombone is designed to take you to the higher grades and standard, but the pBone offers you the added bonus of being more easily transportable due to its featherweight.
- When I first encountered the premium quality Montreux Student Trombone, I was literally ‘blown away’ at how good it is and how affordable it is.
- A bright tone with a superb projection produced by its yellow brass construction. A great, smooth slide making for excellent articulation. All kept safe in in high quality case.
- The attention to detail during the precision manufacture is up there with the best of them. The slide with its nickel silver outer is extremely smooth, durable and resistant to those knocks that are expected. Perfect!
- Many student instruments have a limited life-span when it comes of their capability. However, the Montreux Trombone is more than capable of achieving the highest results of performance.
- I recently met a student who achieved Grade 8 on one! I can get a clean ‘super F’ on one! You should simply stop dithering and ‘get one’! Plus, I daren’t tell you the price in case you’re not sitting down. Health & Safety for our customers!
- For those beginners where only the best will do, the Yamaha YSL354 Bb Tenor Trombone features many of the qualities of their top professional models, yet is available at a surprisingly affordable price.
- The response is quick, the intonation accurate, and the sound both rich and full. A statement that I can verify from my own personal experience using this model in Wind Bands, Brass Bands and Big Bands.
- The bell section is made from yellow brass, giving a tone that is both warm and sweet, yet can be bright enough in the higher register to pierce through the music without overblowing.
- The outer and inner slide is made of nickel silver, ensuring a ‘silky-smooth’ transition between slide positions, yet with a robust strength to prevent impeding dents, often cause by innocuous impacts with music stands, chairs or other musicians (tuba players normally)!
- Yamaha never cut corners when it comes to the finishing of their instruments, and the quality lacquer and one-piece bell construction of the YSL354 is no exception.
Summary
So far you have chosen right. The trombone will give you a wonderful musical experience, entertain the masses, and scare conductors into submission! It is simply time to decide on your perfect partner to accompany you on this journey. Whichever model you choose, you will not be disappointed.
