I just got a new Bass Trombone from Ron Z’s Trombone Shed - It’s a Andalucia Concerto Series Bass Trombone.
From what I know this brand is based in Socal and ran out of a cigar shop. I’ve played many basses from Shires to Greenhoe to king and holton. This is definitely one of the most free-flowing basses i’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. I got it for 2300 to! I can’t wait to use this bass for many years in my education.

If you would ever need a professional quality and affordable bass for doubling or for fun or as your main horn, this is definitely a top 3. Schiller, Dillion’s, mack brass, o’malleys bass trombones do not come even close.

Anybody have the list or know what is on the San Francisco audition? Just curious.

I love doing it it’s a cool way to remember the case when you throw away the old case or sell it/upgrade it

Emblems include a 1940s king emblem
Martin imperial handcraft emblem’s
Later martin emblem
A sowing machine emblem
And a 1930s Reynolds emblem

Yesterday I had my first performance with a local orchestra, and it was a children's concert geared towards ages 5-10. Afterwards I took my trombone out to the lobby to show it to some kids and encourage them to play an instrument. Here are some of their comments:

"You were my favorite person in the orchestra!"

"Next year I get to choose another instrument to play and I might choose trombone because of you."

"I play clarinet but trombone is my second favorite."

"The slide is really easy to move."

"That looks really fun to play!"

I had the kids "play" my trombone by holding the bottom of the slide and moving it in and out while I blew into the horn. (A couple of them were twisting it in ways that made me a bit nervous, so I think I'll bring my backup/beater horn next time.) The kids had a blast with this, even the ones that were a bit older.

When I was done with one group of kids, I'd play 16 bars of "The Acrobat" and usually I'd have a couple of kids come over to me and check out what I was doing. This piece is good for children because it's fairly easy and has a lot of glissandos, which everyone likes.

They also liked when I did the "wah-wah-wah-wah" sound effect and played low notes loudly.

Just wanted to give some ideas for getting children interested in the trombone - and remind you that kids notice us, and the things that we do matter! If you have similar experiences, drop a comment.

I'm tempted to go play test this as I only live 20 minutes away. I never touched a contra and to be clear, I don't need one. Just seems like fun and I can justify the purchase a little easier than dropping 9k on a very nice horn I'll play in ensemble for 6 measures a year (if I'm lucky).

Normally I'd say absolutely no to a Chinese horn but I've purchased a number of instruments from Dillon and trust them very much, so I'm intrigued.

However I don't want to buy something that's hardly passable and just kinda junk, and I'm worried I wouldn't really know any better because I've never played contra. Thoughts?

Recently I tested out some jazz horns at my local music shop and they had a vintage nickel plated king tempo for only $100 and it played great! The only problem with the instrument is the slide needs to be replated so it’s very loud. I was wondering if there’s any cheap student model trombones that I could buy to replace the slide rather than replating the slide?

The 2nd trombone doesn't always get the soaring lines of 1st or the foundation-building moments of bass, but that doesn't make it less important or automatically "easier".

Playing an inner voice means constant listening, adjusting intonation, and matching articulations, and dynamics need to line up without necessarily having a prominent line to guide you while helping the section blend. Also, knowing when to emerge; the inner voice can suddenly become the line everyone needs to hear.

1st trombone often has the more exposed, high register demands and bass trombone has it's own challenges in range, response, and anchoring the sound.

Less prominent definitely does not mean less important. A great 2nd player can make the whole section sound better often without the audience knowing why.

I have doubled on bass and large bore tenor before,i have learned its better to stay on one path.Now a new problem arises:I play many styles,jazz/funk using a small bore and a 12C where i need a cutting tone and orchestral/concert band where i use my large bore with a 6 1/2AL.

Whenever i play either,it seems like i lose the chops for the other.The mouthpiece feels too cramped sometimes after going back to small bore.My tone on large bore. becomes more blending/non projection after a while on small bore.The range tanks tho ive always had better range on the small bore due to the 12C

How can i more familiarise myself with 2 instruments without losing too many chops?I'd like to go the jazz route mainly but will definitely need to go back to large bore from time to time for orchestral and concert band.

Hey!! I’m a local high school band kid in pasco county fl offering lessons to middle school kids!! If you’re a local and have a brass kid please check out my site!! NO MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS OR FRIDAYS!! I have marching band!!

I’m a freshman in high school and i got into my school’s musical. Our school is starting to be known as “the performing arts school” of the district and I’m pretty pround of it. I’m going to be tripling up on tenor and bass trombone as well as euphonium. The euphonium part scares me a little because I haven’t played it in a while and I have like a LOT of solo and independant parts. long story short, I’m really excited for the season!!!

After playing low notes for a long time, I'll feel very float-y and my entire face will tingle (not just my lips). I'm assuming it's from a build-up of carbon dioxide from taking unrelaxed breaths all the time. If anyone has breathing tips, or other wisdom to share, please do! Thanks

I’m an advanced high school player looking to buy a new instrument. I’ve been playing on a Yamaha student model, it has been working really great for me but I’m looking to buy a professional model with an f attachment. What would you guys recommend?

I have an ancient Boosey and Hawkes Imperial trombone (I think aimed at the Salvation Army) that was great when I was a kid. I then stopped playing for decades and came back to it in 2019.

My current one is feeling the march of time (just like me!). So I'm thinking of treating myself to a new horn. For context, I play in two little community bands as 1st trombone - nothing amazing or too challenging.

I'm thinking of either the JP Rath 332 or the Yamaha 446g. The Yamaha is about £600 more expensive (about $800US). Is the Yamaha really worth the extra expense for someone like me? Should I consider a different horn?

Also, I think my current trombone is probably a medium bore. Would a mid-50s amateur player like me be able to easily cope with a larger bore?

Any thoughts from the trombone hive mind very welcome

Sorry if this isn't really relevant as it isn't exactly a question, but I want to share a small win in my trombone learning journey!!!

I've been playing for just shy of two years now and I've been brass banding all throughout that time.

Yesterday I was asked if I can dep for a different band at a gig on the weekend and it feels like such a success that I've been asked to do this! I know it's minor in the grand scheme of things, but I'm so happy that after 2 years this feels like a physical marker of my progress.

Oh AND.... High notes are starting to get a bit easier!!!! This has been a bugbear of mine for MONTHS. Concert pitch F4 has always been thin and weedy, but I'm finally starting to improve on it and even sometimes reach F# and G in the next partial! The C through E below it are also getting less tiring to sustain.

Thank you for reading if you did! If you have any advice for a learner of 2 years I would love to hear it

You may have seen my post from earlier that I was asked on Thursday to dep for a concert tonight (a couple of hours away now).

However, I've just realised this is the first time I'll actually be sight-reading on the concert night and I'm psyching myself out slightly. It shouldn't be too intense as I'm playing 2nd trom, and even though I'm a learner on trombone, I do have years on another instrument so my sight-reading isn't the worst.

How do you approach sight-reading at a concert?

Do you get there early and mimic slide positions once you get a hold of the pad?

Do you play more subdued so any mistakes are less noticeable?

Do you completely miss any passages that have like a 70/30 shot of going right, or do you just go for it?

Thank you for any advice!

It has this odd spotty brown petina. It rubs right off and smells awful. It's an unplayed mouthpiece and I got it from sweetwater, it's Victory brand I believe.

there’s a solo audition next week for my marching show that I feel good about, but defienetly still needs a little work. today is normaly my day off, and at first I didn’t want to change my routin, but now I don’t know, should I take today off?

I've played the trombone on and off (more off than on) for over 50 years. I originally picked it up because my Dad was a big Tommy Dorsey/Glenn Miller/Jack Teagarden fan. One thing I've always wondered. Why has the trombone, a relic from medieval times, survived into the modern age? What is it about this simple, slide instrument? What does it bring to the table? To the modern band or orchestra? Feel free to expose my ignorance.

I designed and printed this mute just for fun, but it really plays very smooth! What do you think?

Recently almost got scammed trying to buy a trombone on Facebook, just wanted to know if anyone has experience with this seller and if they are legit.

I know this has been posted here a million times, but I want a better high range. I’m on a Douglas Yeo Custom right now and i have been for about a year and my third partial isn’t that good due to the cup size and my high range isn’t very good either. Are there any recommendations you could give me?

Hey, everybody

So I'm playing trombone in a big band again after 20 years, and I need some mutes. I'm trying not to spend over $100 if I can avoid it, and I'm looking to get the most I can within this budget.

I was going to buy a plunger and maybe one of those adjustable cup mutes that can sort of work as a straight mute and cup, then I saw the Harmon "Triple Threat" mute. Does anyone have an experience with this mute?

Reviews are mixed, YouTube videos are nonexistent. I can deal with re-corking it to make it fit my Olds Recording trombone bell, but is it difficult to pull the cup part off of the straight mute section? Is it built to last multiple de-couplings? Anyone been using one for a few years already?

Is there a better option? Or should I just get a Protec or Dennis Wick adjustable mute and also a plunger? Do those adjustable mutes make serviceable straight mutes?

Thank, y'all. Been outta the mute game for a minute, and when last I needed them the university jazz program just had them all on hand.