Equipment
NOTE: a college-bound music major should WAIT for advice from their new college trombone professor –
BEFORE – BUYING – ANYTHING!
(also, see Supplies, Accessories & Ergonomic Aids )
IMPORTANT: Aidan Ritchie offers some vital information about TROMBONE SCAMS! Check it out!
NOTE to parents and grandparents: surprise graduation gifts (or birthday or Christmas) can be disasters!
Now then (my favorite oxymoron), I play a Greenhoe bass trombone, built to my specifications. It is wonderful. It is not inexpensive! If you can afford one – and KNOW what you want/need – I can’t recommend it highly enough. If not, read on.
FIRST, if at all possible, don’t buy anything without competent, trustworthy, advice. The best advice would come from a professional trombonist – even if you take only one lesson for this purpose – a phone consult could suffice. Also, they likely have their finger on the pulse of the used trombone market. [See: “Are Private Lessons Necessary?“]
Second, opinions on the “interwebs” are highly variable (especially on Facebook) and frequently WRONG regarding equipment (and many other topics). If you have a trombone teacher, follow their advice – mine is as follows:
- Beginners are best served by moderate equipment – something around a .500 bore trombone and a mouthpiece in the range of a Bach 12C to 7 is good – there are many.
- A quality used trombone (or mouthpiece – see below) can be a good value, but trustworthy advice and reputable vendors are essential. Also, having a teacher/professional inspect and play-test the instrument – BEFORE buying – is a VERY good idea!
- Regarding new instruments: some bargain brands are bargains – some are NOT – get advice!
- An F-attachment is not necessary for beginners – and may be too heavy, cumbersome, and unnecessarily complex.
- If they can’t reach extended positions, get ‘em an Extendabone! (Even if they can reach, twisting and straining can mess up their chops and build bad technique.)
- Bass trombone is best reserved for intermediate students.
- An intermediate trombonist is best served by a good, used, professional-grade, instrument [see 2nd point above].
A colleague I respect very much has suggested that most high school trombonists aren’t really ready for a big horn – or a big mouthpiece. I tend to agree, but this does not appear to be the trend these days. Apparently, some high schools require a large bore instrument – sometimes brand-specific.
Costly mistakes can be avoided with good advice – don’t make them.
Mouthpieces
NOTE: I play a $300 Giddings mouthpiece with my name on it (actually closer to $600 in titanium). I LOVE it and endorse Giddings Mouthpieces enthusiastically! Ivan Giddings and I also designed a slightly smaller piece which is great, too; and a contrabass trombone mouthpiece. Ivan’s whole line is top flight.
For young players, a good mouthpiece is VERY important, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend a lot of money early on. FAXX mouthpieces are just excellent and VERY reasonably priced. These are precise CNC copies of classic mouthpieces. Different merchants price them slightly differently – shop carefully. FAXX trombone mouthpieces come in the following sizes (If you need advice, get it):
- Small shank: 12C, 7C, 6½AL, & 51D
- Large shank: 6½AL, 5G, 4G & 51D
- Bass Trombone: 1½G
NOTE: Generations of world-class bass trombonists have sounded – and still sound – just GREAT – on 1½Gs. There is absolutely no need for a “jumbotron” mouthpiece for a young bass trombonist.
When a trombonist matures enough to have an opinion, let the games begin! There are many fine mouthpieces out there. But be warned: the road to Bellevue (and Chapter 11) is paved with mouthpieces! (See Magic Equipment)
PS: A good private trombone teacher couldn’t hurt!