the best trombone
Trombone – Opinions, Analysis and Buying Guide in 2022
A trombone is a wind instrument that has a simple structure, but that during the construction process must meet a series of parameters in each of its pieces so that the sound emitted can offer a correct intonation. That is why we must be careful with the selection. A model that has managed to capture the attention of thousands of buyers is the Roy Benson 701146, due to its high levels of quality both in the finishes and in terms of the raw material. But if what you want is a piston trombone, you should know about the Classic Cantabile VP-16, which incorporates a series of accessories that improve your experience of use.
Comparison chart
Opinions about the best trombones on the market
The selection of a musical instrument is a task that requires time to evaluate the different specifications that each model has, making it adapt to the needs of the performer. Next, we present you the best trombones on the market.
slide trombone
Roy Benson 701146
This model has managed to position itself as the best trombone, according to the experience of some buyers, who comment that it is an instrument capable of offering a great sound, due to the high quality standards applied to its construction.
Various materials were used for this slide trombone, such as brass in the bell area, nickel silver on the outside slides, and nickel-silver alloy with chrome plating on the inside. In this sense, you will enjoy a resistant piece with detailed finishes that are obvious.
Regarding the dimensions of this slide trombone, we have that it has a format of 91.4 x 30.5 x 35.6 centimeters, the diameter of the pipe is 13.34 millimeters and the bell is eight inches. It also incorporates a lever with an ergonomic design. We can’t fail to mention the handy attached storage case.
This model is a great candidate to become the best trombone of the moment, since it has an ergonomic and resistant structure, which promises a long useful life.
Pros
Dimensions: The structure of this trombone has dimensions of 91.4 x 30.5 x 35.6 centimeters.
Pipe: An adequate diameter of 13.34 millimeters was available for the pipe.
Rods: The manufacturer used a nickel-silver alloy for the inner rods and nickel silver for the outer ones.
Bell: The bell area of this instrument has an eight-inch format and a brass construction.
Cons
Accessories: The absence of some accessories that help improve the experience of using the instrument has been noted.
Ammoon Tenor VI-006
The Ammon Tenor VI-006 model is another interesting proposal when looking for a slide trombone. This instrument is made of high-quality metal, such as that present in its cupronickel mouthpiece. A very common material in the industry and that gives a better tone to your interpretations.
Regarding the shape, the model has the conventional design of these instruments, with a good-sized slide and high precision, as far as adjusting the note is concerned. Its tenor tuning gives it a special touch when it comes to sound.
We are talking about a complete proposal specially designed for newcomers, who will gain in comfort when it comes to taking control of the instrument.
On the other hand, the trombone is accompanied by a case for storage, a cleaning rod and a pair of gloves. The auction for a model that is close to being the best value for money trombone on the market today.
If you are looking for the cheapest trombones, this model is one of the most outstanding, for price and quality.
Pros
Materials: The construction of the trombone includes top-level materials such as cupro-nickel and brass, to give the product more quality.
Tuning: The tenor-type tuning is ideal for adding a special touch to your performances.
Accessories: It is accompanied by a storage case, gloves and a rod for cleaning the interior.
Cons
Sound: The sound is somewhat duller than that of a conventional trombone, more opaque. However, it is not something especially striking or problematic.
piston trombone
Classic Cantabile VP-16
On this occasion, we present you a brass instrument belonging to the Classic Cantabile house catalog, which stands out among its competitors for having quite flattering characteristics regarding its manufacture, which will allow you to easily manipulate it to perform any type of interpretation.
This piston trombone is of Chinese origin and has achieved great comments due to its slim structure, detailed finishes, fairly light weight, pleasing aesthetics, as well as for generating completely in tune sounds.
The bell area has a 203-millimeter format and was made of high-end brass, while the valves are made of nickel and have a silver coating. The pipe is 12.4 millimeters, it incorporates a pair of keys and an easy sliding plate. A handy storage case, cleaning cloth and mouthpiece are included with the purchase of this tenor trombone.
To enjoy a light, resistant, attractive trombone capable of generating in-tune takes, you will only need to place this Classic Cantabile model on your shopping list.
Pros
Manufacturing: For the construction of the instrument, brass and nickel were used in the area of the valves.
Diameter: The tube of the trombone has a convenient diameter of 12.4 millimeters.
Accessories: In the purchase package you will find a couple of accessories such as a mouthpiece and a cleaning cloth.
Transport: With the purchase a storage case is attached, designed to protect the instrument when you are not using it.
Cons
Flimsy: The structure can become a bit flimsy and deteriorate quickly.
Roy Benson RB701123
The Roy Benson house appears again in this list, but this time with a model that could answer your question about which is the best trombone. It is a model with great finishes in its structure, light weight, a format of 37 x 33 x 99 centimeters and a pipe with a diameter corresponding to 12.7 millimeters.
Among the main aspects to highlight in this trombone, we have that its eight-inch bell has been made of brass, the main rods of the structure as well as the elbow are made of nickel silver and the three incorporated pistons were made of stainless steel.
Finally, we must mention that this piston trombone has been provided with a practical storage case with a padded interior, which will allow you to protect the instrument from any impact or scratches. It will also make transportation easier, since it can be used as a backpack so you can take the trombone with you anywhere.
For those who do not know which trombone to buy, the recommendation is to carefully review the pros and cons of this Roy Benson model.
Pros
Format: The structure has a format of 37 x 33 x 99 centimeters and the pipe has a diameter of 12.7 millimeters.
Bell: The bell of this trombone was made of brass and is eight inches in diameter.
Storage: Thanks to the incorporation of a backpack, you can safely carry the instrument with you.
Pistons: The trombone has been provided with a total of three pistons, made of stainless steel.
Cons
Accessories: The absence of some accessories has been one of the criticisms from users.
bass trombone
Roy Benson 701180
To speak of Roy Benson is to speak of the best brand of trombones on the market for many users. Among its offer, we have options such as the model 701180 trombone. In this case, we are talking about a high-quality bass trombone, made with first-class materials and with a complete approach.
Its design features a 10-inch brass bell and a 14.3-millimeter-diameter piping system. It is made of silver nickel for the interior rod and nickel silver for the exterior, finishing off the rest of the structure with brass.
Also of quality are its two in-line valves, as well as the ergonomic transposing lever, ideal for better adjusting your performances. And as usual, the product is accompanied by the corresponding carrying case, so you can take the trombone wherever you want with comfort.
Enjoy a professional interpretation thanks to the complete approach of this first-rate instrument.
Pros
Design: The design has a 14.3-millimeter pipe with a 10-inch bell, ideal for giving the sound more purity.
Adjustable: The transposer lever makes it easy to set the right pitch for what your playing needs.
Materials: The piece is made with the best materials, such as nickel silver, the nickel-silver mixture of the rods or the brass of the bell.
Cons
Price: This is not a cheap model, although it is true that its quality is well above the market average.
Classic Cantabile MardiBrass
With the Classic Cantabile seal of quality you will find this trombone, also recommended in the purchase lists. This is because the product has an attractive red appearance and has been made with robust, light and high-quality raw material, thus offering fairly balanced shades.
The structure is made of ABS plastic, which is characterized by its resistance to deterioration caused by humidity and light impacts. In addition, it is a material with a pleasant and soft touch. On the other hand, we have the rods that are quite light because they were made of fiberglass.
The bell of this bass trombone has a format of 216 millimeters, the diameter of the pipe is 13.9 millimeters and the valve is a quarter. Included with purchase is a cleaning cloth, mouthpiece and handy storage bag.
If you are looking for a colorful and different trombone, then do not hesitate to purchase this model that has been made of polymer and fiberglass.
Pros
Bell: This area of the structure offers a suitable format of 216 millimeters.
Pipe : The pipe of this trombone has a diameter of 13.9 millimeters.
Manufacturing: For the manufacture of this trombone, ABS plastic was used, a material that is quite resistant to deterioration.
Bag: The built-in bag has a very versatile design, since you can use it as a backpack or remove the straps to carry it by hand.
Cons
Sound: The nuance of the sound could vary a little due to the absence of the warmth of metal.
tenor trombone
Classic Cantabile TP-42
Among the best trombones of 2022 there is also room for the Classic Cantábile TP-42 tenor trombone. An outstanding model among cheap trombones and suitable for those who are starting out in this world.
This profile does not affect its approach, where we find a bell of 215 millimeters in diameter made of brass. For its part, the rods include the usual mixture of nickel and silver, giving a good elegance and comfort to your interpretations.
All this has a positive effect on its sound quality, with an outstanding Bb-type tuning and a very pleasant style. The result is a pure and very warm sound in all kinds of performances. It comes complete with the usual storage case, mouthpiece and instrument cleaning cloth, so you won’t have to buy anything else either.
After analyzing this model, we leave you the most outstanding aspects that it puts at your fingertips.
Pros
Bell : The bell has a construction that helps improve the sound, through a design of 215 millimeters in diameter.
Rods : The rods glide efficiently and feature an interesting mix of nickel and silver in their construction.
Accessories : The instrument is accompanied by the usual accessories, such as the case or the mouthpiece.
Cons
Profile : As with other cheap instruments, this product is more for beginners and may fall short for more experienced players.
Trombone Accessories
trombone sheet music
Shining Brass Book 2
Trombone sheet music is an essential element for any musician, since thanks to them you will be able to perform different interpretations. Shining Brass is a sheet music by ABRSM publishing house, published in 2012.
The book has a format of 22.5 x 0.4 x 30.5 centimeters, a weight of 281 grams and a soft cover, being suitable to be placed on any lectern with total comfort.
The product has approximately 64 pages, in which you will find a repertoire of 18 pieces to be performed by any wind-metal instrument. Likewise, it incorporates a couple of CDs so that you can listen to each piece that you are going to develop after the rehearsals.
How to choose the best trombones
Before finalizing the purchase of a product, it is important to verify its main manufacturing and operating characteristics, this being a recommendation that also applies to musical instruments. So if you are looking for a trombone, it would be advisable to know a little about the raw material of construction, format, weight and built-in accessories. This may be a bit of a cumbersome process for some people who don’t have enough time, but it is definitely necessary for a successful purchase. Here is a guide to buying the best trombone.
Shopping guide
Manufacturing
The raw material used to manufacture the product is an issue that cannot be missing in any comparison of trombones, so prior to purchasing it you will have to verify this specification. The important thing is that you make sure that the materials and coatings have an adequate level of quality.
Brass is a very popular material when it comes to the construction of trombones, as it is resistant and non-deformable. Likewise, there are other high-end models made of aluminium, nickel, steel or alloy.
In general, the structure of the trombone is not made of a single material. For example, the bell may be brass, the rod nickel, and the valves steel. This is planned this way to provide better handling, since each of the metals has a different weight.
In fact, there are some models that combine fiberglass and vinyl polycarbonate, also known as PVC plastic. Finally, everything will depend on the taste of each person.
type of trombone
It is true that when purchasing a trombone the first thing that comes to mind is that it be good and cheap, but we must bear in mind that not all models are adapted to the needs of the performer. For this reason, it is necessary to invest a certain amount of time to get to know the product and avoid hasty purchases as much as possible.
Trombones have several categories, being the case of the tenor, soprano, alto, bass and contrabass types, as well as those with pistons and rods. Each of them has specific characteristics, such as the diameter of the pipe, number of valves, type of rotor, length of the rod, among others. The important thing is to know that all these distinctions, which at first glance may seem simply aesthetic, could greatly influence the quality of the intonation of the interpretation.
So before the imminent purchase, you should do some research about which trombone suits you best according to your needs. Remember that those with a narrow pipe are more suitable for those who are just starting out. In the same way, after a while, it is prudent that you acquire another model that supposes greater complexity in its treble so that you can create compositions with a greater nuance.
Accessories
When reviewing the different options of trombones on the market, you will find that there are few that do not include in their purchase package some element that improves the experience of using, cleaning or storing the instrument. We are talking about the much-needed accessories offered by most manufacturers, which in some cases can influence how much the product costs. However, they represent savings for the person, who will not have to purchase them separately.
Among the annexed elements, the brass or alpaca nozzles stand out, which are the most used due to their durability. Other models offer a soft textile cloth or a special brush to clean the trombone. Likewise, some brands often put at your disposal a case or storage bag with specific characteristics, which will allow you to carry the instrument with you anywhere in a practical way and without fear of it being damaged due to unexpected impact or friction.
Cleaning
Trombones are instruments that must be constantly cleaned, since they accumulate a large amount of saliva generated when blowing. For this reason, it is important that some of its parts, such as the pump and the rod, be easy to assemble and disassemble in order to clean these areas with a soft cloth after each test.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: How to care for a trombone without lacquer?
Trombones whose structure does not have any type of lacquer, silver or nickel coating must take special care, since they are more vulnerable to deterioration and, therefore, to corrosion. So when cleaning its parts, you will need to avoid the use of detergents or any type of product that can wear down the metal. In this sense, it would be pertinent to clean the interior with a soft cloth, as deep as you can, as well as the exterior. In the same way, you can consult the instruction manual, so that you can verify if you can apply a glass cleaner or special wax that is soft and helps you to shine the instrument.
Q2: What is the best trombone for beginners?
The narrow pipe tenor trombone is the best choice for beginners, especially if they are children. Keep in mind that the other models require a greater force in each blow due to the width of the pipe and are also heavier. The opposite case occurs in the tenor, which has a simple structure with a single tube and its respective valve, which will allow any type of high note to be played without any inconvenience. In addition, it is much easier to reach the desired position due to the ergonomics of its rod and carrier.
Q3: How to clean a trombone?
Trombone cleaning can be carried out superficially or deeply. In the first case, you will need to rub a soft cloth on the inside and outside to remove accumulated dirt and saliva residue. You can use a special liquid to restore the shine to the surface, but make sure it is not a metal cleaner, since its formula is very aggressive and would damage the instrument.
On the other hand, for those who want to perform a deep cleaning, they will have to completely disassemble the instrument to clean it separately. In the internal area, you should resort to the help of a brush and rinse with plenty of water, without forgetting to remove the excesses with a soft cloth.
Q4: Which is better, trombone or trumpet?
There is not one better than the other, it simply depends on the needs of each interpreter. Let us remember that they are two instruments that, although they are part of the wind-metal family, offer different tunes .
Q5: What is a muted trombone used for?
The mute is a piece widely used in wind instruments – metal, so it is not surprising to find it incorporated in our trombone. It is a sheet made of felt, responsible for modifying the rhythmic qualities of the tunes, significantly reducing the level of sound generated by the trombone when played.
Q6: How to tune a trombone?
To tune a trombone you have two options, being the case of resorting to the help of a special device called a “tuner” or, if you wish, you can download one of the many existing applications to your Smartphone to carry out this task.
What you have to do is blow through the mouthpiece and regulate it until you reach the indicated note. For example, those who have a soprano, tenor, bass or double bass trombone will need to tune it to B flat. For its part, the alto trombone is tuned in E flat.
Q7: How to make PVC trombone?
To make your own trombone, you will need some PVC pipes, a plastic funnel and four to five elbows also made of polymer. You should also have an electric cutter, tape, or a special glue for this type of material on hand.
Start by cutting a tube and adjusting the funnel at one of its ends, thus forming the body and the bell. Then, make other cuts of different sizes on the other tubes and join them with the elbows, simulating the shape of a trombone. For the mouthpiece, you will need a small piece of pipe, requiring you to make a diagonal cut in it and cover that area with a plastic sheet, leaving a space for air to enter. Likewise, you can review some tutorials on the web, to see the step by step of this elaboration process.
Q8: How to lubricate a trombone?
The lubrication of the different parts of the trombone is a very important step that you cannot neglect, since you could cause corrosion in the material, due to the accumulation of humidity or the concentration of PH from the saliva.
For this reason, before and after each practice, apply a few drops of lubricant to both the rotor and the shaft, making it necessary to carefully disassemble these parts to carry out the process. Similarly, you will need to remove the pump to lubricate it with grease periodically. Remember to use a professional product that does not contain any type of chemical capable of wearing down the metal.
How to use a trombone
Trombones are easy-to-handle instruments, since their structure is simple and they don’t incorporate numerous buttons that you have to press simultaneously to generate the tunes when you blow. These wind instruments – metal are intuitive and, although they require constant maintenance, it is also true that it is a process that will not take much time. For this reason, it is so important that, prior to its acquisition, you learn how to use a trombone. Here are some steps that could be of great help.
Check the content of the package
Once you have the package in your hands, you must open it carefully and remove the instrument along with the included accessories. Then, remove all the packaging paper that covers each of the pieces, being necessary that you corroborate the good condition of the same and that none of the parts announced by the manufacturer are missing. Also, check that the respective instruction manual has been attached.
Check the instruction manual
Regardless of whether you are a professional or an amateur, the recommendation will always be to read the instrument’s instruction manual. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the entire structure of the trombone, as well as being a way to know the correct method of adjusting its parts, how to lubricate them and what specific products to use to clean them, without causing wear on the material.
Prepare the workspace
It is important that you place all the parts of the instrument on a flat and clean surface when starting the assembly, being a measure that will allow you not to lose any screws. Likewise, you will need to have on hand the grease to be applied in the pumps and the oil for both the rod and the rotor.
lubricate the parts
The lubrication process will not take much time, being necessary to apply the grease or oil to the pump, rotor and shaft before adjusting it to the body of the trombone. It is a simple process, in which you will not invest much time. However, it is important that you take into consideration that you must do it very frequently. In this sense, it is recommended to lubricate before and after each rehearsal, since in this way you will avoid deterioration due to humidity and saliva.
Check the fit of parts
After adjusting the pieces, you must make sure that each one of them has been correctly adjusted. Keep in mind that, if not, some part could come off when playing the instrument or simply reduce the quality of the sound generated.
Tune the trombone
The tuning of a trombone is a mandatory process, since the harmony of the tunes depends on it when playing the instrument. You can use a tuner or download an app on your smartphone. Adjust the mouthpiece as many times as necessary and blow through it, until you get the balance of the notes. In the same way, have the instruction manual at hand to clarify any doubts.
Store the trombone
Every time you finish a practice, you should do a quick cleaning with a soft cloth, which allows you to remove the saliva accumulated in the trombone. You’ll just have to get it through the inside as deep as you can, as well as the outside. Remember to periodically carry out a deep cleaning with a brush.
The trombone: an instrument that transcends borders
The trombone is a brass instrument that stands out in a large number of countries such as Germany, Spain, France, China, the United States and many more. In addition, its sound accompanies classical and popular music, covering various genres such as jazz, blues, Dominican merengue, salsa, among others.
It should be noted that there is a wide variety of instruments in the world, some are typical of their place of origin, so they are not well known around the world, while others are. On the other hand, they are classified as wind, percussion, string or electronic instruments. We can mention within the classification of wind that there are two types, those of wood and those of metal. An instrument that belongs to the latter material is the trombone.
On the other hand, it should be noted that there is a variety of musical genres with rhythms, melodies and sounds that have transcended borders thanks to the use of the trombone, for example, salsa, which comes from countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Likewise, jazz, which was born in the United States, specifically in Louisiana, New Orleans. In other words, this musical genre had its beginnings in the 17th and 19th centuries as an artistic expression of the slavery of people who came from Africa, the Caribbean and the South of the same country. Even today it can be heard in countries like Spain
