Trombone Buyer's Guide

The trombone is a member of the brass family. It is a simple, yet unique instrument in that uses a slide to change from note to note, rather than valves. There are three basic types of trombones: tenor, F-attachment tenor and bass. There are also specialty trombones such as the valve and alto.

For students, the most common is the tenor. This is the trombone most commonly used for concert and marching bands. When choosing a step-up instrument, players sometimes option to move to an F-attachment model.

The tenor trombone is the most basic of the trombone family with no tubing inside the main section. The bore (inside diameter) of a student trombone is around .500”, which is considered a “small bore.” This is important for a beginner, because it doesn’t take a large amount of air to produce a good tone.

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King 2103 3B Legend Series Trombone

Student Trombones: These trombones are machine-made and designed to be inexpensive and durable. They play well, but lack the craftsmanship and high-end materials found on intermediate and professional models. A student model is commonly a tenor model with a small bore. Most are made of yellow Brass, although there are some student models that are manufactured from rose brass. Teacher-Recommended Student Trombones

Intermediate Trombones: These horns usually have a .525” or .547” medium-large bore. They utilize better quality materials than student instruments and are often made of rose brass. You can also find intermediate models made with silver/nickel plate and sometimes sterling silver. Recommended Intermediate Trombones

Professional Trombones: Professional horns are made with the finest materials and craftsmanship. They are usually made of rose brass or sterling silver, to produce a very rich tone. Professional trombones are a lighter weight than intermediate horns; Lighter weight hand slides allow the instrument to respond more freely, especially in the upper register. The sound is also a bit brighter than a regular weight instrument. Recommended Professional Trombones

There are certain accessories you will need to clean and maintain your trombone. Slide oil, mouthpiece brush and polish are a just few of the items that you will need to keep your instrument in good working order.

The F-attachment trombone features a trigger that is sometimes referred to as an “F trigger,” or an “F-rotor.” When this trigger is engaged, it activates extra tubing within the main loop on the bell section of the trombone. This makes the horn longer and lowers its tuning from “Bb” to “F.” Until the trigger is engaged, the trombone plays just like a standard tenor.