Jupiter 314L Soprano Trombone / Slide Trumpet

As many others have mentioned, I originally purchased this trombone not expecting much. Once I tried it out, however, I realized that this was a thing to be reckoned with. It has substantial range and suprisingly good tone. The free shipping was a plus, along with the nice case. For the price, this is definitely a worthwile investment for any serious musician. Tuning on the instrument is difficult, but with some practice it is not an issue. You can't bend your tone as on a tenor trombone, mostly because of the smaller mouthpiece. For the beginner soprano trombone player, I suggest purchasing a larger mouthpiece until you get used to it.

Having played the trumpet for 8 years, I have found this instrument to be a great outlet for solo creativity. Beyond the initial "cuteness" factor of this horn (as after all, most people are shocked at how small the trombone is), there is an incredible expanse that this instrument can fill. I usually play a Schilke 13A4 mouthpiece in jazz with my other horn, a Back Strad. LR180S, but I prefer to use a Bach 2C with this horn because it gives off that deeper (almost flugelhorn-like) tone of a low brass instrument. Like any trombone, the lack of valves and other air circulation interruptions in the tubing makes for a very clear and easy sound. The only draw back that I have found is that it doesn't cut through (even with the Schilke mouthpiece) enough during jazz band to play lead. Right now it is primarily a novelty instrument good for some solos. Entering college next year, I am appreciative of the Jupiter's light weight which will make it convenient for carrying it to the practice rooms or jazz ensemble practices, an unintentional luxury. For the price, if you are looking for a fun instrument to experiment with, I would strongly suggest this horn.

The horn does play well and is very unique. I believe it sounds more like a trumpet than anything else (I'm a trombone player). Best use for it is probably doing trombone specific work (glisses and legato pasages) in a very high register. It is just a fun little thing to play with.

This instrument is A+++. It is NOT a toy. The slide is great, the case is very nice, the finish...nothing less than anything you'd expect from any pro instrument. All it needs is a player with discerning ears (pitch) and the motivation to practice to learn the idiosyncrasies of this fine instrument. The value is awesome....Take the time to give it your utmost consideration.

I play all kinds of music and this is the coolest thing IÆve ever played. If you love jazz and like to experiment a little, this is definitely the way to go.