These horns are the sports cars of the trombonist's arsenal. For
many players, these can be the most commonly used size of horn. I use my Shires
Jazz horn for combos and big bands, pit orchestras, Latin and swing bands,
recordings, and it might even have a place in the symphony when a lighter sound
is required. If you need to play alto trombone but don't have one, use a small
bore tenor instead. Student model trombones are included here, as the dimensions
tend to be similar, so if you are still learning the trombone (aren't we all)
and want something nice, look here. The price range of horns on this page ranges
from $650 to $3020, so there can be a horn for every budget. Please contact us for details.
|
Model |
Description |
Price |
|
S.E. Shires Small Bore
 |
This hand built Shires trombone from Boston has been my
number one choice since I first played it. In fact, I
assimilated the first one we received into my personal
collection. I use a .500" bore nickel slide and an 8" 1YM,
Yellow brass, Medium weight bell with a soldered rim, but it's a
custom, modular instrument, and many options are available. The
Shires feels like a heavier instrument than most of the
others here, but responds very fast, and feels of great
flexibility, precise accuracy, and easy response despite
having a great big dark sound. It's easy to push a lot of
air through this horn without getting blatty. This may be
the small horn for guys who like big horns, as it's the most open feel
of any smaller trombone. This is a great
lead horn in a big band, though I sometimes feel like I get
buried when I have to play louder in the low or mid range. That is
easily remedied with a smaller or lighter bell, but I'm instantly at
home on this instrument, and would not change a thing. I've
used it a lot in the orchestra pits, and it works great too. This
horn has some of the best projection, but has a clear
compact soft sound, like a great Conn 6H , but bigger, and
smoother. It plays a lot like the King 2B+ too. But better. Yes, it's a bit pricier than most of the other
axes around, but it helped me play better and become happier
about playing my small horn. I felt it was more than worth the
high price.
Includes three lead pipes. Case and mouthpiece are sold
separately. Call for info and
availability. Shires FAQ Popular bell options
we usually have:
- 7.5" light weight yellow brass, soldered rim S1YLW7.5
- 7.5" medium weight yellow brass, soldered rim S1YM7.5
These have a more compact sound than the 8"
bells, and the lighter weight gives them a faster response and
some nice sizzle to the tone. The LW version is the favorite of my
colleague Charlie Morillas. This may be the favorite bell
for King players, and reminds me of the 2B+ sound.
- 8" medium weight yellow brass, soldered rim S1YM8
This is the bell I use on my personal Shires
horn, and is the Williams style bell. It's smooth sounding
with a big warm sound, but a fast response like a Conn, but
with better tone and no blattiness. Can be too dark for some
players.
- 7.75" medium weight yellow brass, unsoldered rim S2YM7.75
- by special order
This is more of a classic Conn 6H style bell.
This is Bruce Paulson's and Greg Soloman's favorite, and has
a slightly faster and easier response than the 1YM bell,
above. It also makes a more diffuse sound, so it may not
feel like your sound is as loud as with the 1YM. But, there
is more of a variety of tone colors as you change dynamics,
so you can sound louder without playing louder. Nice. Get
this bell with the T00LW brass slide for the ultimate 100H
type horn,
- 7.75" medium weight gold brass, soldered rim S1GM7.75
- by special order
This has a warmer sound, but still projects well. The
1/4" smaller diameter helps keep the tone centered and clear.
Slide Options we usually have:
- Nickel: .500" bore lightweight T00NLW - standard slide
- Nickel: .508" bore lightweight T08NLW - open feel
- Brass: .485"/.495" dual bore: T8595 - vintage King style
- Brass: 500" bore lightweight T00LW - warmer sound than the
.500" nickel
If you'd like a different bell or slide combination for your
dream custom horn, please ask.
|
$3020 |
|
Kanstul 1606
 |
Zig Kanstul, the
master horn builder in Anaheim, California,
has recreated the classic Williams 6 trombone with his new model 1606. This new
Kanstul trombone features the classic Williams style
large bell taper and distinctive bracing found on the
vintage models, but also adds several bell and slide options
and removable leadpipes. The stock model 1606 has a
lightweight .500" slide made of all nickel with a curved hand brace, and
features an 8" brass bell made in one piece
from .020" brass, and three threaded removable leadpipes based on
vintage designs. The pipes use
the same threads as Shires trombones, so they are
interchangeable between brands. This horn has been getting
rave reviews from players who tried it at its debut in
Ithaca at the ITF 2004. Options include a brass slide for a warmer
sound, or a heavier .025" bell for more projection, less sizzle, and
a mellower sound more like the classic Williams' models. In
lacquered brass, or with silver plated finish. Silver adds
$250. Includes an SKB hardcase. Mouthpiece is sold
separately.
Leadpipes, choose any 3:
- S - Benge design, small throat, also used on KSL 750 and
760, similar to Bach LT16M pipe
- W6 - Williams design, open throat
- H6 - Burt Herrick design, originally made as a replacement
for the stock Williams pipe, medium throat
- H16 - Burt Herrick design, originally made as a replacement
for the Bach 16, medium throat
Extra leadpipes are available threaded or unthreaded for $85
each.
NEW: Also available by special order with F attachment, as
the model 1607. Price not set yet.
|
$2750 |
|
Kanstul 750
 |
You can call it a student model, but this no
frill horn is hand built to order with several options, and
gives up little to most of the pro models.
This horn has been in the Kanstul catalog for some time, and has
received only a little press. Except from those who've played
it. While it's marketed towards the student, it's really a
fine instrument, as Kanstul is a "one-quality" shop. That is,
they make all their instruments to the same standards, so this one
has the excellent workmanship you'd expect from their pro models.
The lower price comes from the slightly heavier .025" two-piece
bell, which costs less to make. However, for an extra charge,
a lightweight brass bell or a lightweight bronze (gold brass) bell
is also available. The 750 has its fans - including Bart Van Lier,
who wailed on it at the 2004 Musikmesse trade show in
Frankfurt. Also include Bill Watrous. This horn has a.500" all brass
lightweight slide, and an 8" bell. Includes an SKB case and a
Kanstul 12C mouthpiece. In lacquer finish; silver plate adds
$250. For those who haven't the budget for a new professional
horn, this is very close for a much nicer price. |
$781 |
| Kanstul 760
 |
The is the best deal on a small bore horn with open
wrap F attachment. It features a dual bore .500"/.530" slide,
to allow a more open feel and make this a more versatile instrument
than the 750, with which it shares many parts.
You see, you take your Kanstul 750 trombone, add a .500"/.530"
dual bore slide to broaden the sound, then add a very sleek open wrap
F attachment with an adjustable trigger paddle, and a wood
case for style. There are only a few small bore trombones with F
attachment out on the market at all, and no others of any
quality can come close to this price. Shown in silver plate, but we
usually order them in lacquer finish.
Custom options are available, and can be built to your specs in 4-6 weeks.
This horn has a new
upgraded rotary valve that provides a more centered pitch than older
versions.
This horn has a narrow slide, so neck clearance is limited because
of the rotary valve. If
you have a wide neck or prefer a wider slide when using an F
attachment, you may need to hold this horn differently or choose a
different model. We tend to stock this model with a
lightweight bronze bell, which warms up the sound and lightens the
response. We also add a more comfortable trigger paddle that
comes from the Kanstul 1600-series bass trombones. Includes
wood case and Kanstul 12C mouthpiece. |
$1288 |
|
King 2102S
 |
This is the classic small bore tenor
trombone, most often known as the King 2B. It's been in
production for many decades, and the name comes from the fact that
it features a dual bore slide, hence the name 2B. The slide is
a smaller .481"/.491" bore, and is made of all nickel, with weighted
outer tubes. The stock model 2102 features a 7 3/8"
yellow brass bell. It has been in production at King
for many, many years, and there are so many good used ones
floating around that we don't usually offer these in our new
horn selection. However, one notable option available for this
King is a solid Sterling silver bell, and we do offer this version
in stock as the King 2102S, also known as the Silversonic. The
silver bell offers a weighty sound with lots of highs in it, and
less warmth than the brass bells. That way, the projection is
excellent, but it doesn't get too strident if you push it.
While this horn may be small for many players, it still has a big
following, including those doing live gigs, vintage big bands, and
recording work. I've lately been listening to the fabulous
trombone playing of John Allred. He plays a 2B and sounds
incredible. Includes wood case and mouthpiece. The
Sterling bell version is lacquered over the metal, so it won't
tarnish, and should not need polishing. Also includes slide tune-up
for smooth as glass action. The photo at left shows a silver
plated, gold trim version, but we stock the horn in clear lacquer.
It looks similar, because of the silver bell and nickel slide. |
$2499 |
|
King 2102L Jiggs Whigham |
This is the modern, lightweight, slightly
larger version of the classic King 2B, designed for the famous
bandleader and soloist Jiggs Whigham. It has a beautiful
soft, compact, clear, on-the-mic sound that Los Angeles players like Andy
Martin and Bob McChesney get, and this horn can sound like
that. And Mr. Whigham himself has a great sound on this
horn. Do look up some of his recordings. It has a super fast response, especially when playing
soft, its only limit might be that sometimes it seems to top out at a
lower volume than other horns. You might say it can get blatty
before its time. It has a more modern sound than the smaller
dual bore 2102 (2B). This Jiggs model has a larger straight bore .491", nickel lightweight
slide, 7 3/8" bell, and no counterweight. It can be ordered with
an optional shorter tuning slide for those who prefer more
extended positions. We stock the standard length version. It's a
very popular instrument in Los Angeles, and is also played by Alex Iles,
Charlie Morillas, Alan Kaplan, and many others. Includes
wood case and mouthpiece. Also includes slide tune-up for smooth as
glass action. |
$1599 |
|
King 2102PL
 |
This new model has the standard King 2B-style
7 3/8" bell as above, but features a new .500" light weight brass
slide. This horn does everything the Jiggs Whigham model does,
but at a slightly louder volume, and with the similar tone color. It
might be a better horn for live gigs when you need to punch the
volume more. This horn uses the King 3B slide/bell connector.
Compared to the smaller Kings, this one has a warmer sound, and some
people feel its tone can be more easily covered up in louder passages
with a large band, but overall it's our favorite of the Kings, and
is a best seller. If you're doing more live dates without a
microphone, you may prefer this to the Jiggs model. Includes
wood case and
mouthpiece. Also includes slide tune-up for smooth as glass action. Played
in Los Angeles by Andy Martin, Bob Sanders, and many others.
|
$1599 |
| King 2102PLG |
Same as above, but with a gold brass bell.
This allows a broader, warmer, more soloistic sound with less edge,
and a bit less projection. It makes you sound like you're
using a larger instrument, but you get most of the easy response of
the smaller one. We only sell a few of these, as many of the big
band players prefer the more immediate projection and edge of the
yellow brass bell. But it's a beautiful instrument just to
look at, with that gold bell, and it's a very versatile horn.
Try it with a small combo for a velvety smooth sound. Also
includes wood case, mouthpiece, and a slide tune-up. |
$1679 |
| King 2102PLS |
Same as above, but with a solid Sterling
silver bell. It is lacquered, so it won't need polishing like
a silver plated horn. The Sterling bell has a colder, crisper
sound than the brass bell, feels weighty but bright, and is also
quite a beautiful instrument. Also includes wood case,
mouthpiece, and a slide tune-up. |
$2499 |
| King 2103S
 |
This larger jazz and all-around versatile horn has a .508" nickel
slide and an 8" bell. The bell uses a larger mandrel than the 2102,
2102L, and 2102PL horns. It has a larger throat, with better
projection and a darker sound with less edge. It still has great soft
playing flexibility like the smaller Kings, but you can blow
incredibly loud on this one, and still retain a sizzling
soulful tone. Think of the beautiful tone of JJ Johnson, who
played a 3B. This horn is popular with a number of Latin music
players around California due to how loud you can play on this larger
bore slide. One colleague of mine
once said, "You only need two horns: 2B for jazz and 3B for
church." 'Nuff said. For those who prefer an even larger king,
see the .525" bore 3B+.
Includes wood case and mouthpiece. Like the 2102 (2B),
this instrument has been made for many years by King, and there are
many used ones out there. For that reason, we don't stock it
in brass. But, we do love the optional solid Sterling silver
bell, and try to keep this version around as often as possible.
In fact, this Steling 2103S is one of my all-time favorite
instruments, alongside the Shires and the Kanstul 1606. It's a
easy blow, an immediate response, and it feels very efficient.
While a horn like this is often categorized as a jazz trombone, some
teachers recommend these or their students who have only one horn.
It works well in the jazz band, or also in a concert band with the
right mouthpiece. Includes wood case, mouthpiece, and a slide
tune-up. |
$2499 |
| CLOSEOUT
Bach 12 |
We have one left,
which was made in 2006, before the Bach strike, so this is a
Union-made instrument. This has a weighted .500" brass slide
with nickel oversleeves at the hand brace. This particular
horn had a minor problem with the slide end crook, so we got
creative and decided to have the slide rebuilt with a larger
diameter King end crook, and it plays beautifully. John
Sandhagen did the conversion. The slide was relaquered at
Kanstul with a baked epoxy finish, which should last a very long
time indeed. The slide has also been tuned up for smooth as
glass action. This has been a common conversion with the
equipment aficionados for years. Includes Bach case and mouthpiece. |
$1749 |
| CLOSEOUT
Bach LT12
 |
This is the professional model Bach Stradivarius,
made in Elkhart, Indiana. This is the essentially the same
instrument as the model 12, but the outer slide is made of all nickel, and has
no oversleeves at the hand brace. That way, the slide is
lighter for a feeling of faster action. We also had John Sandhagen tune this one up for us, so the slide is really smooth and
straight, and it should break in nicely. Also made in early
2006 by Union labor at the Bach plant. The nickel slide makes
a brighter, slightly brittle sound that's excellent for a lead chair
in a jazz band, and those who prefer a lighter slide tend to
gravitate towards this model. The nickel is harder, which
encourages the brightness, but it's also more dent resistant, and
does not corrode inside as easily as a brass slide can.
The Bach 12 is very popular horn in Los Angeles. It has a 7.5" bell,
which is one of the very few trombone bells made out of one piece of
brass. That way, there is no seam in the bell throat, allowing
a more even bell thickness and a resonant feel. The bell is
hand hammered and hand spun, which is a big improvement over lesser
horns with machine spun bells. Played around here by Bruce
Paulson, Jacques Voyemont, and many others. This horn has a large
grip, and may fit better for those with larger hands. Includes Bach case and mouthpiece. |
$1829 |
| Yamaha YSL-697Z
 |
New professional model is similar to a King 2B
in specs, but has a slightly warmer sound and flawless
workmanship. it has a hand hammered bell, and the tone is
surprisingly warm, especially if you've only played the older Yamaha
instruments. This is one of their best to date, and raises the
standard of Yamaha to a very high art. Andy Martin and Charlie
Morillas have been seen playing these as of late. Includes
very sleek compact case and mouthpiece. |
$1449 |
| Yamaha YSL-691 |
Larger professional model has an 8" bell and .508"
lightweight slide. Includes 3 removable leadpipes and hard
case. Similar to King 3B. |
$1449 |
| Yamaha YSL-354
 |
This most consistently made student model has really
fine workmanship for the price. Any new player, young or
old, should be
proud to have one of these. Includes case and mouthpiece. |
MAP $924 |
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