3704 Foothill Boulevard

LA CRESCENTA, California

818.248.7550

4420 East Village Road

LONG BEACH, California

562.354.6655

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Medium Bore Tenor Trombones

Everyone seems to want one horn that does everything well: jazz, classical, shows, you name it. Well, it's not quite so easy. A horn that gets a great dark symphonic sound can be downright tiring to play in a big band for four sets. A snappy jazz horn will get you shown to the door in many symphonies. That being said, these horns do their best to hit the mark in the middle. I like the idea of using a medium bore tenor trombone for several reasons: they work well in a pit orchestra for a stage show, they often record better than a large bore tenor trombone, there's nothing wrong with a bigger sound when playing in a jazz combo, and many first parts in a symphony or band are better played on one of these than they are on a big moose horn symphony model. Think French, think light, and bright. For example, Ralph Sauer, former principle trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic occasionally plays a Conn 8HT with a .525" medium bore slide and a Schilke 50 mouthpiece for lighter works. He also frequently uses a dual bore .525/.547" slide on that horn too. He says he can get a clear efficient sound that goes to the back of the hall without having to over blow the orchestra.

Model	Description	Price
S.E. Shires	Custom built modular horn from Boston with many options, used by top players around the world.	$3395-$4895
Bach 36	This is the standard for a medium bore trombone. Most every instrument of this style can be compared to the Bach 36. The Bach features a brass slide with heavy nickel over sleeves, nickel cork barrels, an all brass bell section with a one-piece hand hammered 8" bell. it's excellent for orchestras and bands, and for the working or hobbyist player who prefers one horn for everything. The 36 uses many of the same parts as the larger symphonic-sized model 42, but the slide tubes are .525", and the bell flare is cut at 8" instead of 8.5". That makes this a fairly big sounding medium bore trombone. In fact, some players say that the 36 records with a sound similar to the larger bore Conn 88H. For that reason, it can feel a bit too big or dark in many commercial or rock/jazz/Latin situations. But the stronger player might thrive on such a horn. A student who prefers an easier playing horn that doesn't require volumes of air may prefer a 36 to use in wind bands and jazz bands as well. We don't normally stock the straight Bach 36 here, but it is easily available as a straight tenor, with yellow or gold brass bell, or with several variations of F-attachment. We often have a used model or two as a consignment instrument. Please call for current selection. We now do sometimes stock the 36 with the open wrap F-attachment, as the 36BO. $2989	$2539
King 2103PL	This is more of an overgrown jazz horn than it is a shrunk down symphony axe. It features a .525" weighted nickel slide, an open neckpipe, and a bell that looks to be the same as the classic .509" bore King 3B. In can feel a bit heavy compared to the smaller bore horns but makes a huge amount of sound, and is favored by some Latin band and show players. Includes hard case and mouthpiece. Also available with a gold brass bell for an additional $130, which offers a broader sound with more warmth, but with slightly less projection.	$1879