Box Dimensions: 77x26x29cm (30x10x11in)īest Professional Alto Trombone: Bach 39 Stradivarius Series E♭ Alto Trombone.Finish: Lacquer (JP236 Rath), Silver Plated (JP236S Rath).481″ bore means the sound can be very bright At over $1,000, the JP236 Rath isn’t a cheap instrument, but for many trombonists, it will be the last alto trombone they ever need. It is also well-suited to professional trombonists who occasionally play alto trombone as a second instrument. The JP236 Rath is a great choice for a marching band or trombone ensemble. The JP236 Rath also has a strong lower register, an area where many lower-priced alto trombones fail. While many lower-priced alto trombones are stuffy and difficult to keep on key, the JP236 Rath is free-blowing and precisely slotted on all seven positions, so you’ll have no trouble hitting the right notes. in collaboration with famous trombonist and designer Michael Rath. The John Packer JP236 Rath is made in China but designed by British instrument maker John Packer Ltd. And when you try to get a repair or replacement, you’ll find the anonymous reseller has moved on to a new storefront, and your bargain instrument is now an expensive doorstop. But those mass-produced trombones frequently have ill-fitted slides, bad solder joins, and other issues that make them unplayable. There are cheaper Chinese alto trombones on Amazon and elsewhere. Fine for practice or very young students, but not really suited to the stage or recording studioīest Mid-Range Alto Trombone: John Packer JP236 Rath E♭ Alto Trombone.Sized to be playable even by very young children.Even an adult wondering about alto trombones might find the pBone Mini an enjoyable $175 investment. But it slots notes correctly, has a decent tone and will stand up to use and abuse from pre-K performers. The pBone Mini is not going to carry your student through their performing career. And the positions are also accurate, so your youngster will be able to use those skills on a more expensive trombone later. The pBone Mini’s positions are shorter than a tenor trombone, making them easier to reach for young hands. The plastic construction makes the pBone Mini light so even the youngest musician can play without getting tired. (I say this as someone who bought his 4-year-old a drum set). It is not as bright and penetrating as a brass alto, but when your 4-year-old learns trombone, that is not necessarily bad. The pBone Mini has a surprisingly full and even sound. Even the mouthpiece is plastic, but your child will have no trouble producing notes. This is a full-fledged E♭ alto trombone made of durable plastic with a carbon fiber inner sleeve. Don’t let the pBone’s plastic construction fool you. If you want your child to start their trombone career early, the pBone Mini Trombone is an inexpensive instrument suitable for ages 4 and up. The Best Alto Trombones Best Alto Trombone for Very Young Students: pBone Mini Trombone I have offered a period instrument for musicians specializing in Early Music genres.
(Curious? Read on and find out more!) GenreĪlto trombones are used in everything from Renaissance and Baroque music to modern film and video game scores. But thankfully, there is a new, inexpensive plastic option available that is great for very young beginners and musicians who just want an alto trombone to play around the house. Until now, it was difficult to find good lower-priced alto trombones. Music is not the most well-paying of professions, so I have tried to include alto trombones at different price levels. But a musician’s first instrument is the most important one of all since it will be the one on which the student builds a musical foundation. The best model for that professional would be wasted on that young student. AbilityĪ professional alto trombonist playing with a major orchestra has very different needs than a young student shopping for their first alto trombone. When ranking alto trombones, here are some of the factors I considered.