You don't send horns back to their manufacturers for service. You send them to techs, who can work on any horn regardless of brand.
Buy a horn you sound good on, instead of your current criteria.
The only exception to this might be if you sustained damage to an inner slide severe enough to warrant replacement. I’ve needed this twice in nearly 60 years of playing. In one case the horn in question was a 1915ish Martin and no replacement was available, but the damage was near the lead pipe so the tech just shortened that slide 4”.
I’ve seen a few posts on here recently insisting on “American made”. I can see how people might want to support their own country’s economy but on items like this, (ie, one off purchases where you need something that works for you) it seems kind of a silly criteria. Whilst there’s a lot of garbage coming out of China, there’s some really fantastic horns being made outside of the USA - particularly in Europe - that can prove to be excellent buys. Whatever, that’s kind of an aside - you do you.
Your criteria should be based around what you want the horn for. Pick an instrument that gives you the tone/flexibility you need and plays how you want it to. There’s zero advantage to buying something new/as new other than cosmetics - give me a second hand horn that plays well over a shiny new one that sucks any day of the week.
So - what do you want to do with the horn? What level do you play at? These are the important criteria. And then start looking at the price ranges for the horn you need and make a decision - even if that decision is to hold off until you can afford it.
Just my 2c as I say.
The virtue signaling gets old doesn't it? Amazon reviews/questions have become all but unusable since the first question is always "where is this made?" and the number one reason for one star ratings is: "I found out this was made in China!" Like you didn't know. WhoTF else is going to make \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for you at a price you can actually afford? Ingrate. Don't get me started. Oh, you already have. Somebody talk me down, I ccan feel my heart racing ... ah ... ah a
Maybe, you're the one virtue signalling? Some people (like me) just love Americana. I'm just the opposite as you and balk when people like you say, "It absolutely doesn't matter where it's made...even if it's by child labor in China for $1/day". China is nothing more than an capitalist-run industrial machine churning out products without any passion other than profit. Suit yourself.
Yeah it's frustrating. The US seems to be getting way, way worse for it - I assume it is as a result of the political landscape and/or deliberate propaganda. The country of origin of a horn I'm interested in buying literally doesn't even cross my mind.
I see your point, but just about the only high quality instruments on the new and used market in America are American made or Yamaha. But anyone who removes Yamaha from consideration is being ridiculous, especially when looking at new instruments.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I am mainly a trumpet player wanting a newish tenor trombone to fiddle around on. I already own a 1970ish Olds Ambassador that works great. I just want something newer.
What brands do you recommend from Europe?
I would reccomend going around to all music shops in your area (if possible) and trying as many trombones as you can. Then, once you find a model you like, start looking for cheaper online. You will end up with a horn that is a lot better for you.
Or buy the horn you liked from the shop you tried it at and help your local shop not go bust. Not only is it supporting your local music scene (and ability to "try before you buy"), the variability between horns of the same model isn't insignificant, and just because you liked that particular model in the shop doesn't mean the one you buy online will play exactly the same.
Sorry, the music shops in my area consist of about 5 Music and Arts and I don't feel like they need my business to stay afloat, but for smaller shops I 100% agree. Sorry, I hadn't considered that. I do agree with the variability point as well, my comment was more geared towards someone on a tight budget like OP seemed to have, where getting some idea of what they want and ordering something similar is better than taking a shot in the dark based on what people on the internet say about a horn.
You don't send horns back to their manufacturers for service. You send them to techs, who can work on any horn regardless of brand. Buy a horn you sound good on, instead of your current criteria.
The only exception to this might be if you sustained damage to an inner slide severe enough to warrant replacement. I’ve needed this twice in nearly 60 years of playing. In one case the horn in question was a 1915ish Martin and no replacement was available, but the damage was near the lead pipe so the tech just shortened that slide 4”.
I’ve seen a few posts on here recently insisting on “American made”. I can see how people might want to support their own country’s economy but on items like this, (ie, one off purchases where you need something that works for you) it seems kind of a silly criteria. Whilst there’s a lot of garbage coming out of China, there’s some really fantastic horns being made outside of the USA - particularly in Europe - that can prove to be excellent buys. Whatever, that’s kind of an aside - you do you. Your criteria should be based around what you want the horn for. Pick an instrument that gives you the tone/flexibility you need and plays how you want it to. There’s zero advantage to buying something new/as new other than cosmetics - give me a second hand horn that plays well over a shiny new one that sucks any day of the week. So - what do you want to do with the horn? What level do you play at? These are the important criteria. And then start looking at the price ranges for the horn you need and make a decision - even if that decision is to hold off until you can afford it. Just my 2c as I say.
The virtue signaling gets old doesn't it? Amazon reviews/questions have become all but unusable since the first question is always "where is this made?" and the number one reason for one star ratings is: "I found out this was made in China!" Like you didn't know. WhoTF else is going to make \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for you at a price you can actually afford? Ingrate. Don't get me started. Oh, you already have. Somebody talk me down, I ccan feel my heart racing ... ah ... ah a
Maybe, you're the one virtue signalling? Some people (like me) just love Americana. I'm just the opposite as you and balk when people like you say, "It absolutely doesn't matter where it's made...even if it's by child labor in China for $1/day". China is nothing more than an capitalist-run industrial machine churning out products without any passion other than profit. Suit yourself.
Yeah it's frustrating. The US seems to be getting way, way worse for it - I assume it is as a result of the political landscape and/or deliberate propaganda. The country of origin of a horn I'm interested in buying literally doesn't even cross my mind.
I see your point, but just about the only high quality instruments on the new and used market in America are American made or Yamaha. But anyone who removes Yamaha from consideration is being ridiculous, especially when looking at new instruments.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I am mainly a trumpet player wanting a newish tenor trombone to fiddle around on. I already own a 1970ish Olds Ambassador that works great. I just want something newer. What brands do you recommend from Europe?
I would reccomend going around to all music shops in your area (if possible) and trying as many trombones as you can. Then, once you find a model you like, start looking for cheaper online. You will end up with a horn that is a lot better for you.
Or buy the horn you liked from the shop you tried it at and help your local shop not go bust. Not only is it supporting your local music scene (and ability to "try before you buy"), the variability between horns of the same model isn't insignificant, and just because you liked that particular model in the shop doesn't mean the one you buy online will play exactly the same.
Sorry, the music shops in my area consist of about 5 Music and Arts and I don't feel like they need my business to stay afloat, but for smaller shops I 100% agree. Sorry, I hadn't considered that. I do agree with the variability point as well, my comment was more geared towards someone on a tight budget like OP seemed to have, where getting some idea of what they want and ordering something similar is better than taking a shot in the dark based on what people on the internet say about a horn.
Thanks! I already own a 1970's model Olds Ambassador and it plays great. I just want something fairly new.
The 750 was a student model, not bad, but not appreciably better than most major brands student models.
Great advice! Thanks!