Posted by Lee Stofer on January 16, 2003 at 08:18:53:
In Reply to: Looking for a horn. . . posted by Ike H. on January 15, 2003 at 11:16:40:
Ike,
I've found most valve trombones to be pretty disappointing machines, mainly because they tend to have such a tiny bore size. Also, many of them are mechanically wretched, even if they look great. My experience was that, after owning such a horn, I sold it, bought a decent used trombone, and getting to a functional level with a hand slide was much easier than overcoming the miserable tendencies of the valve trombone I'd had. If you must play valves and don't want to spring for a euphonium, a marching trombone, one of those things that looks like a cornet on steroids, plays acceptably well, and could probably be had for less money. Of course, I play-test every instrument that comes through my shop, and I've been surprised by how well some of these marching trombones play.
Lee Stofer