Blessing Professional Trombone

[wayne88ny]

Blessing made a truly professional trombone (.547 bore with F-Attachment) during the period Blessing was owned by the Powell Flute Company (2010 - 2015). Does anyone know the model number of that trombone?

[GabrielRice]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sonare trombone? Sonare was a brass instrument brand name owned by Powell at some point. I remember some colleagues being impressed by their trumpets - which had at least some of the work on them done by Jim Becker at Osmun. I also remember them making a .547 bore symphonic trombone, and I even saw one for sale not that long ago.

[atopper333]

Kinda have a weird interest in Blessing for some reason…no idea why…but…the more recent Blessing large bores seem to be Yamaha clones ex. BTB-1488

There is the Blessing BTB-1488OR which looks a little different than the rest.

https://blessingbrass.com/instruments/btb1488or/

Looks sorta 88H in nature with updated bracing and wrap. Is the one you’re remembering more along those lines?

I see the ownership timeline with Powell, I would definitely like to learn more about any horns from that period too.

[nateaff]

I honestly had no idea Blessing was still around. Has anyone played any of these? Are they built overseas?

[atopper333]

I honestly had no idea Blessing was still around. Has anyone played any of these? Are they built overseas?

As far as my research tells me, the company was acquired by St. Louis Music and the horns are produced in China. I’m not quite sure which Chinese manufacturer is producing their horns…

[wayne88ny]

Are you sure you're not thinking of the Sonare trombone? Sonare was a brass instrument brand name owned by Powell at some point. I remember some colleagues being impressed by their trumpets - which had at least some of the work on them done by Jim Becker at Osmun. I also remember them making a .547 bore symphonic trombone, and I even saw one for sale not that long ago.

It was definitely a Blessing. A friend of mine played one at an ITF and he thought it was the best trombone at the festival. When I was in Chicago (I don't remember why I was there), I was planning to go to Elkhart and try one out, but I was too tired to make the drive. This trombone was poorly marketed. It was priced similarly to the established professional trombones (unlike Getzen, who sold their trombones at a low price until they were established) and Blessing wouldn't send them out to music stores on credit so players could try them out.

In addition to the above mentioned trombone, Blessing built some excellent trumpets during this period. It's too bad the ownership didn't work out. Blessing was sold to St Louis music in 2015 and the Elkhart factory was closed. I'm not sure, but I think the Blessing instruments are now made in China

[wayne88ny]

The model number is BTB-1547. It came with either a yellow brass bell, BTB-1547T, or red brass bell, BTB-1547R. An internet search will yield many results, including pictures. One comes up for sale once in a while. I still regret not trying one when I had the chance.

[atopper333]

The model number is BTB-1547. It came with either a yellow brass bell, BTB-1547T, or red brass bell, BTB-1547R. An internet search will yield many results, including pictures. One comes up for sale once in a while. I still regret not trying one when I had the chance.

Well, now that is an interesting bit of Blessing history I never knew about, looks like a really nice trombone. Thanks much for putting this information out!

[Grahambone]

I remember this horn as well. Somewhere there is a video of me playing one at an ETW (I think that was before it became ATW). Marcinkiewicz made the rotors for these horns. I have a dozen or so that were still in production when Blessing folded.

Graham

[walldaja]

There was a short period when Powell supposedly joined forces with Blessing. I was close enough to drive up and found an abandoned Blessing building with no sign of life. At this same time they had a nice website up that said they would respond to emails within 24 hours. Still waiting on a response. Shortly thereafter St Louis music ended up with Blessing's name.

I have a Powell Sonare when B&S made them. Wouldn't touch them after leaving B&S.

[atopper333]

I remember this horn as well. Somewhere there is a video of me playing one at an ETW (I think that was before it became ATW). Marcinkiewicz made the rotors for these horns. I have a dozen or so that were still in production when Blessing folded.

Graham

You have a few of the Marcinkiewicz rotors? That’s really interesting! How were they different in construction in comparison to standard rotors?