Mirage Trombone

[BGuttman]

I picked up a Mirage trombone pretty cheap. I'm pretty sure it's Chinese, but I'd like some more information (very little on the Web).

This particular instrument is a large bore with open wrap F attachment. Direct linkage. Looks like an 8.5 inch (265 mm) bell.

It has some water damage: corrosion spots on the outer slide and some holes in the chrome plate on the inner.

Surprisingly, I was able to polish up the exposed copper on the inners and lube the slide and it moves pretty well. In fact, it doesn't play terribly badly. I'll probably test it out at a couple of Community Band rehearsals after the 1st of the year.

I'd like to know if anybody else has played a Mirage trombone and what your impressions are of it.

[Neo Bri]

Are you sure it's real?

[BGuttman]

Are you sure it's real?

I can tink the bell and make noise with it. So I doubt it's an optical illusion.

The Chinese have come up with some interesting names for musical instruments. They branched out from the "birdie bones" of the 1970s (which were uniformly awful).

[RoscoTrombone]

I have some experience with these.....when doing some projects with groups of kids about 9 years old Mirage trombones were bought....cheapest of the cheap and very poor overall quality.

The plating on the mouthpieces started to wear off within weeks and we had to get the kids to put nail polish on them to protect their skin. The slides were terrible and kept seizing up,I don't think any of them are usable now and have all been scrapped.

I have no idea about their other models like the Bb/F but I would say that there is very little overall quality control. I've no doubt that they will get the odd one to be decent though but I'd personally never recommend them to anyone.

Ross

[greenbean]

I have handled two Mirage trombones. Chinese-made. Real crap...

[greenbean]

I also have to question the intelligence of anyone who would market a product named Mirage...

[BGuttman]

I appreciate the information so far. I think this may become a donation to my local Community Band but I wanted to learn a bit about it first.

[ghmerrill]

I also have to question the intelligence of anyone who would market a product named Mirage...

Don't say that to a French Air Force pilot.

[Kingfan]

I also have to question the intelligence of anyone who would market a product named Mirage...

Like Mistubishi does on their penalty box of a car? https://www.mitsubishicars.com/mirage-g4/2018