System Blue trombones - any advice?

[GroovesMcFly]

My son was at the WGI percussion championships and learned about System Blue. They sell trombones. Has anyone had any experience with these?

http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/March ... mbone.html

Thanks!

[harrisonreed]

The rotor looks backwards, as does the water key. I would say "give a wide berth"

[wwright]

It sure is different. The tuning slide is marked with reference lines so everyone can adjust to different temperatures. I guess without having to tune it by ear?

https://systemblue.org/brass/tuning/

Their web site says "System Blue instruments are distributed through BAC Musical Instruments" which is a very reputable brass instrument maker. They are not inexpensive, too. I'd be curious to hear if anyone has tried it.

[harrisonreed]

It sure is different. The tuning slide is marked with reference lines so everyone can adjust to different temperatures. I guess without having to tune it by ear?

https://systemblue.org/brass/tuning/

Their web site says "System Blue instruments are distributed through BAC Musical Instruments" which is a very reputable brass instrument maker. They are not inexpensive, too. I'd be curious to hear if anyone has tried it.

like the distributed renta-trombone that is called the Elliott Mason model that is not, in fact, the Elliott Mason model. Cue Taylor Swift, "Big Reputation".

Also, re: tuning slides - because tuning slides are what make you play in tune

Looking at the photo, it looks like a lefty trombone with the slide reversed to make it ... a righty trombone? That picture is all sorts of jacked up.

At least it includes the white gloves. You can never underestimate the value of one size fits all white gloves!

[Burgerbob]

It's a jinbao 42BO copy. Nothing to see here.

[sirisobhakya]

The white gloves...

[imsevimse]

The ad is enough to tell this is people who do not know much about brass instruments and do not know much about tuning. It is your ears that make it possible to play in tune. To have a bandleader pushing everybody's tuningslide a couple of millimeters is funny and on the other end a large tuningslide that is totally out of his control. The picture shows something I would never buy.

/Tom

[timbone]

F attachment for switching keys? Is this the new Superbone I've been hearing about? Bonus tuning chart- I may have to refer to it while I am doing an about face......

[braymond21]

I didn't see any mention of trombones on the System Blue website. And the one in the link you shared looks like a Chinese copy unlike the other System Blue horns that are of really good quality. I also can't find that trombone anywhere else on the internet so it seems like they just took a Chinese instrument and tried to associate a popular name with it.

[Burgerbob]

All System Blue instruments are made by Jinbao.

[JohnL]

Looking at the photo, it looks like a lefty trombone with the slide reversed to make it ... a righty trombone? That picture is all sorts of jacked up.

It's a regular right-handed trombone that was assembled left-handed for the photograph, then someone noticed that it didn't look right and flipped it. So you have something that looks like a left-handed trombone assembled right-handed.

Here's another example, perpetrated by Olds back in the 1970's:
http://itsabear.com/Olds_Docs/P24G_Facts.pdf

[GroovesMcFly]

So does Jinbao make decent instruments? I mean, everything is made in China these days including my iPhone.

[Burgerbob]

For that price? No. You can find a used, real 42BO all day for around $1300.

[sirisobhakya]

I believe Jinbao is one of the cheaper manufacturer in China.

You can get every grade of goods from China. They are able to produce top-of-the-line, extremely well-made instruments, cars, phones, etc. It depends on whether you are ready to pay the money or not, and whether the money is inflated or not.

In this case, as mentioned, Jinbao is normally on the cheaper side. However, the price is much inflated. An equivalent Jinbao trombone should not cost more than $400, and even with value added from quality check, control and marketing should not exceed $1000.

[GroovesMcFly]

For that price? No. You can find a used, real 42BO all day for around $1300.

OK, thank you. That's really helpful, and it's the kind of next trombone he needs: large bore + F attachment.

[Burgerbob]

For that price? No. You can find a used, real 42BO all day for around $1300.

OK, thank you. That's really helpful, and it's the kind of next trombone he needs: large bore + F attachment.

A quick search turned up this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bach-Stradivar ... SwYnRcvWCc

I just searched Bach 42. I wouldn't necessarily buy that one, but there are a great many deals out there on good used horns.