TromboneChat

DCIsky wrote: Tue May 26, 2026 5:14 pm To revive an old thread:
- How have your Y-Fort horns held up with time?
- If you've bought recent-production ones, have the aforementioned issues with slide action and lacquer QC persisted, or have they been addressed by the manufacturer?

I play mine daily - it still looks like new. I see two Y-Forts that I sold on a regular base and they still look excellent.

I'll get some new trombones within the next few days and I'll report what I think of the slides. I know Y-fort is working on getting these better and more consistent.

I got a 763L (yellow brass bell) about 6 weeks ago, without trying one. Never even seen one in person…

Long story short - it might be the best overall trombone I’ve ever played. No joke.

As for the slide - there was a bit of a delay with delivery because of the slide. I kind of knew that was a possibility going into it. The tolerances seem tighter than any I’ve ever played. That has to contribute to the slide complaints. The slide significantly improved after a few weeks of lessons and practicing (I’ve been overseas on a gig since - on flight home now), especially after I switched from Yamaha lube to 2-bottle Slide-O-Mix.

I’m seriously considering the .525 260GL! Again - without testing….

DaveAshley wrote: Wed May 27, 2026 7:39 am I got a 763L (yellow brass bell) about 6 weeks ago, without trying one. Never even seen one in person…

Long story short - it might be the best overall trombone I’ve ever played. No joke.

As for the slide - there was a bit of a delay with delivery because of the slide. I kind of knew that was a possibility going into it. The tolerances seem tighter than any I’ve ever played. That has to contribute to the slide complaints. The slide significantly improved after a few weeks of lessons and practicing (I’ve been overseas on a gig since - on flight home now), especially after I switched from Yamaha lube to 2-bottle Slide-O-Mix.

I’m seriously considering the .525 260GL! Again - without testing….

If you do buy that one, please write a review in here. There are very little reviews about this one out there yet.

DCIsky wrote: Tue May 26, 2026 5:14 pm To revive an old thread:
- How have your Y-Fort horns held up with time?
- If you've bought recent-production ones, have the aforementioned issues with slide action and lacquer QC persisted, or have they been addressed by the manufacturer?

Still great, still love it. I bought it right from the NAMM booth in 2023 and it's been rock solid. I have used it in pretty much every environment you'd use a large tenor in (principal and 2nd trombone in the orchestra, the sole trombone in a chamber orchestra, brass quintet, all tenor parts in a trombone quartet, a solo recital, studio sessions, and my own projects at home), and it's been excellent in all of them.

I also recently switched the stock leadpipes out for a yellow brass Brad Close Holton TR156 pipe, and it takes every single thing that makes the horn so great and improves it. Even easier to play, more even, and adds a beautiful vintage color to the sound. I personally think the stock Y-Fort is the best new large bore tenor money can buy for less than $6k, and with the TR156 pipe it's sparring with the really high-end stuff.

DaveAshley wrote: Wed May 27, 2026 7:39 am I got a 763L (yellow brass bell) about 6 weeks ago, without trying one. Never even seen one in person…

Long story short - it might be the best overall trombone I’ve ever played. No joke.

As for the slide - there was a bit of a delay with delivery because of the slide. I kind of knew that was a possibility going into it. The tolerances seem tighter than any I’ve ever played. That has to contribute to the slide complaints. The slide significantly improved after a few weeks of lessons and practicing (I’ve been overseas on a gig since - on flight home now), especially after I switched from Yamaha lube to 2-bottle Slide-O-Mix.

I’m seriously considering the .525 260GL! Again - without testing….

A customer whos also here on the forum bought a 260GL but plays it paired with the 763 bell section. A great combo! Although I also like the 260. Sure a smaller sound but still flexible.

That might just have sold it to me.

DaveAshley wrote: Wed May 27, 2026 7:39 am I got a 763L (yellow brass bell) about 6 weeks ago, without trying one. Never even seen one in person…

Long story short - it might be the best overall trombone I’ve ever played. No joke.

As for the slide - there was a bit of a delay with delivery because of the slide. I kind of knew that was a possibility going into it. The tolerances seem tighter than any I’ve ever played. That has to contribute to the slide complaints. The slide significantly improved after a few weeks of lessons and practicing (I’ve been overseas on a gig since - on flight home now), especially after I switched from Yamaha lube to 2-bottle Slide-O-Mix.

I’m seriously considering the .525 260GL! Again - without testing….

You’ve played a lot of good horns, can you say more on what impressed you so much about it?

Is there a favourite version that emerged in the large bores, as far as screw-bell vs one piece bell, and gold vs yellow brass?

I recently got back into teaching, and felt I should be using a more modern .547 like most of the kids are playing, and decided to take a chance on the Y-Fort. (sight unseen - didn't try any other models)
Simply put - I've found the horn easy to play and incredibly expressive. It's been *much* easier to switch to from my .500 horns than I expected. I really don't steer towards .547 instruments, so I'm not the one to compare it to other brands/models. I have, however, owned some of the big name large bores, and they always felt "foreign" to me when I picked them up. (Big, bigger, biggest...) The Y-Fort seems to just.....work! Again - I only have a few weeks under my belt, but I'm impressed enough to have just placed the order for the 260GL.