TromboneChat

Bell Trumpets are gaining momentum here in Texas. But has any one played on one of the trombones he makes? Curious

They are REALLY good!!!!!

I just want to point out they are just another Chinese stencil, right?

Yet another Chinese stencil carefully completed in America yup lol

Some more discussion on the trumpet forum: https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/vie ... p?t=166752 provides a pointer to https://sunwinmusic.com/trombone/

Thanks for the info. Still curious how well they are made even though based in China. Never seen the Bell trombone up close.

They are NOT just another Eastern ISO!!!

You need to play them before you attach misguided label!!

Steve Bell has put a LOT of thought and energy into his line of instruments and has sought input from some high-level Musicians in the D/FW area!!!

People I know with Bell Trumpets are very happy with them. I want to know if he puts the same care and build in to his trombone line

I'm sure they're better than the average Jinbao, but they also aren't "american-made" like I have seen some marketing trying to pass off. Just looking for transparency. We don't let Shires get away with it, Bell doesn't get to either.

Appears to be another story about the internationalization of manufacturing.
Swiss valves, Italian and Canadian mouthpieces, Japanese bells and slides, all sorts of Chinese components and raw materials, ...
At some point it will be hard to claim 100% "Made in America."

Where is your car made?
Your computer?
Your clothing?
Your mobile phone?

Is there always a rational basis to claim the unquestionable inferiority (or superiority) of "foreign" products?

Again, the point is not the quality- I'm sure they're fine. I have a very well-made Y-Fort made in China. It's a very good trombone- one that was designed and built by people that care about their own design in China.

It's not another Alibaba clone trombone with a couple tweaks.

Another year at NAMM that proves American manufacturing is in the gutter. The better horns have parts and components made all over the world then are either finished in some way, maybe if you are lucky, assembled in America. The best horns are Yamaha and Rath, both made internationally. When I was a teenager Chinese made instruments were vilified for their inferiority. Now I’d rather have a Chinese made Y-Fort, JP, or Yamaha Advantage, than an “American” trombone. Bell looks nice, just like Victory, or whichever American entrepreneur decides to rely on branding marketing and globalization to sell band instruments. If I ever run across one I will try it and see if it’s as good as Y Fort!

The only exception at this point really being O’Malley…and they are the only horns made COMPLETELY in the US that remind me of the Golden Age!

RJMason wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:42 pm Another year at NAMM that proves American manufacturing is in the gutter. The better horns have parts and components made all over the world then are either finished in some way, maybe if you are lucky, assembled in America. The best horns are Yamaha and Rath, both made internationally. When I was a teenager Chinese made instruments were vilified for their inferiority. Now I’d rather have a Chinese made Y-Fort, JP, or Yamaha Advantage, than an “American” trombone. Bell looks nice, just like Victory, or whichever American entrepreneur decides to rely on branding marketing and globalization to sell band instruments. If I ever run across one I will try it and see if it’s as good as Y Fort!

The only exception at this point really being O’Malley…and they are the only horns made COMPLETELY in the US that remind me of the Golden Age!

I don't disagree but you've forgotten about M&W and Stephens. I also now worry about Rath since they've been bought out.

WGWTR180 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 7:02 am
I don't disagree but you've forgotten about M&W and Stephens. I also now worry about Rath since they've been bought out.

Rath custom trombones are still made by the same team as before in England. The R series are made of Chinese parts.

RJMason wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:42 pmThe only exception at this point really being O’Malley…and they are the only horns made COMPLETELY in the US that remind me of the Golden Age!

Let's not forget Edwards Instruments, which are manufactured entirely in the US. I think the only part they outsource are Seibold minibal linkages.

SwissTbone wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:32 am

WGWTR180 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 7:02 am
I don't disagree but you've forgotten about M&W and Stephens. I also now worry about Rath since they've been bought out.

Rath custom trombones are still made by the same team as before in England. The R series are made of Chinese parts.

That's great news! Thanks.

WGWTR180 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 7:02 am

RJMason wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:42 pm Another year at NAMM that proves American manufacturing is in the gutter. The better horns have parts and components made all over the world then are either finished in some way, maybe if you are lucky, assembled in America. The best horns are Yamaha and Rath, both made internationally. When I was a teenager Chinese made instruments were vilified for their inferiority. Now I’d rather have a Chinese made Y-Fort, JP, or Yamaha Advantage, than an “American” trombone. Bell looks nice, just like Victory, or whichever American entrepreneur decides to rely on branding marketing and globalization to sell band instruments. If I ever run across one I will try it and see if it’s as good as Y Fort!

The only exception at this point really being O’Malley…and they are the only horns made COMPLETELY in the US that remind me of the Golden Age!

I don't disagree but you've forgotten about M&W and Stephens. I also now worry about Rath since they've been bought out.

Also add Getzen/Edwards, BAC, and Schilke/Greenhoe, probably others as well. I see the point about transparency, I can't 100% confirm all of these horns don't use some amount of overseas labor/parts but I have been generally impressed with the quality of the ones I've played in the last few years.

Plenty of great American made horns these days, they just tend to only be top tier professional horns and come from smaller shops or family-run businesses and have a waiting list. Plenty of demand for them in Asia and Europe too, even with wonderful manufactures in those regions.

A little off topic here:

The dwindling of “Made In America” has been a long time coming. A lot of production and manufacture has been shipped to places where labor is cheap, whether it’s clothing, shoes, nuts & bolts, widgets, cars, computers, IT help… Money chases goods. Goods that are made cheaply will sell cheaply, and those same goods will often outsell well-made goods. Nothing new in that.

Consolidation is one kind of stop-gap measure. When Selmer USA purchased Vito, Leblanc, Martin, and other smaller makers, it was seen as a way to continue some niche brands. It didn’t take long for some of those names to be dropped due to redundancies. Similar story with UMI forty years ago. And with Conn-Selmer today. What’s different is that it’s happening in America, right now, in our little corner of the world.

I’ve heard it said for a long time now that America is a victim of its own success. The flip-side is that America is a victim of its own excesses… but that’s a completely different topic.

Some of the overseas brands are very poor, but many are improving. Remember when Yamaha was still new to the US? Jupiter and XO have really increased their quality and presence in the past 20 years. It won’t be long until Jin Bao, Hoxon Gakki, and Sunwin—or their Americanized names—are commonplace.

Kbiggs, not really "off topic," but an excellent summation of what is and is to come.

I went and tried these, Tuesday, 3-17. They are the real deal. They are made in China. Steve Bell the designer of their trumpets worked with DFW players to design the trombones. He made his own mandrels, etc. and took them to the manufacturer that he chose in China and spent time train the workers there, just like Shires and other makers have done. James McNair would be their contact person there for trombone info. They have a variety of bell/slide materials and F wraps to customize what you would want. They have a bass trombone, 3 small bores (different bells) and also compensating Euphoniums. If I were in the market to replace my corporation 42B I would probably go this direction with one that I really liked. Will probably replace my small bore that I play on now when I work out finances in the next 6 months.

A sidenote they have Arturo Sandoval's previous flugelhorn there for sale because Arturo spent time there last week working with Steve to put together new trumpet and flugelhorn for him. While I was there Steve was showing James tweaks he was making to the design of the trumpet that Aturo chose. I know several DFW trumpets players that have switched to these and love them.

jthomas105 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:59 am I went and tried these, Tuesday, 3-17. They are the real deal. They are made in China. Steve Bell the designer of their trumpets worked with DFW players to design the trombones. He made his own mandrels, etc. and took them to the manufacturer that he chose in China and spent time train the workers there, just like Shires and other makers have done. James McNair would be their contact person there for trombone info. They have a variety of bell/slide materials and F wraps to customize what you would want. They have a bass trombone, 3 small bores (different bells) and also compensating Euphoniums. If I were in the market to replace my corporation 42B I would probably go this direction with one that I really liked. Will probably replace my small bore that I play on now when I work out finances in the next 6 months.

A sidenote they have Arturo Sandoval's previous flugelhorn there for sale because Arturo spent time there last week working with Steve to put together new trumpet and flugelhorn for him. While I was there Steve was showing James tweaks he was making to the design of the trumpet that Aturo chose. I know several DFW trumpets players that have switched to these and love them.

Are there small bore trombones listed anywhere on the website? I haven't seen anything about them.

WGWTR180 wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 9:26 am

SwissTbone wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:32 am

Rath custom trombones are still made by the same team as before in England. The R series are made of Chinese parts.

That's great news! Thanks.

All Rath trombones are 'R' series - R1, R2 etc.

The '00' series (R100,300 etc - as opposed to the custom horns) are made in China, than they are ALL QC'd by the Rath team in Honley, and any alterations done by the same team that make the full-fat versions.