Expensive trombones are typically built with better quality materials and fewer manufacturing flaws, making them easier to play than extremely low-end trombones. Differences between mid-level and high-end trombones, on the other hand, are typically unnoticeable to most guitarists because of advances in manufacturing and other factors.
Many individuals believe that higher-priced trombones from big trombone manufacturers are easier to play than cheaper versions. I’ve played literally hundreds of trombones over the last two decades, and I’ve discovered some similarities in terms of price and simplicity of use. But I’ve also asked a few seasoned trombone players to see whether they feel expensive trombones are simpler to play.
Let’s look at the reasons why expensive trombones are so costly and how much those factors impact a trombone that is easier to play.
Are Expensive Trombones Easier To Play?
Another component of pricing is the factory’s setup work, which entails finalizing a trombone before it leaves the warehouse. After the trombone is built, it will usually be given star treatment to make it appealing to play on a showroom floor.
You’ve probably seen someone’s reaction if you’ve ever taken someone who doesn’t play the trombone to a music shop and shown them the advanced/professional trombone prices. Some very well-known and well-liked trombones can cost thousands of dollars or more, which is surprising to many non-trombone players.
Most common reasons why expensive trombones are so pricey.
1: Labor
The most significant reason why some trombones cost so much is the labor invested in the instrument, which is generally due to the fact that it was made in the United States. China, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea are the primary nations where most brass instruments are produced. Labor costs in these countries are far lower than those in U.s. In the United States, manufacturing employees cost businesses considerably more in wages, benefits, and overhead expenses, which gets straight into the price of an American-made trombone. This is why an American-made bach trombones, costs so much more than the same model made in China.
2: Markup
Several of the American companies have engaged in significant price increases in recent years, and most trombone players and music store employees are left wondering why. A trombone that formerly cost $1,700 rose to $2,300 from one model year to the next, with little visible change in the instrument’s build. Many individuals believed that this was an effort on the part of trombone manufacturers to inflate or correct the market, and had nothing to do with product production costs.
3: Quality Materials and Parts
To a lesser extent than the first two elements, some more expensive trombones do have higher-quality components, notably the woods from which they are created.
The components, particularly the slides and bell, are among the most important factors for trombonist. A better quality instrument is anticipated to include superior components that improve playability and sound quality.
4: Craftsmanship
Some brands will privilege craftsmanship over design, particularly in their bespoke models or instruments made at their customized factories. A tromboner player should anticipate that someone at the factory with a great deal of skill took extensive care into creating and testing the instrument before it was shipped, resulting in greater craftsmanship and a higher price.
Does This Expense Make trombones Easier To Play?
Many of the features that make a costly trombone expensive have little influence on playability, especially when you consider that the labor cost and price markups do not translate into any real change in what the instrument becomes.
However, the parts’ quality does affect the sound and playability of an advance instrument, and handcrafted masterwork from a top builder should result in an instrument that was carefully constructed for optimum playability by a professional builder.
What distinguishes higher-end trombones from lower-cost models
1: Is It Possible to Keep the trombones in Tune?
Low-cost trombones are notorious for having a short life span in terms of keeping their tuning, or perhaps not at all. An expensive trombone should have no difficulty staying in tune throughout and after heavy usage.
2: Are there any flaws in the manufacturing process?
An advance trombone should be free of manufacturing flaws and errors that passed through their quality control procedures.
Some new trombones may have poor lacquer finish or sticky slides. Some of these concerns may be difficult for a quality control process to detect, but in other situations it appears that the manufacturer simply prefers to send rather than maintain a certain level of expected excellence.
A music store manager had informed me several years ago that he had to reject and return a large number of trombones from a well-known manufacturer because of setup and build faults that should never have been sent.
3: How is the trombone’s sustain?
The ability of an instrument to keep a note sounding for a long period of time is a good indication of its construction and sound quality. When checking out an instrument, look at the trombone’s durability.
4: Is the trombone comfortable to hold in your hands?
The fourth consideration is how the instrument feels when you’re playing it. If you have a well-built, functioning trombone with high-quality parts that will stay in tune, the next aspect to consider is how it feels when you’re playing it. This easy technique is something that experienced trombone appreciate about doing.
If your expensive trombone feels good in your hands and works with you to create music rather than against you in any manner, it’s a sure sign that it’s the real deal. The trombone should almost beg to be played, and it should in fact help you improve as a trombonist.
What About intermediate trombones?
Given the advances in manufacturing technology worldwide, as well as the consolidation of manufacturers and manufacturing sites (particularly to China), intermediate instruments are not far off from most advanced or professional trombones in terms of quality. While most lifelong trombone players will opt not to play with an intermediate trombone for an extended period of time, many mid-level trombones will serve the average player until they are ready to invest in the instrument of their choice.
Mid-range trombones from the big manufacturers are similar to higher-end trombones in terms of playability. For most players, this implies that any well-constructed trombones will serve, with the exception of the extremely low-budget beginner models that aren’t sold at a traditional music shop.
