Yamaha or Rath?

[bazman62]

Hi all, looking for some advice.
I'm a returning player after many years off.
I'm looking to buy a new instrument and have two in mind.
The Yamaha YSL-445 & The Rath R100. (Yamaha 525mm bore. Rath 500mm Bore).
As I live on an Island, there are no shops in which to try various types and sizes, the only way is to mail order, which over here we commonly use Thomman.
The style of playing would be Jazz Classic's/Contemporary in a Trio or Quartet.
There is about €500 difference in price.
Is the Rath worth the extra?
Will the Yamaha suffice?
Thanks.

[BGuttman]

You are trying to compare an apple with an orange and determine which is best for fruit salad (they both are).

The Rath R100 is comparable to a Yamaha 695 or 651, not the 445. If there is a Rath 300, that would be comparable to the Yamaha 445.

I am sure either instrument would work OK. I would probably place a small preference on the Yamaha just because they tend to have the best uniformity and your chances of buying a dud off the dock are minimal (not that they are that much higher in the Rath x00).

I think you might do much better with a good used instrument. There are a number of reliable sellers here in our Classifieds, including one who is from Spain.

Are you going to be the only trombone in a mixed ensemble or would you be playing in a trombone quartet? If the latter, a lot of the rep seems to favor using an F-attachment in the tenor voices.

Good luck.

[deanmccarty]

The Yamaha is a .525 bore, the Rath is a .500 bore. So it really depends on what you are looking for in a horn… if you’re looking for an “all-around” horn, then the Yamaha is the way to go… if you’re looking for a jazz/commercial horn, the the Rath is the way to go.

The Yamaha is going to be a good horn… not a great horn… but very good. The Rath is not the full blown custom Rath… it is a Chinese made horn based on the specs of an R10, then looked over by the shop in England. Again, a good horn, but not great… I would say that the Rath will be a little better player than the Yamaha, because of the personal treatment from the Rath shop… but again, it depends on what you’re looking for in a horn… these two are like comparing apples and oranges.

[bazman62]

You are trying to compare an apple with an orange and determine which is best for fruit salad (they both are).

The Rath R100 is comparable to a Yamaha 695 or 651, not the 445. If there is a Rath 300, that would be comparable to the Yamaha 445.

I am sure either instrument would work OK. I would probably place a small preference on the Yamaha just because they tend to have the best uniformity and your chances of buying a dud off the dock are minimal (not that they are that much higher in the Rath x00).

I think you might do much better with a good used instrument. There are a number of reliable sellers here in our Classifieds, including one who is from Spain.

Are you going to be the only trombone in a mixed ensemble or would you be playing in a trombone quartet? If the latter, a lot of the rep seems to favor using an F-attachment in the tenor voices.

Good luck.

I'll go for the Yamaha ... Thanks for the input

[bazman62]

The Yamaha is a .525 bore, the Rath is a .500 bore. So it really depends on what you are looking for in a horn… if you’re looking for an “all-around” horn, then the Yamaha is the way to go… if you’re looking for a jazz/commercial horn, the the Rath is the way to go.

The Yamaha is going to be a good horn… not a great horn… but very good. The Rath is not the full blown custom Rath… it is a Chinese made horn based on the specs of an R10, then looked over by the shop in England. Again, a good horn, but not great… I would say that the Rath will be a little better player than the Yamaha, because of the personal treatment from the Rath shop… but again, it depends on what you’re looking for in a horn… these two are like comparing apples and oranges.

I'll go for the Yamaha ... thanks for the advice

[Matt K]

2nd the Yamaha. 445 is a really good all-around horn.

[greenbean]

I have owned a Yamaha 445. Honestly, is is probably the LAST Yamaha I would choose. I rarely dislike Yamahas but that model did nothing for me. For .525-bore horns, the Yamaha 630 is a *way better* horn.

[boneberg]

I totally agree Greenbean. A friend of mine got a Yammy 640 (version with valve) last year and is very happy with it.