Allora trombones

[yhc]

Hi guys:
Somebody can tell me if the Allora trombone is a good brand? I try one and it’s very good?

Thanks for your advice!

[yhc]

It’s sound very good!

[BGuttman]

Allora was a "step-up" brand. I believe the early ones were made in Germany. Like most step-up instruments, they are a major improvement over most beginner instruments. If it sounds good to you (and to your teacher, if you have one) then it's good.

[baileyman]

A blue one?

[BGuttman]

A blue one?

My blue one is a Venus and it's not very good.

[Crazy4Tbone86]

What do you mean “A blue one?” Are you referring to the plastic model Allora Aere?

[yhc]

Hello everyone!

I mean the Allora Paris 550. As I said I like its sound. I want to know if a good brand like the Yamaha’s, King’s or Getzen?

[BGuttman]

Is it a poor man's Rath, Shires, or Edwards? No.

Is it comparable to a Conn, King, or Bach pro level instrument? No.

Is it better than a King 606, Getzen 3xx, or Conn Director? Maybe.

It's hard to make a judgment without being able to examine it and test it.

If I recall correctly Allora was a brand sold by Woodwind and Brasswind.

[Crazy4Tbone86]

I have a .547 bore Allora from the late 90's. At that time, they were only sold by The Woodwind and The Brasswind. Mine is a decent horn but has some oddities. I believe the slide was completely built by Courtois and the bell section has elements of both the 1990s Courtois and B&S instruments. The slide is almost an exact replica of a Bach 42 lightweight nickel slide and works extremely well. The rotary valve is very similar to a Bach 42 open wrap, but the casing is all nickel. The F-attachment wrap is the strangest part.....it has multiple pieces of tubing that are oversized. The S-bend is .593 inch (just like a Bach 42B) and there are other parts that have an inside diameter of .580 (instead of .562). The main tuning slide is actually interchangeable with a standard Bach 42. The bell flare is very heavy.....I have measured it at .035 inch thick, which makes it in the 20 gauge vicinity. It came with a Bam case.

In 2000, I was traveling through northern Indiana, on my way to Chicago. I stopped by the WWBW and tried a several horns and this one caught my attention. At that time, it fit my playing style better because I favored big and heavy equipment. I think I have gigged on it 20-25 times over the years, so it has more than paid for itself but it was never my "preferred horn." I now find it to be slow-responding, compared to my current preferred horns. I have considered taking the bell section apart, rebuilding the F-attachment with all .562 tubing and buffing the bell down to a more manageable gauge. We'll see if I ever get to that project.

To conclude.... I do not know who is making the current Allora models, but mine is decent. Considering that I paid less than $600 for it, the horn brought a lot of bang for the buck. The Bam case alone at that time retailed for over $250!

[Mamaposaune]

I have a .547 bore Allora from the late 90's. At that time, they were only sold by The Woodwind and The Brasswind. Mine is a decent horn but has some oddities. I believe the slide was completely built by Courtois and the bell section has elements of both the 1990s Courtois and B&S instruments. The slide is almost an exact replica of a Bach 42 lightweight nickel slide and works extremely well. The rotary valve is very similar to a Bach 42 open wrap, but the casing is all nickel. The F-attachment wrap is the strangest part.....it has multiple pieces of tubing that are oversized. The S-bend is .593 inch (just like a Bach 42B) and there are other parts that have an inside diameter of .580 (instead of .562). The main tuning slide is actually interchangeable with a standard Bach 42. The bell flare is very heavy.....I have measured it at .035 inch thick, which makes it in the 20 gauge vicinity. It came with a Bam case.

In 2000, I was traveling through northern Indiana, on my way to Chicago. I stopped by the WWBW and tried a several horns and this one caught my attention. At that time, it fit my playing style better because I favored big and heavy equipment. I think I have gigged on it 20-25 times over the years, so it has more than paid for itself but it was never my "preferred horn." I now find it to be slow-responding, compared to my current preferred horns. I have considered taking the bell section apart, rebuilding the F-attachment with all .562 tubing and buffing the bell down to a more manageable gauge. We'll see if I ever get to that project.

To conclude.... I do not know who is making the current Allora models, but mine is decent. Considering that I paid less than $600 for it, the horn brought a lot of bang for the buck. The Bam case alone at that time retailed for over $250!

This sounds almost identical to an F. Schimdt trombone I bought on e-bay years ago, partly because I was curious but mostly because I wanted the Bam case. What I was able to find out at the time is that it was made in France or Germany by Courtois. I thought it played very well, but was too close to my 42B to justify keeping it.
I did not take measurements of the f-attachment, nor the bell gauge.