Most beautiful trombones

Chatname · Post by **Chatname** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:37 am

I assume that top priority when acquiring an instrument for most of us is how it plays and how easy it is for us to get the sounds that we want from it. However, putting playing characteristics aside, which trombones do you think look the best? Why? Esthetics is of course not the most essential aspect for me either, however I notice that it’s not unimportant… Big or small? Red brass or sterling silver? Straight or valved? Vintage or shiny new? There are trombones so beautiful I want to play them the second I see them! How about you, which looks excite you the most?

hyperbolica · Post by **hyperbolica** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:45 am

Olds Recording is the best looking trombone as far as I'm concerned. I like the different color metals, flared gussets and engraving. Some people apply leaf or plating in the engraving for highlights.

I also like the Olds Super with the engraved French bead, or kranz or whatever it is. I prefer to play the Recording over the Super, though.

Post by **Doug Elliott** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:24 am

I very much appreciate those things about a Recording, and Schmelzer trombones are up there in the top of attractiveness.

But my #1 priority is ergonomics - is it comfortable to hold on a 4-5 hour gig?
Unfortunately Recordings are entirely too front-heavy, it was my very first horn at 8 years old and very difficult to hold up. Not so much of a problem now, but still worth considering.

I don't want to end up with physical problems from playing something that sounds great but causes injuries and shortens my career.

Elow · Post by **Elow** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 11:00 am

M&W by far, the valves, the valve caps and rings, the ferrules, the engraving, the slide, the braces, literally everything is art. His new german alto is gorgeous!!! The posts on the instagram account are mesmerizing.

Post by **BGuttman** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 12:12 pm

There was a period where Conn had some beautiful engraving on the bell. I've seen extensive flowers, boats, and female busts (head to breastline) on instruments.

For general appearance, a SilverSonic (or King Silvertone) sterling bell is quite nice. A red brass bell can also look nice. But these instruments don't fit some peoples' playing.

There was a Getzen Super Deluxe with nickel brace fittings, a brass bell, and a red brass Kranz that was beautiful. Wish it played as well as it looked.

Chris Fidler had an Inderbinen trombone with blackened brass that was stunning.

dcslideman · Post by **dcslideman** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:25 pm

Visually, I really like red brass and nickel silver in combination, but I don't own anything like that. I must admit to also liking a high shine without obvious defects. I most often see some of the vintage Olds examples with that red/silver combination. I think it was a mint O-25 that brass exchange had 6 or 8 months ago that comes to mind.

officermayo · Post by **officermayo** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:32 pm

hyperbolica wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:45 am Olds Recording is the best looking trombone as far as I'm concerned. I like the different color metals, flared gussets and engraving. Some people apply leaf or plating in the engraving for highlights.

Right you are, Sir!

OneTon · Post by **OneTon** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:39 pm

I never met a trombone that I did not like, just like Will Rogers.

Finetales · Post by **Finetales** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 2:30 pm

Pretty much any bass trombone with dependent Hagmanns. The wrap is so beautiful.

JohnL · Post by **JohnL** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:47 pm

Conn Vocabell

Mamaposaune · Post by **Mamaposaune** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 6:47 pm

Another vote here for the Olds Recording.

JohnL · Post by **JohnL** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:21 pm

Earl Williams made some very nice looking (and playing) trombones.
The few trombones Earl Strickler made also have very nice aesthetics.

modelerdc · Post by **modelerdc** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:48 pm

Conn 48H, mint vintage Bachs

harrisonreed · Post by **harrisonreed** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:24 pm

The M&W horns, easily. They are absolutely gorgeous.

Chatname · Post by **Chatname** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:16 am

Agreed, M&W are stunning! I have one in my bedroom, and it makes my heart skip a beat every morning I set eyes on it!

Kbiggs · Post by **Kbiggs** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:16 pm

Bassposaune, Isaac Ehe, Nürnberg, 1612

FWIW: this is THE Ehe bass trombone found in the German National Museum of Nuremberg.

gbedinger · Post by **gbedinger** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:34 pm

I agree on the Conn 44h vocabell.

As far as extra tubing, Matt Guilford used to play a Shires bass trombone that had the tubing staggered where the curves exceeded the dimensions of the main tuning slide. I figured it was a custom build since I’ve not seen that configuration since.

HawaiiTromboneGuy · Post by **HawaiiTromboneGuy** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:09 pm

One of the most beautiful trombones that I’ve ever seen belonged to a now deceased friend of mine. He had a beautiful Reynolds Contempora bass with a Greenhoe conversion. That thing was just gorgeous. Wish I had purchased it when I had the chance.

Finetales · Post by **Finetales** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:07 pm

^yeah, that's one of the prettiest instruments I've seen on this forum.

hornbuilder · Post by **hornbuilder** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:29 pm

I remember that horn.

Finetales · Post by **Finetales** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:12 pm

If I had had the extra cash...

Post by **blast** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:20 am

There are finishes available from Mick Rath that create wonderful visual impact especially when coupled with his clean designs.

MStarke · Post by **MStarke** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:52 am

For me that would be any high quality vintage German trombone (Kruspe, Piering, Heckel etc.). The snakes, bell garland, overall quality, mix of materials just make them look very very beautiful. In that dimension American trombones simply cannot compare, while I currently spend 95% of my playing time on them.

Macbone1 · Post by **Macbone1** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:25 am

Reynolds offered some gorgeous engravings and gold leaf inlays. Post war Bessons had a heyday; simply elegant British craftsmanship. Willson trombones also look great, and are not the same old thing.

meine · Post by **meine** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:08 pm

I think I‘m a lucky guy to play the most beautiful basstrombone I‘ve ever seen

BrassedOn · Post by **BrassedOn** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 2:06 pm

HawaiiTromboneGuy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:09 pm One of the most beautiful trombones that I’ve ever seen belonged to a now deceased friend of mine. He had a beautiful Reynolds Contempora bass with a Greenhoe conversion. That thing was just gorgeous. Wish I had purchased it when I had the chance.

Ferrule envy is apparently a thing, did not know I was capable.

Burgerbob · Post by **Burgerbob** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 2:15 pm

Oops, posted this in the wrong thread. Anyway...

Chatname · Post by **Chatname** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:33 pm

Lots of wonderful trombones! Thank you! Myself, I have a soft spot for straight trombones (valves can be nice looking too, of course!).
A straight trombone is minimalistic and unadulterated in its radical simplicity: the single line from mouthpiece to bell.
On the matter of valves I’ll make a confession: I think the open wrap is less beautiful than a closed wrap.

harrisonreed · Post by **harrisonreed** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:38 pm

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 2:15 pm Oops, posted this in the wrong thread. Anyway...

Where is the TIS? Looking for it but I don't see it

Edit* I see it now. It's hiding below the top tube. Wow

It's a beautiful horn but that engraving is not my style.

dukesboneman · Post by **dukesboneman** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 7:18 pm

I had a King 2B+ with a silver bell. Very sleek.
No engraving , but just a beautiful horn
Hardly any bend in the gooseneck so it was just almost straight lines

Cas · Post by **Cas** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:47 pm

Gotta say one of the most gorgeous horns ive seen is Ilan Morgenstern's Shires unlacquered/raw brass bass trombone with double tru-bore valves and a screwbell-
had the chance to play a few notes on his horn and it was incredible, so theres a lot more to it than its beauty

Kingfan · Post by **Kingfan** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:17 am

The most beautiful horn to me is one I'm about to buy any time I buy a new horn.

Macbone1 · Post by **Macbone1** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:38 am

dukesboneman wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 7:18 pm I had a King 2B+ with a silver bell. Very sleek.
No engraving , but just a beautiful horn
Hardly any bend in the gooseneck so it was just almost straight lines

Very very nice in its simple beauty, thanks for sharing. I admit I'm a bit envious.
Also BTW I tend to think of any silver plated trombone (in nice condition) as beautiful, but that's just me.

BoomtownRath · Post by **BoomtownRath** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 9:25 am

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Wed Sep 21, 2022 2:15 pm Oops, posted this in the wrong thread. Anyway...

I recently had the pleasure of trying one, great instruments!!

Burgerbob · Post by **Burgerbob** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 9:48 am

BoomtownRath wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 9:25 am

I recently had the pleasure of trying one, great instruments!!

Yes! They are pretty but also a serious player. I probably won't end up keeping this one either, though.

MrHCinDE · Post by **MrHCinDE** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:14 am

I’ll join in the Schagerl Aurora appreciation vibe. I had a special order straight tenor with gold plated bell section. It had a funky adjustable bracing on the bell section crook. I don’t think this picture fully does it justice, it looked gorgeous, probably the prettiest horn I’ve owned.

7BBAFC66-37AF-4557-907D-AB04CCCF1CF1.jpeg

hyperbolica · Post by **hyperbolica** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:20 am

MrHCinDE wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:14 am I’ll join in the Schagerl Aurora appreciation vibe. I had a special order straight tenor with gold plated bell section. It had a funky adjustable bracing on the bell section crook. I don’t think this picture fully does it justice, it looked gorgeous, probably the prettiest horn I’ve owned.

Oooh, Ahhhh!

BoomtownRath · Post by **BoomtownRath** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:12 pm

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 9:48 am Yes! They are pretty but also a serious player. I probably won't end up keeping this one either, though.

A buddy of mine, tenor player is crazy about them we will be taking a road trip to Austria some time next year to try them out just for fun (at the moment!)

LeTromboniste · Post by **LeTromboniste** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 6:31 pm

My new bass sackbut is certainly one of the most beautiful objects I've owned. Not quite as beautiful as the original it's based on, posted by Kbiggs above, but still pretty darn sweet looking!

(Love the spiral handle stem! The handle is African cow horn, with fake ivory trim)

Kbiggs · Post by **Kbiggs** » Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:46 pm

^ Beautiful!

I like the scraped bell markings. The bell section bracing looks heavier than the original?

LeTromboniste · Post by **LeTromboniste** » Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:45 pm

Kbiggs wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:46 pm ^ Beautiful!

I like the scraped bell markings. The bell section bracing looks heavier than the original?

Yes, the bell is "MDC" (which is their fancy historical alloy, from thicker sheets hammered down to the desired thickness, and finished by scraping + hand engraved kranz). Only the bell, the rest is standard brass unfortunately (or fortunately, if you ask my wallet

), as this is a new variant and mine is the first one/prototype. Obviously we didn't use the fancy expensive stuff for experimenting and prototyping.

Bell section bracing would be about the same as the original. The flat stay is just that, a flat stay with a hinge, like on the original (just placed slightly lower on the instrument). The brace on the loop is copied on the original, down to the fact it is screwed to the loop rather than soldered. I haven't touched the original, but I've held and played a 1 to 1 copy of it, and it is insanely heavy. The very thick and elaborate silver ferrules really add some weight, and the slide is just ridiculous. The Egger production model is overall lighter than the original, AFAIK.

jbeatenbough · Post by **jbeatenbough** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 9:30 am

I think the artist level engraved old kings are among the most beautiful trombones ever... I couldn't find a non-copywrite photo to include here, but there are some beautiful examples out there. I know someone with a 2bss with the artist engraving...such a beautiful work of art - and plays wonderfully!

Macbone1 · Post by **Macbone1** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:56 am

hyperbolica wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:20 am
MrHCinDE wrote: ↑Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:14 am I’ll join in the Schagerl Aurora appreciation vibe. I had a special order straight tenor with gold plated bell section. It had a funky adjustable bracing on the bell section crook. I don’t think this picture fully does it justice, it looked gorgeous, probably the prettiest horn I’ve owned.
The Swiss Willsons look similar - a spare, minimalist design that just looks great. Form follows function, and then some. Kind of the Audrey Hepburn of trombones

imsevimse · Post by **imsevimse** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:22 am

I think the Gerdt trombone that's being made for me by Lars Gerdt in Stockholm will be the nicest looking horn in my collection. Why? Plays well and I've been a part in the process. It will be a .straight 500 horn with an additional bell with attachment and for the attachment there will be three different crooks to be able to put the valve in F, G-flat or G. It will be shiny, unique and brand NEW which helps This will be my dream-horn.

/Tom

harrisonreed · Post by **harrisonreed** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 3:00 pm

jbeatenbough wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 9:30 am I think the artist level engraved old kings are among the most beautiful trombones ever... I couldn't find a non-copywrite photo to include here, but there are some beautiful examples out there. I know someone with a 2bss with the artist engraving...such a beautiful work of art - and plays wonderfully!

I'll boldly go there. Credit to HN White. Please check out their site and me linking the image should be okay.

Jameseuph642 · Post by **Jameseuph642** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 9:13 pm

Anything from M & W and the Shires Vintage Elkhart.

Sander · Post by **Sander** » Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:16 pm

Surprised nobody posted picture of the most outrageous BAC Customs here.

Posaunus · Post by **Posaunus** » Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:24 pm

Sander wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:16 pm Surprised nobody posted picture of the most outrageous BAC Customs here.

Some BACs are indeed "outrageous." Striking looking. Are they beautiful?

Sander · Post by **Sander** » Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:20 am

Posaunus wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:24 pm
Sander wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:16 pm Surprised nobody posted picture of the most outrageous BAC Customs here.
Some BACs are indeed "outrageous." Striking looking. Are they beautiful?

Beauty is relative to the eye that sees it.

What I find beautiful may be ugly to another.

bigbandbone · Post by **bigbandbone** » Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:44 pm

Vintage King B series Silver Sonics.
Don’t like the way they play, but boy are they pretty!