pBone Review

Finally! The long awaited review of the pBone has arrived! Once again, a huge thank you to Andrew's Music for providing me with a yellow pBone for review!

The pBone has been around quite awhile now. It was originally developed and sold in Europe and was essentially off limits in the USA. The company did not want to ship to the US because of the extra costs as well as the fact that they would sell out of stock in literally less than a day.

However, in the summer of 2011, it was announced that Conn-Selmer would be the exclusive, worldwide distributer of the pBone. A couple months ago, the US got our first shipment of pBones and they have been much anticipated and thus been selling extremely well.

However, what is the performance value of the instrument? Sure, it's a novel idea to have a plastic, colored trombone, but is it functional? Does it sound good? Will one be able to use it? I'll address all of that in this review.

What you get:

• pBone (two parts, as per the norm of trombones)
• Plastic, matching color mouthpiece
• Gigbag
• pBone Care Card

Shipping:

I really had no concerns about shipping with this horn. I mean it won't get dented and should hold up to a lot more abuse than a normal horn. It came in the box pictured below and considering the horn I am very confident in the fact that the horn will not be damaged upon receiving it. On behalf of Andrew's Music, their shipping was very quick and I was extremely pleased in the time it took for the horn to get to me from Texas.

Specs:

• Plastic bell
• Fiberglass slide with brass stockings
• 8.25" bell
• .500" bore
• 800g weight.

Lets set this straight, this horn does NOT have a carbon fiber slide.  Any website claiming that it does is simply wrong. Just thinking about it, there is no way they could use a carbon fiber slide at this price point. (Though carbon fiber slides do exist, just look up Spurling).

Appearance - Well there is nothing like this anywhere else. Sure, you can get colored mouthpieces elsewhere but the pBone is the only colored plastic trombone on the market. You will definitely draw some looks with this horn in your hands. Not suitable for all situations but definitely a fun horn and a great way to get people interested in your playing. Overall, in most non-formal performance situations, I think the pBone could be cool.

How does it play? - This is the single most important factor of an instrument. If a horn doesn't sound good, I'm not going to play it in front of people or risk developing bad habits by using it because it looks cool. That being said, this horn sounds so much better than I thought it would! I was very impressed with the horn's playability and sound. I will admit, it doesn't sound like my 42BO, but it does sounds on par or better than almost every student model I've played. And quite honestly, for good players, student models don't sound too shabby at all. The horn gets a bit airy in the lower register I found but it only took a practice session or two to get my embouchure used to that and automatically adjust. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the sound of this horn and the way it works. Should I ever have a fun performance in front of a child audience or something, I would definitely consider using this horn.

Slide - The slide is the hardest part of the trombone to get right. The reason is very simple, you have a set of two long tubes which need to be fit two another set of two long tubes and need to have a tight enough fit to not allow extraneous air to escape while not so tight as to restrict the ease of movement. Factor in the length of the tubes and that requires a lot of precision. When you first get the horn, the pBone's slide is very scratchy and tight. However, with use, the brass stockings essentially shave off material on the inside of the outer slides and as such they become fit to that individual inner slide. You can definitely hear the slide at first but it has gotten marginally better over the past week or so. Therefore, I'm hoping that continues. You also do not need to use slide lubricant on this slide. I tried using my trombotine on it and honestly it didn't make much of a difference. Maybe it will have more of an effect once the slide is worn in. 

Mouthpeice - Okay, I'll be honest here. Do not use the included mouthpiece. I found it to be essentially crap. It makes the horn sound much more airy and it's simply not a good mouthpiece in my opinion. Get a good, quality metal mouthpiece for this horn. It makes the sound much better and makes it play much more easily. The included mouthpiece is usually labelled as 12C-ish. However, it felt much more similar to a 6.5 for me. The quarter test (shown below) also puts the rim size as more similar to a 6.5 than to a 12C.

Also, this is not a mouthpiece made by Kelly. The material feels completely different, the sound is much less focused, and is just much less quality than that of Kelly mouthpieces.

6.5 AL small shank on left, pBone mouthpiece center, and Bach 12C on right.

Gigbag - This case is spectacular for the instrument. It is very simple, light, and easy to use. It's two main compartments with an inside pocket for the mouthpiece. However, I typically just carry my metal mouthpiece in my pocket when transporting this horn. Just in case. The bag really doesn't provide any protection as the horn doesn't dent and a bit of extra padding isn't going to do much if there is enough pressure to make it crack. This case is the perfect example of less is more. It's easy to use, light, and exactly what's needed for this instrument. Bravo.

Uses - So, essentially this is a plastic horn that plays just as well, if not a bit better than a student model brass horn. So why should you want one? Honestly, I would highly encourage serious trombonists who have the money to buy one, to buy one. It makes the perfect "beater horn." You can travel with this horn with absolutely no fear of getting any dents in it or anything. It's light enough and small enough in the bag that you don't have to worry about lugging around a huge case or being weighed down by a bunch of stuff. I can honestly say that whenever I travel from here on out and want to practice while on the trip, the pBone will be my go to horn. The pBone also makes a good horn for private lesson teachers for when their students have a horn in the shop or they want to demonstrate a concept on a small bore horn. This is also a great option for those schools that teach band in elementary school. I have experienced teaching third graders that could not do well because they could not hold their horn. Using the pBone will definitely eliminate that problem. Also, this horn is much more durable than a brass horn. That means that the school could even buy a set of these and use them as school-owned horns for a very long time. On top of all that, these horns are much cheaper than their brass counterparts and as such it's a great way to expose a child to trombone playing on a good horn without putting down a fortune.

Pros:

• Durability
• Price
• Quality for money
• Weight
• Draws attention
• Easy to transport/travel with

Cons:

• Is not appropriate for all performance venues
• no tip at the bottom of the slide can be annoying
• Mouthpiece

Price - $149 Please use Andrew's Music for buying one online if you choose to. They have made this review possible. Red, green, yellow, and blue are available. Andrew's Music also mixes colors which I have not seen from anyone else.

Overall - This is an incredible horn. Don't put this out of your mind just because it's plastic. It is not suitable for all situations but I would bet that every trombonist could find their own uses for it to make it worth it. This horn is so much cheaper than anything else  (besides foreign crap which doesn't last). If nothing else, it's worth it for the durability and travel. I never have to worry about picking up dents on my brass horn through traveling. Besides all that... this horn is fun to play. There's no other way to say it. And if you can make playing fun, you'll practice longer and get better quicker. I highly suggest trying and buying this horn, I've been extremely pleased with it.

*I would like to once again thank Andrew's Music for supplying this horn for review. Please use them for buying online as without them this review would not have happened. I am very grateful for their support of my blog.

OcToBrass Review

Recently I received a complimentary OcToBrass from Chason's music for a review. Right now, my camera is malfunctioning so I cannot add any of my pictures, however I will add them soon. Specifically i received a Trombone/Euphonium LS OcToBrass kit. It came with a polycarbonate OcToBrass, leather case, fingering chart, DVD, clip on tuner, key ring flashlight, and a green 5G Kelly Mouthpiece. This invention is marketed as the ultimate buzzing tool. Do I agree with this? Lets dive into it a bit.

Design - This tool is essentially an ocarina with a large shank mouthpiece receiver on it. The ocarina itself is a product of Mountain Ocarinas (polycarbonate, key of G). For those of you that don't know, an ocarina is a flute like instrument with 8 tone holes on the top and 2 tone holes on the bottom. There is also a resistance valve on the mouthpiece receiver that allows you to adjust the resistance to match your horn's. There is also a cord which allows you to make a fashion statement and wear your OcToBrass around town. It is also very light. All in all, the design of this tool is not bad. Simple, yet effective.

Design rating - 4/5

Ease of Use - From here on out my review is rather split between using this as a buzzing tool and using it as an ocarina. I'll first go with the review as an ocarina. This instrument is very cool. The tone is very pure without being too shrill. However, it is very loud. Do not expect to use the ocarina in places where quiet is needed. I have enjoyed using the ocarina function of the OcToBrass. It is cool to do as a brass player. When one starts buzzing on this though it gets a little iffy. It takes quite awhile to adjust to playing with it. The tone of the ocarina and buzzing loses the purity of the ocarina alone as well as buzzing alone. I'm not sure if this is due to the octave difference or what. Buzzing alone on the OcToBrass is fairly useful because it can be used to match the resistance of the horn. Then again, I like to use buzzing as a breathing exercise and breath control exercise.

Ease of Use - 3/5

Functionality - I'm really not sure what to think of this device yet as a buzzing tool while I can see the benefits (the video demonstration looks awesome) i just can't seem to produce the same results. I guess its just a matter of practice on the ocarina side of things. The quiet buzzing mode is nice. However, the tone is distorted when only buzzing due to the air escaping the tone holes. Personally, my ear is better at pitch accuracy with the normal buzzing tone as opposed to through the OcToBrass. The functionality as solely an ocarina is great though. Personally though I'm not fully convinced of the actual effectiveness of the tool. Is it cool? Yes. But, on trips I think I would rather only bring a mouthpiece. For me, a mouthpiece is all I need to keep in shape and I feel as if the OcToBrass tries to do be a sort of "Jack of all trades but master of none."

Functionality rating - 2/5

Accessories - Ironically, I personally find the accessories of the kit more exciting than the actual OcToBrass. It comes with a lexan Kelly Mouthpiece (either 51D or 5G). I've already done a review of these mouthpieces, and really like them. These mouthpieces are light, cool, and don't suffer much at all in tone. Oh, and they're very durable. The kit also comes with a clip on tuner. This tuner is really cool and accurate. It is perfect for checking your pitch while playing in a group setting and can't play alone. Or checking tuning on that one sustain note in a phrase that just doesn't sound right. Very useful, small, and accurate. I love this tuner.  The keyring flashlight is totally unrelated, yet very functional. Overall, the accessories of this kit are very useful and very nice.

Accessories rating - 5/5

Price:
OcToBrass kit - $99
Clip on Tuner - $19.95
Kelly Mouthpiece - $26
Mountain Ocarina - $24.95

Overall - This is an interesting tool. It is a very nice ocarina which is very fun to play. However, combining it with buzzing makes it difficult to learn and gives it a sub-par tone in my opinion. This is a really cool idea and I really did want to like this product. However, it simply took me a long time to learn and offered less than stellar performance. Perhaps over time it will grow on me, but right now I can't say that I enjoy buzzing in my OcToBrass. If this were up to me and I had to buy products I would rather buy the mountain ocarina for about 25% of the cost since the ocarina is what I find to be the most useful and fun about the OcToBrass. However, I would highly recommend getting the tuner as well. It is definitely worth the $19.95 and functions flawlessly.

Overall rating - 2/5

Afternote - The owner of Chason's music is a great guy. It has been a joy communicating with him and I can really tell he loves what he does. The products he develops seem to be very innovative and very cool.

Lignum-Tech Mouthpiece Review

Mouthpieces are metal right? Not always. In addition to brass and stainless steel, other materials are being used. Awhile ago I did a review of a lexan mouthpiece from Kelly. Now, I'm pleased to announce this review is of a wooden mouthpiece from Lignum-Tech in Ingersheim, Germany! I received a 5 AL mouthpiece (large shank) in Madagascar Ebony. Lignum-Tech only recently came out with their trombone and euphonium line so its still a little limited size wise but it has very popular sizes that should work for most tenor trombone and euphonium players.

Shipping - I was very impressed with the shipping of this mouthpiece. The box that it came with was very secure. The whole box was almost completely covered in tape which is a very good thing when shipping something like a mouthpiece. Inside the outer box was a smaller, black formal box that fit snuggly in the outer box. And finally, inside this black box was the mouthpiece inside of a soft mouthpiece bag. The whole packaging system was very well thought out and very secure. I find it highly unlikely that the mouthpiece could ever be damaged with his packing system. Also, the shipping was very speedy for coming such a long way.

Shipping rating - 5/5

Design/Comfort - The feel of wood on your chops can be daunting to think about. After all, could you imagine putting one of those woodworking projects you've done on your embouchure and buzzing? Well put those doubts aside, this is the most comfortable mouthpiece I've played on. The wood itself is covered with a high-performance coating from Heyday's (organic anorganic hybrid polymer). The surface is slick, more so than my gold plated mouthpieces. So if you like being able to move your lips around easily, this will be very beneficial for you. The piece is made from a single section of wood and it is all wood. This means that even the shank is wood so I would be more careful than usual inserting and removing the mouthpiece. The material also means that the piece is lightweight and good for extreme temperatures as there wood is less conductive than metal. The Heyday's surface also means that you do not need to do the annual oiling like older wooden mouthpieces do. The mouthpiece itself seems to be very close to the Schilke 52 and Dennis Wick 5AL it is compared to on the website so you can trust all of the comparisons. This is definitely one of my favorite mouthpieces I've played from a  feel and comfort standpoint.


Design/Comfort - 5/5


Tone - Tone and sound are always the most important factor in a mouthpiece because, lets be honest, that is what the audience hears and we are performing to please the audience. As always when you alter the material of a mouthpiece, the sound is also altered. The Lignum-Tech mouthpiece produces a warm, mellow tone. The higher harmonics (overtones) are dampened so do not expect this piece to have a piercing sound. I would definitely use this in most situations for wind bands and especially in small ensembles. Don't expect a powerhouse out of this mouthpiece but do expect a quality, warm tone which is useful for a lot of ensemble playing.


Tone - 4.5/5


Pros

• Warm, mellow sound
• Comfortable in both hot and cold temperatures
• No annual oiling 
• Unique
• Slick feel (some could find this as a con but personally, its a pro)

Cons

• Rather expensive
• Not suitable for when a piercing sound is needed.

Price - 159 Euros (about $230 at the time of writing but this also includes 20% VAT). You can ask for a quote or order here.

Overall - I am very impressed with this Lignum-Tech mouthpiece. It is a very comfortable piece to play on and produces a warm, rich tone. It is simply a beautiful sounding and looking mouthpiece. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a versatile ensemble piece. Lignum-Tech is currently the only wooden mouthpiece manufacturer to my knowledge and quite honestly, I would not want to compete with a product of their caliber. Very well done Lignum-Tech!

Overall - 5/5

Photos

(blurred information for privacy)

Schiller Elite Compensating Euphonium... Price Cut?

So in my review of the Schiller Elite Compensating Euphonium, I listed price as one of the best features of the horn. However, recently I have come across the same horn, bought from the same manufacturer, at an even lower price! Al at Big Bottom Music NW is selling the same horn at $700. Thats $185 lower than what Jim Laabs sells their horn for! If you're looking to buy a Schiller, I'd suggest going through Big Bottom Music NW to get the same horn at an even better price!

Kelly Mouthpiece Review

Have you ever thought that I'd be cool to have a mouthpiece in a color such as red or blue? How bout crystal clear? Maybe even glow-in-the-dark? If so, then Kelly Mouthpieces are a product that you must check out. Kelly Mouthpieces are made from lexan which is a type of plastic, this means that they can offer mouthpieces in a wide variety of colors. For trombone and euphonium they have the standard sizes of 12C, 6.5AL, and 51D for small shank. They also have  5G, 51D, and 1.5G for large shank. They even have 5G and 51D for european shank. The product I received from Kelly was a crystal clear, large shank 51D mouthpiece.

Shipping - My mouthpiece was shipped to me in a standard packing envelope with the mouthpiece inside of a plastic bag inside. One effect of the piece being plastic is that it does not dent (well, I'm sure you could if you really tried, and heated the mouthpiece, but this is under normal circumstances). As a result, had this shipping method been used with a brass mouthpiece, I would be appalled. However, unless you catch a postman who is really, really angry that day, I highly doubt you'd have any issues with the piece. So I would consider the shipping job safe for what it is. Shipping was also very prompt.

Shipping rating - 4.5/5

Design/comfort - Wow! If you've never used a lexan piece before, I would highly suggest at least trying one. It is a very comfortable feel on your embouchure. Not to mention, it will feel comfortable no matter what the environmental temperature is! I put mine in my freezer for over an hour, took it out and immediately starting playing on it in my trombone. The difference in temperature was barely noticeable. As for the design, I have no complaints, very high quality of build and the dimensions feel the same as my Schilke 51D. One final advantage to lexan is that it is hypoallergenic. This is invaluable to those who are allergic to brass or silver.

Design/comfort - 5/5

Tone - I know what you're thinking. I can hear it through the computer. You're thinking, "But, plastic obviously can't sound as good as a traditional metal mouthpiece!" To be perfectly honest, going into this, I wasn't completely sure what to expect from this mouthpiece in terms of tone quality. Yes, the tone is different. However, I would not consider it worse, just different. The sound isn't as bright and sounds a bit more diffuse than my Schilke. I would have no issues using this mouthpiece in a wind band setting for performance. I plan on posting a sound comparison between a few of my mouthpieces (the Kelley, Bach Megatone, Schilke, and Monette) within the next few weeks, so that way you can hear for yourself what each piece sounds like.

Tone - 4/5

Pros

• Cost
• Unique
• Variety of colors
• Comfortable, especially across temperature ranges
• Specifications are accurate to those we are used to
• Very durable/doesn't dent under normal circumstances

Cons

• Many players look down upon plastic (with little basis in truth I might add)
• Some argue that the core of sound is lost, however in my personal playing I have not experienced this to a significant degree
• Colored mouthpieces may not be accepted in some venues, i.e. Orchestras. However, this has the possibility of changing in the future.

Price

Large shank - $26

Small shank - $24

Both from kellymouthpieces.com

Overview - This concept for mouthpieces is brilliant in my opinion. Lexan mouthpieces have many practical advantages such as they are hypoallergenic, a poor conductor of heat, and they're lighter. On top of this, lexan opens up a wide variety of colors for the performer. The sound difference that I noticed was significant enough to be noticed, however I would not go as far as to say its worse. It is simply different just as all materials are. Kelly mouthpieces are a great option for those on a budget, students who can be rough with equipment, and those looking for a unique piece. I would definitely recommend trying a lexan piece. I'm very happy to add this mouthpiece to my arsenal and it will definitely be getting use, especially for outdoor gigs in winter. Great job to Kelly Mouthpieces!

Overall rating - 4.5/5

Photos - I don't have many as my camera had a lot of issues trying to pick it up due to it being clear so almost all of the pictures I had were blurry. If I manage to get anymore good ones, I'll update the post.

Practice Mutes

Ever been in a situation where you wanted (or needed) to practice yet the situation required that volume had to be low? Thats where practice mutes come in.

Practice mutes are mutes that usually look much like straight mutes which are inserted into the bell. Their purpose is the keep the volume low as to not annoy those around you. However, most practice mutes are notorious for causing intonation problems, inconsistency in partials, excessive resistance, and  generally causing bad habits.

Here is an article reviewing 5 of the most common trombone practice mutes. The mutes tested are: Wallace, Softone, Humes and Berg, Dennis Wick, and Yamaha Silent Brass.

http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=166

Neotech Trombone Grip - Review

Recently, I received a Trombone Grip made by Neotech. I had had little experience with Neotech before this grip. I mainly knew about them from friends who played sax and loved their neck straps. This trombone grip though is very intriguing. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first... Read on to find out if I ended up liking it.

Design - The design of this grip has 3 main parts, the bushings, the "hook" which latches onto the bushing, and the strap. The grip also comes with three bushings, meaning that no matter which type of brace your trombone has, there will be a bushing to fit it. The grip can be a bit daunting to try to figure out how it works for the first time, but once you figure it out; it becomes extremely easy to put on and take off. (Watching this video helps a ton!) The trombone will also still fit in your normal case with the bushing attached which is a major plus. Also, you can adjust the grip to different lateral positions as well as different rotations so you won't have to change your normal grip to work with the grip. In all there are 18 possibilities for the strap. The design is very innovative and very unique.

Design rating  - 4.5/5

Effectiveness - Lets be honest, effectiveness is the most important aspect of any trombone grip/brace. Neotech doesn't come up short in this aspect either. This grip does not reduce the weight of the instrument (such as the ergobone), but rather it redistributes and helps you carry the weight easier. One of the best things about this grip is it eliminates the problem of the "death grip." This means that people (students especially) can't use excessive grip strength while holding the instrument with this grip. "Death grips" are a major factor in tension in the embouchure and throat. This grip seems to place more weight on my elbow and wrist than without it. For me, I like this because they are larger muscle groups and can be used for longer periods of time without fatigue.

Effectiveness rating - 4/5

Pros

• Eliminates the "death grip"
• Increases endurance
• Cheaper than every other grip I've seen
• comfortable to use
• Easy to adjust the strap placement

Cons

• Takes awhile to figure out (Video helps a ton though)
• Elbow tends to get sore when first adjusting (could be just me, and it improves as you use it more)
• Can't use it with my HERCULES trombone stand

Price - $27.95 from Neotech

Overall - This grip is a great value. If you (or one of your students) are having issues with weight, it would be a great investment. This grip is very affordable and functions very well. It also helps decrease tension in the embouchure due to high grip tension. It may take awhile to find your ideal setting; but once you do, this grip will help your endurance, tone, and even breath support due to relaxing your body. This is also a very durable product and they sell extra bushings so you don't have to buy a whole new grip for all of your trombones. Neotech has done a great job in designing and producing a cheap and effective grip for trombone.

Overall rating - 4.5/5

Pics

Bushing on trombone

Strap

Grip on the trombone

Review of the Schiller Elite Compensating Euphonium

About two weeks ago I received my Schiller Elite Compensating euphonium from Jim Laabs Music. This was my first euphonium purchase and I only paid $885. Think you can't get a good horn for that little? Read on to find out what I think of this horn.

Big Bottom Music NW has the exact same horn (from the same manufacturer) for less at http://www.bigbottommusicnw.com/.

Specs.
This horn seems to be a copy of the Yamaha YEP-642.

• .590 - .661" Bore
• 11.8" Upright bell
• 3+1 Compensating valve arrangement
• Ubiquitous rose brass leadpipe
• Monel valves
• Large shank

Review

Shipping - This horn was shipped via FedEx in a large box with styrofoam inserts to hold the case (with instrument inside) in place during shipping. Packing job seemed excellent and very safe. I was not automatically provided with a tracking number; however, when I inquired as to if there was one, they emailed me the number within an hour.

Appearance - Well, unfortunately, appearance is something we judge instruments based on. The Schiller has a pretty good appearance in my opinion. I have the lacquer version and the lacquer job seems to be good with only a few minor imperfections. Personally I like the look of the rose brass leadpipe on these horns.

Appearance rating - 4.5/5

How does it play? - The most important aspect of any instrument is its sound. Specifically how easy is it to play and how is the tone? The Schiller surprised me in both areas. With a low price tag I really wasn't expecting a lot out of this horn.  This horn is very open and even the compensating register feels free blowing. The 11.8" bell gives a warm rather diffuse sound to the instrument. The construction of the instrument feels sturdy; however, the horn is light for a compensating euphonium. As such, you can feel the vibrations throughout the horn and occasionally get some vibrating sounds in the horn. After recording, these extra sounds are not loud and are not picked up by the audience. High F# is somewhat problematic and a bit hard to center at first, but it got easier after playing the horn for awhile.

Playability rating - 3.5/5

Valves - Valves are what can differentiate between a good euphonium and a great euphonium. When you first get the horn, the valves are rather noisy and a bit sluggish. I have been being extra nice to them over the past couple of weeks. I've wiped them down and oiled them about every 30-45 min while playing, when I start playing, and When I finished playing. Also, I would squirt a little oil down the leadpipe and blow it through the horn while wiggling my valves. After only two weeks the valves are much more responsive and much quieter. The fourth valve is still a bit noisy but I would expect that to get better with time as well.

Valves - 4/5

Intonation - An area where many Chinese made horns fail is intonation. Lets face it, a horn isn't good unless you can play in tune fairly easily. This horn did great with intonation. All valved notes were very well in tune, even down through the compensating register. open F's seem to be a bit of a problem on this instrument. Third and sixth partial F's were considerably sharp. However, playing these notes with the 4th valve depressed helps a lot. All tuning slides move freely and have good fit on my instrument so getting this tuned up was no problem.

Intonation rating - 3.5/5

Accessories

Mouthpiece - The mouthpiece that this horn is an unidentified mouthpiece which comes with the horn. No size markings are visible but it feels like a 12C. Since this is a large shank/large bore horn this mouthpiece is way too small for this horn. While I did play on the mouthpiece for about ten minutes, it is not something I would recommend using. For my playing on this horn I will mainly be using my Monette Prana TT-4L mostly and maybe my Schilke 51D if I need to.

Mouthpiece rating - 2/5

Case - This euphonium comes with an "enthral" case. Overall, its not a bad case. Its got some fancy backpack straps which take awhile to figure out how to use. A storage compartment on the front (which can't fit oversized music folders). The case does have some wiggle room for the instrument so I may get a new case that is more secure.

Case rating - 3/5

Blue Juice - This is the valve oil that comes with the horn. This is also my personal oil of choice. The oil is very effective and lasts for a decent amount of time. The only downside of the oil is that it has a very pungent smell which some people do not care for.

Microfiber cloths - The horn comes with two microfiber cloths. They work well for cleaning up the horn.

Pros

• Price!
• Good horn for doubling or a back up/outdoor horn
• Much higher quality than other eBay brands
• Packaging was very secure so very minimal risk of damage in transport
• Plays as well as horns costing over twice as much

Cons

• Light weight (may not be as durable)
• Valves aren't great at first
• Stock mouthpiece is all but useless

Price - $885 - Jim Laabs Music
           $700 - Big Bottom Music NW (This is the same horn from the sam manufacturer)

Overall - This is a ton of horn for the money. Can you buy better? Yes. Those of us who occasionally double on euphonium can't justify spending over five thousand dollars on a professional instrument. This horn gives use a great compensating horn that is close to professional quality at less than a thousand dollars. I am very please with my purchase of this horn. This is a suitable horn for a student, however I would be wary of transporting because of the light weight. Also, a teacher should always be consulted before purchasing an instrument for a student. In my, and many others, opinion this horn is definitely worth the money. You would be hard pressed to find a better horn for a price even remotely close to the Schiller.

Overall rating - 4/5

Pictures
Instrument in case

Case

Front of euphonium

Back of euphonium

Close up of valves

JamStands Trombone Stand - Review

Recently I received a JamStands Trombone Stand from Ultimate Support. This trombone stand is a typical in-bell stand common among most players. This stand has proven its self very well in my testing of it.

I have been using this stand for awhile now, including youth orchestra rehearsals and a two day band clinic. So This stand has gotten plenty of use.

Design  - The design of this trombone stand seems fairly basic, however they have taken an attention to detail which makes this stand nice. First of all, the section where the bell meets the stand is contoured to the shape of a bell, much like a mandrel. This increases the surface area that the bell rests on and will distribute the force of any disturbance much more safely. There is also a spring below the resting area which is a bit looser than most others I've used, but it still does its job nicely. The tripod at the bottom is very efficient and appears to be very durable. The height of the stand is also adjustable  providing a rather compact size for transport and a reasonable range of heights for use.

Design rating - 4/5

Stability - For an in-bell trombone stand, I found this stand to have very good stability. While the tripod is not too wide, it does its job very well and provides a fair amount of stability. Of course, with any in-bell stand, it can be rather unstable if you were to accidentally knock it in a direction not over any of the tripod legs.

Stability rating - 4/5

Mobility - This stand performs about on par in the mobility department. The stand collapses down rather nicely into a compact package. It is very easy for me to carry both my trombone case and this stand in the same hand. It is also a fairly lightweight stand. Because it is also very easy to set up and take down, it makes a great in-bell stand for any gig.

Mobility rating - 3.5/5

Pros

• Price
• Basic, proven design
• Nice contact point between bell and stand
• Durable and stable

Cons

• In some directions the stand is not too stable
• Although its on par with most stands, mobility leaves something to be desired

Price - $19.99 from most stores such as wwbw.com

Overall - This stand is a good in-bell trombone stand. It is also a great price performer. Unless you want to spend more than 60 or 70 bucks, I would be hard pressed to find a better, widely available, in-bell trombone stand. I would definitely recommend the JamStands Trombone Stand to anyone looking for an in-bell trombone stand. This will become my main stand for my alto trombone.

Overall - 4/5

Pictures

(Note I use a sock on all my in-bell stands to further help prevent damage to the bell, the use of the sock does not reflect on any particular experience with the JamStands Trombone Stand)

Upper Mechanism of the Stand:

Amati ASL-601 Eb Alto Trombone on the Stand:

Bach Stradivarius 42BO on the Stand

Trombone Stand by Laurel - Review

Recently, I received a Trombone Stand by Laurel from musicstandsalone.com. This is their version of a basic, traditional "in-bell" trombone stand. I have been pleased with this stand.


I have used this stand at my youth orchestra rehearsal as well as a church rehearsal and performance. I have tested the stand in different settings so I could get a full view of its strengths and weaknesses.


Design - The design of this stand is a basic in-bell trombone stand. at the top there is a cap (feels like plastic), a round dome for for even weight distribution of the trombone, a spring, and a metal ring for adjusting the height of the dome. The spring is a nice feature as it allows a bit of give to the dome so that it helps absorb the shock of placing the instrument on the stand. The stand is also telescoping, and can extend very far vertically. My only concern with the design is that the feet of the tripod are almost horizontal. While it feels stable enough, I'm not sure how well it would hold up if someone walking were to accidentally step on it. The legs are low enough that I could easily see someone accidentally stepping on it while trying to get back to their seat for rehearsal.


Design - 3/5


Stability - This stand has decent stability. When the stand is at its lowest level, the center of gravity appears to be very close to the floor, and therefore is completely stable. However, when the stand is fully extended, there is significantly less stability. Again, I must bring up that I'm not sure how this stand would hold up to an accidental step.


Stability (low) - 4/5
Stability (extended) - 2/5


Mobility - This stand on par with others here in my opinion. The stand collapses down to a very manageable size. I can easily carry this stand in the same hand that I carry my trombone case in as my hand easily fits around both the stand and the case handle. Definitely a stand you can bring with you to any performance or rehearsal.


Mobility rating - 3.5/5


Pros:


Price


Basic, proven design


Spring helps prevent damage when placing the instrument on the stand


Cons:


Unsure about the durability of the legs


Not too stable when extended.


Price: $23.99 from musicstandsalone.com 


Overall - This is a great trombone stand for the price! As long as you are not careless with where you leave it or how tall you make it, I'm sure it will last a long time. I'm also sure that as long as you are cautious, you will not damage your trombone using this stand. Overall, this is a very good trombone stand for the money and I would be fairly comfortable using it often for my trombones.


Overall rating - 3/5


Pictures (note, I use a sock on any in-bell trombone stand so as to further protect the bell)
Upper Mechanism of stand:



42BO on stand

ASL-601 on stand

Stand at full height (NOT RECOMMENDED!)

Steinway and Sons iPod Metronome - Review

Recently, a friend told me about a free iPod metronome app after I was complaining that the one I had been using was not reliable. It frequently skipped and when I tested it with a stopwatch and other metronomes, the time was just plain wrong. The app he recommended I use is a free metronome app from Steinway and Sons (yes, the famous piano maker). Once I downloaded this app and opened it, I could tell that this metronome was not your typical iPod metronome.

Aesthetics - The first thing that struck me about this app was how classy it looked. Now, I know its only a screen but still they put a lot into making this look like a very classy app. If you go to the settings button in the lower right hand corner you can pick the type of wood finish you want! I personally prefer the Macassar Ebony since I've always been partial to dark woods.

Aesthetics rating - 5/5

Accuracy - Lets face it, this is the most important feature of a metronome. If your metronome can't give the correct tempo its of no use to you whatsoever. I have tested this with a stop watch (at tempos of 60, 120, and 180 bpm) and have found it to be accurate for the three minutes I timed it for. I have also tested against other metronomes (online and my Boss TU-80 tuner/metronome) and have found it to be just as accurate.

Accuracy - 5/5

Ease of Use - This metronome has two functions: Manual tempo and Tap tempo. The manual tempo is just like a typical metronome. It has a dial in the center which tells you your current tempo, a start button, a mute button, and a scrolling screen at the top with visual cues. Turning the iPod on its side changes the screen to the full screen scrolling visual cue. The second function is tap tempo. This allows you to click the middle button along with a piece in order to determine the tempo. This feature is very helpful for figuring out what tempo to set the metronome to. It eliminates a lot of trial and error for tempo settings. My only complaint is that the dial is sometimes hard to get to the exact tempo that you want and there is no keypad to type in the tempo.

Ease of Use rating - 4/5

Overall - This has been what I have been searching for! Now I can have a reliable metronome with me wherever I go. It's just as accurate as a typical metronome yet is on my iPod. Both the manual and tap tempos work extremely well and the classy look of this app makes this metronome a joy to use!

Overall - 5/5

Manual tempo screen

Tap Tempo Screen

Scrolling Full Screen

Wood Finish Options

Monette Prana TT-4L - Review

About three weeks ago, I decided (after much thinking) to buy a Monette Prana TT-4L mouthpiece. There is a lot of controversy surrounding these mouthpieces. However, I was coming from a Megatone mouthpiece, so I wanted the extra mass that a Monette standard weight offers. Also, I already played with the postures which the Acclimation Guide suggests.

Shipping/First Impressions - When I received the mouthpiece, the packing job was incredible. The mouthpiece was housed inside a rather large box (for a mouthpiece anyways) with packing peanuts on the inside, and the mouthpiece itself was tightly wrapped in bubble wrap. I was very impressed by the security of the shipping apparatus. The shipping time was also very impressive. Upon taking out the mouthpiece, It is a very different looking mouthpiece. compared to most mouthpieces it is short and wide. Also, because of the extra large throat, it is actually possible for me to drop a pencil though the mouthpiece!

Shipping - 5/5

Design/Size - The mass of this mouthpiece is incredible. I couldn't believe the mass of it the first time I picked it up. I was looking for a mouthpiece that was a bit larger than the 5G I had been using. Switching to the TT-4L is about the equivalent of switching to a Bach 4G. This mouthpiece suits me very well. As noted above, the design is very different than a standard mouthpiece. I find that intonation does slightly improve with this mouthpiece over a standard one. However, 4th line F on my 42BO is still consistently about 10-15 cents sharp. One other thing I have to note on here is the gold plating. I've never played on a gold plated mouthpiece before, but I have found that it gives a surface with which I can improve my lip flexibility and make smoother embouchure adjustments.

Design - 4.5/5

Slotting - Wow! This mouthpiece makes many partials much wider for performers, and therefore allows for better slotting. The pesky 7th partial is much easier using my Monette than any other mouthpiece I've used. However, this is a double edged sword because, should you hit the wrong partial, it takes more work to get back to the right partial.

Slotting - 5/5

Tone - Tone quality on Monettes is an interesting topic. As the performer, the feedback you get seems a bit airy and not as focused. However, set up a mic 20-30 feet away and record yourself and you'll find that the Monette has much more presence and is not airy at all. The sound is actually better at a distance than it is in the performer's ear.

Tone - as performer: 3/5 for listener: 5/5

Pros:

• Tone quality as listener
• Easier slotting
• Dynamics
• Very open feel
• Innovative design

Cons:

• Cost
• Feedback as performer
• Harder to quickly adjust partials if you hit the wrong note

Overview - Monette mouthpieces have a very distinctive and innovative design. They improve tone quality, dynamic range, and intonation for those who have a strong buzz. They cost a lot but think of it this way, reed players spend a ton of money on replacing reeds whereas our mouthpieces last for many, many years if properly taken care of. 

Overall - 4.5/5 (cost is major factor for most)

A note about Monette - Their customer service is simply amazing! I contacted them at probably the busiest time of the year (Christmas) and received speedy, informative, helpful replies. They went above and beyond answering my questions and all responses were written by musicians who truly knew what they were talking about. Great job, Monette!

Here is the Monette TT-4L next to a Bach 5G Megatone and a Bach 6 1/2 AL.

Boss TU-80 - review

I have been using a Boss TU-80 Tuner/Metronome combination for the past year or so. Here are my impressions.

Metronome - Very reliable metronome function on the TU-80. The tempo range is from 30-220 bpm. The increments are in steps of 1 bpm. This means that it can handle any tempo in its range. It also has several subdivisions including eighths, triplets, and sixteenth notes. You can also change time signatures on it, but let's be honest, most of us just use the accented beat. The metronome feature is simple, basic, and great.

Metronome Rating - 4/5

Tuner - Overall the tuner function is decent. It is chromatic as one should expect for a band tuner. For middle and upper ranges this tuner is great. It gives almost instant response and is very sensitive go minor pitch change. However, I'm not impressed with this tuner while I'm in the low register. This tuner is very slow to respond for low pitches, especially below the staff. Often times I will be basically out of breath by the time the note registers, let alone have enough air to make the appropriate adjustments. Because low register is what I need to tune most, this tuner is not too effective for me.

Tuner Rating - 3/5

Overall - This tuner/metronome combination is a great basic metronome, be rather lacking in the tuner area. The device is also a bit large a rather basic package. However, the casing is durable and tough. It has survived several drops as well as quite a few performances in my marching band uniform.

Overall rating - 3/5

Cost - $24.99

Protec Music Stand - Review

Recently, I purchased a Protec Deluxe Music Stand (Standard Desk) and decided to write a review on it. I've used quite a few stands through the school system and other musicians who play in my small ensembles.

Design - This Protec stand is designed very well. It is a 1 piece assembly, however it is not much larger (if any) than the standard two piece assembly that most personal music stands use. I was also very impressed at the light weight of this stand. When I picked it up, with the one piece assembly and tough looking materials I was expecting a fairly heavy stand, but that is the complete opposite of reality. Also, the stand is very stable and does not feel as if it will tip over easily. There are also two adjustable metal bars on either end of the stand to hold your pages down should you be playing from a book.

Design Rating - 5/5

Mobility - Included with your purchase of the stand is a handy carrying case. This case should be helpful to anyone walking in with several cases (When I get to performances I typically have my tenor trombone, euphonium, stand, trombone stand, and sometimes my alto trombone). Also, as I mentioned before, the weight on this stand is great. Because this stand is only one piece, it is much easier to travel with as you don't have to worry about two parts damaging each other... or worse losing one of the pieces.

Mobility Rating - 5/5

Pros
1 Piece design which collapses down very well
very stable
comes with carrying case

Cons
Costs more than most stands

Overview - This is one of the best personal music stands on the market. This stand is stable, lightweight, collapsible, and mobile. While this stand may cost a bit more than most stands, I think this stand will prove to be very durable and well worth the extra money.

Overall rating - 5/5

Price - $33.95

Hercules Trombone Stand - Review

I have used a Hercules Trombone Stand for the past two or three years. This stand is great in my opinion so I decided to do a full review on it.

Design - I love the design of this trombone stand. It is far from a standard "in the bell" trombone stand. The Trombone itself rests on the braces of the handslide. This is close to how the instrument is supported when its in your hands. Also, there is no risk of damaging the bell while placing it or removing it from the stand. The width of the slots can be adjusted easily by a simple mechanism on the stand. This means it can fit student models through the wide slide on my 42BO! However, it does not fit my alto trombone. This also makes for a very stable resting position as there is no extra room for the trombone to wobble.

Design rating - 5/5

Mobility - This stand has a tripod bottom which can be collapsed without adding any extra length to the stand. The stand itself is not that heavy, but it can be a bit bulky to carry around. Especially in a backpack.

Mobility rating - 4/5

Before you read the pros and cons, let me make it clear that the "cons" are what provide many of the reasons of why I love this stand. This stand sacrifices some of the convenience for "in-bell" stands but in return gives much more saftey and stability. Considering we spend so much on our instruments shouldn't we do everything we can to keep them safe, even if it means some small sacrafices?

Pros:
New, innovative design
Low/no risk of damaging instrument while using it
Very stable
Durable

Cons:
Takes a bit longer to place/remove from stand
Would be nice if it collapsed a bit more

Overview - This stand is not your typical "in the bell" trombone stand. The trombone is easy to insert and remove, yet the instrument is completely secure while resting. The trombone also does not rest perpendicular to the ground but rather at an angle. I prefer this stand to any other that I have tested out

Overall rating - 5/5

Price: $29.20 from Band Geek