Best Valved Trombone: 5 Models of Top Brands 2023

Trombone players looking for the perfect valved trombone in 2023 have a dizzying array of options to choose from. With a range of different manufacturers and models available, choosing the right one can be daunting. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at five of the best-valved trombones on the market today, exploring their features, specifications, and suitability for all levels – from students to professionals.

What Is The Best Valved Trombone?

There are many options to choose from when it comes to valve trombones. However, the best valve instrument is subjective and depends on the player’s preferences and needs.

That being said, two options stand out for their exceptional quality and reputation in the music industry. The Conn Selmer King Legend is popular among jazz musicians due to its rich jazz sound and excellent mechanics. On the other hand, the Yamaha YSL-354V valve trombone boasts exceptional Japanese quality and top-notch materials.

Whatever your preference may be, investing in a quality valve trombone can greatly enhance your trombone playing and help you achieve the sound and performance you desire.

If you’re struggling to find the motivation to practice the trombone, you may want to read about the 13 Best Trombone Players of All Time and their biographies, which feature magnificent music pieces.

Yamaha YSL-354V Valve Trombone

Features

• Two keys available: Bb and C
• Medium bore: 0.500″
• Yellow brass one-piece 8″ bell
• Clear lacquer finish
• Inner slider chrome-plated nickel silver
• One-piece brass Outer slide and slide lock
• Large shank 48 mouthpiece
• Detachable balance weight
• Case included
• 5 years warranty

Overview

The YSL-354V Bb valve trombone by Yamaha produces a rich and noble tone like a regular trombone. The medium bore allows for easy tone generation while providing a quick and sensitive response with smooth action and increased resonance. This is an ideal choice for intermediate-level players and those who are not familiar with the positions of a slide trombone. The brass core is balanced and has a precise diameter, resulting in an airtight chamber and making it very playable as a valve trombone.

This trombone has an option for a C key for adding more slide positions. When you press the trigger, the extra tubing is bypassed, and the valve trombone produces C and F in the first position, similar to an F-attachment. If you don’t use the valve, the instrument plays in Bb like a regular trombone. This allows you to play the outer position notes F, E, C, and B natural with less effort.

Pricing

Wrap up

The Yamaha YSL-354 trombone has an excellent tone that can be used for various types of music. It is perfect for those who play multiple instruments or for high school jazz band trombone players. It is lightweight and with C-Attachment, it has the C and B keys located in 1st and 2nd positions, making it a great choice even for smaller beginners and students.

Bach V16

Features

• .485″ medium bore
• Hand-crafted
• One-piece hand-hammered yellow brass 7.5″ bell
• Small cup 12C mouthpiece
• Lacquer finish
• Deluxe wood shell case

Overview

Vincent Bach utilized his expertise as a musician and engineer to develop brass instruments, such as slide and valve trombones, with outstanding tonal quality. Bach Stradivarius V16 is a medium-small bore trombone accompanied by a shallow mouthpiece, which makes it simpler to play higher notes for longer periods, facilitating practice sessions. Playing high-pitched music on a large bore instrument can be exhausting, which is why smaller bore horns are so loved and popular in jazz music.

Bach V16 valve trombone comes with a small cup 12C mouthpiece, which you don’t necessarily need to switch to a bigger mouthpiece. A larger mouthpiece isn’t always better. This is especially true if you play on a small or medium-bore trombone or if you’re a jazz musician with a medium or small bore horn. The 12C mouthpiece produces a bright and cheerful sound with clear note definition.

A small bell of Bach V16 trombone produces a more focused sound on the fundamental and lower frequency harmonics. It has better sound control and produces a vibrant sound compared to larger bells that require more effort to produce projection and often sound dull and woofy. Smaller bells are ideal for small ensembles and solo performances as such valve trombones produce punchy and clear sounds that are easier to manage.

Pricing

Wrap up

The Bach Stradivarius V16 valve trombone is a professional-level instrument that adheres to Vincent Bach’s original specifications. Three monel pistons, a fixed 3rd slide ring, and an adjustable stop ensure smooth and rapid action allowing quick adjustments. The valve trombone is an excellent choice for tenor trombone players seeking high performance.

Jupiter JTB720V

Features

• Wood-Frame Case
• Key of standard Bb and C available
• 8″ brass or silver-plated bell
• Medium-small bore .482″
• Comes in three finishes and bells: yellow, rose, and silver-plated

Overview

The Jupiter JTB720V valve trombone has three different bells and body materials available, which affect the tone quality and can add the “darkness” effect. The addition of more zinc produces stable brightness at both softer and louder volumes. Whereas yellow bells tend to have a slightly brighter sound, while reddish bells produce a louder sound with lesser effort. When the bell color is towards the gold or rose hues, it indicates a higher concentration of copper, making the bell denser. A denser bell requires more energy to resonate and gives a darker tone.

Jupiter JTB720 features a trigger attachment that activates extra tubing that turns the instrument into a valve trombone pitched in C. C trombones is a type of trombone that produces a C note in its “closed” position. A nickname for the C trombone is the “preacher model” because it makes it easier to play along with ordinary written music of standard music score and therefore play along with the preacher in churches. The player presses the trigger with a thumb to alter the closed note to a B flat.

Pricing

Wrap up

The JTB720VS trombone has an 8-inch yellow brass bell and a nickel-silver outer slide that work together to create a balanced sound with a lively response. The unsoldered bell, which is made from a single piece, produces a broader sound but may be slightly harder to articulate. Jupiter, a brand that has been producing high-quality band instruments since 1980, offers instruments suitable for students at all levels of development.

Stagg TB285 Bb Valve Trombone

Features

• Valve trombone
• 3 Nickelsilver piston valves
• Medium-small bore .499″
• 7.99″ gold brass bell and brass body
• Plastic case with backpack straps
• Small shank 12C mouthpiece
• Clear lacquered

Overview

Stagg is a team of experts who create and customize products, like valved trombones, and find the best factories in the world to achieve their goals in selling the valve trombones. One instrument that can help beginners achieve this sound is the Stagg TB285 Valve Trombone. Durable nickel silver pistons provide its valves with smooth and quick action.

Trombones of a larger bore usually require more work and air. However, the sound and tone can be fuller and more resonant. The medium-small bore, and gold brass bell provide a warm, rich tone that is sure to impress fellow musicians, making the Stagg TB285 valve trombone perfect for any beginner looking to join the trombone section and create beautiful music.

Pricing

Wrap up

Stagg is a team of experts who create and customize products and find the best factories in the world to achieve their goals. If you’re looking for an affordable valve trombone, Stagg’s TB285 tenor trombone is a great option. The valves work well, and the horn is easy to play. Keep in mind that with a valve instrument, you may need to adjust each tuning slide, and some notes may require adjustments to the embouchure.

Whether you’re a trumpet or tuba player, a music student, or a musician looking for another valve horn, Stagg’s well-made TB285 tenor trombone is an available option at a reasonable price.

Conn Selmer King Legend Valve Trombone in Bb 2166

Features

• Perfect for jazz
• Proudly made in Eastlake, Ohio
• Choice of world-known jazz musicians
• .481″ medium-small bore
• 8″ yellow brass bell
• Clear lacquered
• Small cup 12C mouthpiece
• Woodshell case

Overview

Conn Selmer is a well-known musical instrument brand that manufactures instruments of all levels, including students, amateurs, and professionals. The “King” valve trombone is built on the foundation of the renowned King 3B trombone, enhancing its musical qualities as a legendary jazz horn and incorporating a distinctive King valve section.

Yellow brass bell provides a balanced and focused, quick response. A vintage balancer and deluxe-style bell engraving will make you want to play this trombone as much as possible due to its appeal and lightweight construction. Durable Nickel-plated silver pistons respond with quick and smooth action, while a clear lacquer finish gives a subtle warmth to the overall sound.

Pricing

Wrap up

The Conn Selmer King model 2166 is a valve trombone designed for the jazz style. It has been a standard in the jazz community for generations and is ideal for those who want a high-performance tenor valve trombone. There are other brands like Wessex tubas, but they are not really worth considering.

What Are Valve Trombones

A valve trombone is a type of brass instrument made up of three valves and a slide. It looks similar to a regular trombone but has the added advantage of allowing the musician to alter the pitch by adding or subtracting valves. It has longer tubing than a regular trombone and has three piston valves. Typically pitched in B-flat, valve trombone can be used in other keys with the use of valves.

Rising popularity in jazz and other music genres can be attributed to valve trombones, giving musicians more flexibility. It offers a much wider range of notes than a regular trombone, and the player can change pitches quickly and easily, providing greater flexibility to the musician. Valve trombones are an excellent choice for solo performances, especially in jazz and big band genres, and they even can be used for basic orchestra pieces.

What Are The Advantages of a Valve Trombone Over a Slide Trombone?

Valve trombones provide greater articulation, as well as a broader range of notes. This is due to the addition of valves, allowing for more precise control over note duration and dynamics. Pistone valves give a trombone versatility in playing styles, from jazz and classical to Latin and pop music.

The sound of valve trombones is consistent across all notes, resulting in better intonation. This allows musicians to maintain a uniform sound and play softer tones without compromising the tone quality.

Valves enable a seamless transition between low and high registers, which is required to achieve smoother musical performance, particularly when there is a need for increased speed and agility.

Overall, valve trombones offer a range of advantages to players that help them create more dynamic performances. Lightweight construction reduces fatigue for the player due to lighter weight and shorter slide travel and allows easier maintenance due to minimal lubrication requirements.

If you’re also interested in finding good slide trombone options, we’ve picked out the top 7 Best Jazz Trombones for Beginners and Students that Cost Under $1500.

What Other Brass Instruments Use Valves?

The piston valves trombone, while not as common as the slide trombone, is still a popular type of trombone. But valves are not limited to trombones in the world of brass instruments, and other instruments use valves to produce different notes and sounds.

French horns also employ valves to change pitch, and you can often catch these instruments in an orchestra setting. The tuba is another common brass instrument that utilizes valves, and many different types of tubas, such as the baritone and alto, produce their sound similarly.

Some other lesser-known valve brass instruments are worthy of recognition. One such instrument is the baritone, a brass instrument that looks similar to a euphonium but with a larger bore size. The baritone produces a deeper and richer sound, making it a valuable addition to any orchestra. The alto horn is another valve brass instrument that resembles a small tenor horn and is often used in concert band settings.

Here is a list of the Most Reliable Models of Bass Trombones in 2023 that can enhance your music experience and give you a lot of joy.

Conclusion

Our top picks come from the industry’s most trusted and reputable brands, each offering a unique sound and style. From the jazzy and powerful Conn Selmer King Legend to the versatile and adaptable Jupiter JTB720V, these valve trombones provide a range of options for both professionals and avid enthusiasts. The precision and quality of these trombones are what set them apart, making them an excellent investment for any musician seeking the best sound possible.