Trombone Price Guide: Current Values & Sales

Trombones are sold in three broad levels. Student models are built to be durable and easy to play. Step-up, or intermediate, horns add a better slide and often an F attachment, which lowers the range of the instrument. Professional trombones use larger bores, hand-finished parts and custom options, and they carry the highest prices.

The figures here are retailer listings from Sweetwater, Alamo Music, Hickey's and Chuck Levin's. A trombone sold as an outfit includes a case and mouthpiece, which matters when you compare it with a bare horn. Prices also vary by lacquer, bell material and whether the retailer is running a sale.

A student horn is the right starting point for most beginners, and school band programs often recommend one or two specific models. Yamaha's student trombone is a common pick, and Jupiter models appear on many band lists. The table shows what retailers charge for several student models, including a valve trombone, which uses piston valves in place of a slide and suits trumpet or euphonium players moving to trombone.

The least expensive model in the table is the Tromana TB300. Lower-priced plastic and imported horns exist, but check the build quality, because a horn with poor intonation or a sticky slide makes learning harder.

Players who stay with the instrument for a few years usually upgrade to an intermediate model. The Bach TB200B is a step-up tenor with an F attachment, and at both Hickey's and Chuck Levin's it lists at $3,090. Chuck Levin's shows a higher manufacturer list price beside it, so the retail figure may reflect a discount.

An F attachment adds tubing and a rotary valve, which extends the low range and makes some passages easier to play. It also adds weight and cost. Not every player needs one, and many school and community ensembles do not require it.

Professional horns are where prices separate from the student level. Retailers list the Conn 88H and the Bach Stradivarius 42BO, two long-established orchestral models, at several times the price of a student horn. Silver plating and special wraps raise the price further.

Buyers at this level usually try several horns, because slide feel and tone vary between individual instruments. Many dealers allow in-store trials, and some offer trade-in or rental credit toward a purchase.

Renting suits beginners who are unsure whether they will continue. Many music stores and school programs run rental plans, and some apply rental payments toward a later purchase. Ask about this before you sign.

Buying new gives you a warranty and a known condition. Buying used can lower the cost, particularly for step-up and professional horns, where a good used instrument can cost far less than a new one. Inspect the slide for dents and corrosion, test the water key and, if you are not sure, bring an experienced player or a teacher. A dented slide is expensive to repair.

• Mouthpiece: student outfits include one, but many players upgrade later.
• Case or gig bag: included with outfits, sold separately with some horns.
• Slide oil or cream and a cleaning snake
• Mutes, if the band or ensemble uses them
• A music stand and method book

Bore size, bell size and material, the quality of the slide and whether the horn has an F attachment all matter. A one-piece bell costs more than a two-piece. Brand also counts: horns from the major makers hold their value better on the used market. Lacquer and plating change the price within a single model, as the silver-plated 42BO shows.