Test if a magnet sticks to it (betting it won't)

A stainless mouthpiece (e.g. G&W) should survive dropping onto concrete better than a brass one.

It might feel colder on cold days though.

These guys are trumpet specialists. Their website gives some indicative prices for work done...

http://www.charliesbrassworks.com/

He demonstrates heaps of instruments.

I had a look at some of these to see what instrument he can really play.

http://www.youtube.com/user/GordonLaSalleMusic/videos

Haven't figured it out though   

Here's Ian Bousfield at ETW 2012.

Maybe not the interpretation you're looking for but a very entertaining version - he has some fun making life interesting for the accompanist. There are a few blemishes but he was fresh off the plane. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r70c-J8IZp0

I have a recording of him playing bluebells in about 1990, so I guess he's played it a few hundred times.

Ben Griffin's review of the 882OR from 2009

http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=48062.0  

Baltimore Brass are advertising one in stock, "slightly used"

Of course there are the multitude of alternatives in that price range you could / should try as well - e.g. Getzen 4047DS, 4147IB, Rath R400, Kanstul, Courtois, Bach, Conn.

This thread provides a guide to navigating the different models of Yamahas...
http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=66557.0

This is an old thread, but addresses my question exactly:

Anyone know where replacement handles for a Bach Strad case are available ?

What I want is this one (which is shown as out of stock)...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/brass-instruments/bach-flat-handle-for-q1844ha-trumpet-case

dawkes.co.uk list the new style of handle, but not the old one (pricy at Stg 20) 
http://www.dawkes.co.uk/accessories/case+handle+-+strad+cases+-bba1992.html


Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

Sorry to digress, but I've been wondering about this for a while.

My interpretation of what is meant by "stuffy" is that it relates not to how the horn feels but to how it sounds, and that "stuffiness" means a lack of clarity of sound.

Anyone else ?

I had a 645 (yellow bell) and then got a 3B+F (2125).  The King sounds generally brighter, but offers a much wider range of colour. The Yamaha's bigger bell probably has something to do with this. For me, the King won hands down and I didn't see any further use for me for the 645.

However - I have a .547 for a more legit sound. Depending on what/where you want to play, one of the Yamahas could be a better all-rounder for you.

There are various threads on the forum about 0.525s. One thread somewhere describes the 3B+ as a big little horn, whereas the 36 and other .525s as little big horns.  Here's a good thread although you may find it a little, um, cryptic...    http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=6843.0


Check out this old open-horn thread as well. http://openhorn.com/index.php?topic=2515.5

The King 29 seems very well matched to the 5B. 

When I had a 5B I wanted to get a brighter sound in the middle to upper register so tried using a Faxx 5G for a while. It made it sound brighter but also thinner and brought some tuning and double-buzz issues for me.  The 29  felt more in balance with the horn although it required more air and didn't give the sound I was after.

My 5B was slightly older. Conventional large shank mouthpieces would achieve only an acceptable fit in the receiver. The King 29 fits perfectly.

(Footnote: I got the sound I was after by replacing the 5B with a 4B. I kept the King 29 though which I'm still using.)

Dave

Yes it's lots of money for a trombone, (and I'm not trying to talk up prices here) but...

If it's a rare opportunity for something you really want and have the funds available, then its only the same cost as a high-end Yamaha euphonium.  We are lucky that in general trombones are less expensive than other instruments.

Maybe the purchaser sold a spare cello bow to finance it ?


Dave
(currently looking to upgrade my piano, which may have distorted my perspective a little)

Definitely fishy.

Go to trombones on ebay, search for 62HG and it comes up in the search.  If you click on it, it momentarily goes to a legit-looking ebay page then switches to the "lop3ebay.com" page.

The King 29 was standard issue with at least some of the 5Bs and should have the correct taper. There are comments in various threads about how well matched it is to the 5B.

Go to "trombones" on ebay and type in King 29.  There are currently 3 options at a range of prices and condition.

I understand that the Kosikup 1.5 was the standard mouthpiece supplied with with Boosey and Hawkes baritones for many years. Brass band instrument rooms around the world are awash with them.

My 8 year old is using one on a small shank Yamaha euphonium and it works well for that.

I haven't even bothered trying it in a trombone - too small for me.

Dave

Rath don't have a celebrity model - they have a celebrity list.

http://rathtrombones.com/artists/artists.htm

Saw this good looking Elkhart on ebay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elkhart-Conn-88H-Professional-Trombone-N-Series-Exc-Condition-/251241359722?pt=Brass_Instruments&hash=item3a7f26e96a


Hmmmmmm...   88H, Provo Utah

Somehow it reminded me of this old thread...

http://tromboneforum.org/index.php/topic,48676.0/all.html

Anyone know who "thehornpros" is ?

This thread is a good place to start...
http://tromboneforum.org/index.php/topic,59702.0.html

I have a 4BF and a 3B+F  (which is a 0.525 bore). The 3B+ is pretty much able to do what you described your needs as.  I use a big mouthpiece (King 29) on the 4B. I've experimented with smaller mouthpieces (5G) on the 4B but it doesn't get anywhere near the brightness possible on the 3B+F with a 6-1/2 AL. I expect that the 3B+F would work well with a 5GS, which has a larger diameter rim but similar cup.

Also, when I bought the 3B+F, I had a Yamaha 645 (yellow bell) which is similar to the 445G.  In terms of ability to colour the sound, the 645 paled in comparison and I knew almost instantly I didn't have a use for it any more.

Upshot...
If you have no other need for the 4B check out 3B+ if you can find one.  You don't see them for sale very often, but here's one with some character...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/King-3B-X-Trombone-King-2125-Case-893xxx-serial-good-cond-USA-no-reserve-/330881047913?pt=Brass_Instruments&hash=item4d0a0c1d69

Here's a thread discussing mouthpiece options for the 3B+ ...
http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=27338

This is all fascinating discussion, but isn't the humidity of exhaled air reasonably independent of ambient humidity ?

This has been listed a few times, but it seems that no-one has been interested. Start price AU$595, no reserve.

From the pics, condition looks great for its age.

Says it has had slide tubes replaced (I wonder if tube diameter is different to original 0.536 / 0.547)

Says 5B in the auction title, but doesn't appear to say "5B" or "Symphony" on the bell. Maybe someone on TTF can clarify ?   

It's in Australia, but the seller says they will ship internationally.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KING-5B-TROMBONE-/221194182604?pt=AU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments&hash=item3380335fcc