John Packer JP031 Bb Medium Bore Tenor Trombone Lacquer

Great quality for the price and speedy delivery. My 15 year old loves the sound and look

This is very light in weight compared to my Mirrage Trombone. Because of this fact it is not as full and warm a sound. But the sound is good and the trombone good quality. The slide was hard work to clean and lubricate and took a few cleans but then this is standard for a brand new trombone. I ended up giving mine a complete bath and running a snake down the outer slide. I then used the rod with a slide-o-mix mop to make sure it was completely dry before using superslick 2 step cream and oil. Wiping the inner slide after each application of each. Then spraying the slide, wiping the inner slide again after running the outer slide on it a few times. Then sprayed the slide again and run the outer on it. Perfect! Smooth and fast. It came sounding like it had grit in it. So make sure you clean it, completely dry it and lubricate it properly before thinking that it may have something wrong. I've bought a number of trombones and they have all sounded like that and not been super speed slidey!!The counter balance is positioned well for beginners but also for my silent brass practice mute which is heavy in the bell. It helps balance the trombone comfortably. The tuning slide was and still is quite stiff but I'm hoping it will improve. It was not as bad after the bath and greese which came with the instrument, but I have to admit to abandoning the stuff it came with and cleaning it to put the good old vasilene on it like my teacher told me to do way back when at school. Still better than the greeses out there.The water key looks as though it could have been put further round so the cork pad covers the hole at its' centre but it is only just managing to cover the hole, with the deep impression imbedded so close to the edge in one place I had to check for any possible air leaks. I have none that I can find.I didn't get on with the mouthpiece it came with. No idea why. Maybe because I already play on a DW 7Cs (short shaft) but I did try play with the new mouthpiece. There didn't seem anything wrong with it, just my being used to a different one.I do recommend that the stap stopping the case from opening need cut off or you may find the case moves round onto the lid a bit too must and the mouthpiece takes a dive from its holder..... or maybe don't use the mouthpiece holders but a case in the pocket or space provided for cloths down by the bell. I chose to cut mine off because I'm a cheap skate about buying mouthpiece holders and cases.I would also recommend getting a neck strap/nech protector. This is usually a leather strap that goes round the tube that rests on your neck. You can get them for your areas your hands will touch a lot too. These all protect the lacquer. The trombone I had as a kid lost its lacquer at the kneck area and I was then suffering a green neck after a long concert. Lol. It will also reduce the shock of cold brass against a warm neck in the winter.Lastly, go to a shop if possible and test out mouthpieces to find the right one for you, even if you end up deciding the one it came with is the right one after all.This is a good starter trombone and maybe even beyond beginner as I am intermediate at the very least.

Lovely instrument,feels really good quality.very happy,would recommend.

Excellent value for money.