The Plastic Trombone - Review and Comparison 

Thanos trombone

My father was a superb trombonist. At his funeral last winter, his casket was accompanied out of the chapel by The Acrobat, played live by a quartet holding back their tears. The resultant bum notes on this difficult piece were entirely appropriate and everyone understood. My sister and I decided it should be this piece accompanying him; it was on his music stand, as the last thing he practiced.

My inner Trombonist screamed when he dropped the plastic trombone although I knew it was just fine.

Thinking about it, the plastic instruments would also be amazing for high school marching band, especially if you get them in colors to match the school's own colors. Plus in cold parades (Christmas/New year's in North America) the plastic mouthpiece wouldn't freeze to the lips like my 6 1/2 AL did.

most everyone ive seen playing plastic trombones use standard mouthpieces rather than the plastic trombone, it helps a little bit with the overall airy sound

I tend to use my plastic trombone if I'm playing outside in the cold, I also use a metal mouthpiece with it. I think it's great for doing performances that don't necessarily require being extremely precise and in tune. Great review!

6:41 he plays it

The P-Bone plastic Trombones are pretty good, my band teacher has one and it's sounds pretty good tune-wise, but you can hear the difference in sound from a normal brass one.

If anyone is looking to buy a plastic trombone or trumpet, I highly recommend the pBone/pTrumpet. They are very good quality and produce good sound as long as you use a metal mouthpiece. I have never tried the Tromba brand, but pBone is better than every other plastic instrument I have tested.

you need a plastic contrabass trombone

...Smudged together in ...exquisite harmony... ...Vice-like fingers... ...Yeah! - Nice & springy! Excellent - I enjoy your prose. Thank -you. Tom

I have one of these in blue, but its brand is pBone and it looks identical to that one. I only use it for practice so that I don’t have to carry my brass one back and forth to school, and I agree with everything in this video. I will say that theoretically you and all of your friends could get them in different colors and then switch out the pieces and make rainbow instruments!

You should do a video on a marching baritone

you should try to switch mouthpieces on each of them to see how they sound

Love your analysis and especially how you explain it. Informative and ENTERTAINING! 😎

You should try out the tiger plastic trombone, it has a proper f attachment, and I have yet to see a real review.

Thank you Trent. Great review. My 6 year old daughter picked up a P Bone tonight for the first time, and as a woodwind teacher I'm out of my depth, but my gut instinct tells me any plastic instrument can take a bit of a beating, so it was fantastic to have that confirmed. 👍🏻

I Love all your videos. I find them enjoyable and i appreciate the fact that you make them.

As always, Trent - your reviews are both a mine of practical info, AND greatly entertaining, too! :))

Chinese or Indian brass instruments: imitations of functional instrument plastic trombone/trumpet/tuba: viable instruments only limited by the plastic material very impressed at how the plastic instruments are quite good for their price point. not toy horns at all but weight-saving alternatives to heavier brass and very affordable for a new instrument.

I rocked one of these for a few months when I started learning. Definitely glad to be on a real horn now

The "f attachment" horn looked like a knockoff Conn.

Very entertaining review of the Plastic and Cheap trombone. I have a Jean Baptiste Plastic trombone. I used sandpaper on the slide to smooth it out. It worked a little. The slide is smoother. But is still is a plastic horn that has no life in the bell. I like the final moment when you flipped it out of your hand.

Superb description. I work with 'bone' players who use the plastic one in precisely the same "risky" situations but keep their Olds with a fluted slide, or their KIngs, serious machine for serious and more secure situations. However, I am also reminded of the old adage that a good musician can make more out of a lousy instrument than a beginner or an impostor can with a $8,000 work of art! Great Video.. Thank you.

I started out in 4th grade with a Yamaha. Ended up with a Bach Bass trombone. This is a good starter instrument and easy maintenance.

A single light wipe of coconut oil would do wonders for the fluidity and sound of the slide on that plastic trombone. It would be silent and handle a lot better. I was actually quite surprised in how it sounded.

I played a pbone brand plastic trombone when I started playing the trombone, it served me very well for a couple of years and I managed to get a very decent sound out of it.

Even with the friction noise of the slide, it would probably be good for a junior marching band - especially for the inevitable dropping of the instrument on the parade ground.

Thanks Trent. I trust your opinions on this stuff more than anybody else I know. Am looking to pick up a cheap trom now that I am not regularly playing out so this kind of thing may be perfect

I bought a pBone for my son for beginning band (6th grade) and he just couldn't get it to sound. I had allowed him to take my classic Conn to get started while waiting for the right opportunity to come along. This took about 5 weeks and he had developed a decent sound. Once it arrived, he tried it for several days but, since he started playing on a Conn "real" trombone, he was used to how free a quality instrument plays. After his experience, I really compared them and the pBone felt less resonant and more restrictive. I can make the pBone sound pretty good but, it was too much effort for a beginner student. Add in the less than ideal slide and it was holding him back more than helping. I love the concept of the plastic instruments!! Their greatest strength is they can be abused without concern and are very inexpensive. However, I feel the pBone would be best for students who are a little more seasoned - at least a year or two. They'd be great HS marching band instruments.

the plastic trombone sounds better than my beginner bands trombones also they can't play and we have been playing for about 1 school year

really enjoy Trent's videos. very educational and amusing, as if he's somehow channeling Alfred Hitchcock!

I've been learning trombone on a Sam Ash Jean Baptiste pvc bone - if you gently knock down the high spots on the plastic part of the inner slide with say 320 grit wet-dry sandpaper and then hit it with 1000 & 2000 grit while wet and lube & spray it'll be smoother and quieter.

Purple plastic trombone was the name of my metal band in high school

I work in a warehouse with other musicians and considered buying one of these so i dont put my brass horn in harms way. Your review has solidified my decision

This was the first kind of trombone I've ever played. Nostalgia coming at me

Hmm, both trombones sound the same to me. That's very interesting.

I have a Pbone and Ptrumpet and am quite happy with the sound and quality...even having previously had a Bach Strad trumpet.... I couldn’t afford it at this point in life..... I also have non plastic cheap instruments....flute and clarinet...and they are decent..... Decent affordable options to get into music, especially if you have kids that change their mind (or like me having to play every instrument)

I had one of the Eastman Shires horns, and it played pretty well. My Massachusetts Shires is all kinds of better, but it wasn't a bad horn. There were issues, like the water key just breaking in half, but slide, bell, axial valve, all worked fine. I haven't played a pBone, but the idea wears on me.

Im not even that big on instruments, and this is somehow enthralling to me. Well done!

You should really try a Pbone Trombone, or those series of instruments, my band teacher has some and they are pretty good, I'd love to see a video like this @Trent Hamilton!

Worth noting (and I hope others already have) is that the PBone's slide is carbon fiber, which is why it's sturdy and light enough to be usable. ALSO: Mine wasn't glued strongly enough between the slide "handle" and the outer slide, so it launched off the end when playing. Bad, right? But fixing it was super-easy: just a dab of glue, and it's been good ever since. Much easier and safer to fix than silver-soldering a regular brasswind (which I've done enough over the years).

Heyyyy another Trent!

Brilliant explanation, i love it 100%. I think you are really an expert.,

your videos stop me from my Eb bass practice x

Love the comparison videos. Had to admit I laughed when, the moment you dropped the tromba, RU-vid launched into a "Testosterone" advertisement. Unintended comedy?

In my estimation, you were able to play the cheap metal one more in tune than the plastic one. I heard similar tuning issues in a review of the plastic Ptrumpet. We're all aware trombone tuning depends on precisely positioning the slide; nonetheless, I've heard tuning issues on both plastics.

I have a blue pbone. It's actually pretty good overall. I usually use it as a spare

That plastic will end up floating in the Pacific Ocean.

I think the pbone has its place in practicing because its so light and comfortable to play. That being said it sounds like a trombone but does not resonate like brass. A cheap $200 student model trombone on amazon sounds better. Wont play better but the brass will resonate like brass. People wont be able to tell if you're practicing on a plastic trombone vs a brass one if you're at home or just a hobbyist.

I've thought for some time that my moped doesn't make enough noise. I've decided to have someone sitting on the back giving it absolute full screaming volume on a trombone. This will be a simple yet effective answer.

My take: if some parent has a kid who wants to learn the trombone get him/her one of these and if the kid shows promise then spring for a good one.

Out of curiosity, is it okay to place horns bell-down like the ones on the table behind you? I've always been trained and told to never do it because it can bend the bell back, and even seen the evidence in many horns (unless there's another cause I'm unaware of).

Few years ago got a second hand pBone for street band playing, I also had the misfortune of buying a cheap new “stenberg” or something, both cost $120AUD the slide on the Chinese one was the worst ever, go the plastic, or get a used student one with decent slide, but I did that too, King tempo 306,bell cracked when practicing!

Impressed...the plastic one actually has somewhat of a characteristic sound

i love his sarcasm

Bought one and I love it. I used the Yamaha lube on the metal part at the end of the inner tube and been using it for a month. It's sliding pretty smoothy down to the 5th position, It's bit more grippy on the low notes but I don't play them as often so it might have to do with that part not being broken in enough, I dunno. No one has complained about the sound sounding too plastic yet. It's my first trombone so I don't have the reference of playing a brass one but so far so good. I will try a metallic mouth piece next week see if that changes anything ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don't even play trombone and when he waved it around like that I cringed so hard

I play mainly guitars and keys, but am looking to delve into the brass world - after a little playing around I find I'm much more comfortable with producing a sound on a trombone than a trumpet, but still am not good at all - would you recommend this or something similar as something to play around with?

Eternal grinning at the place and context where the word 'slide cream' was used. Also, it seems that the new Tromba Pro Trombones have the entire inner slide made out of brass, in order to address the 'black shavings' issue some people complained about with the first version.

my band teacher has a one of these

Dropped it, he just threw it on the floor... Im in bits on the floor right now... Made my day... Thanks ;)

does anyone know if theres a Trent Hamilton for saxophones?

Thanks Trent! Ive always wondered about thd quality of the chinese knock offs. You should try one of those euphoniums from India next.

Would u recommend buying this for a low budget band?

At my school we have a blue and red Pbones and I enjoy playing them

Would you recommend this (or if not this brand, any other brand) for someone in the high school marching band? Is it worth it? Are the trombones that are held together by friction a large risk in such an environment? If so, are there any brands that do screw together and are _they_ worth it?

I wish I had come to the first day of band much earlier. I would have picked either the trumpet or trombone. Instead, I was stuck with a snare drum which I was very displeased with. Though having the entire freshmen class forced into band didn't do much for motivation either.

I have a pBone plastic trombone and an extremely difficult time lubricating it. Water doesn't seem to work, neither oil. It only slides well if I don't play it for a few weeks. It seems to slide best when not moist. Does the water work just fine for you, Trent?

Trent, Is that Plastic Trombone made by the same company as the P trumpet? Do you know if they make a plastic euphonium or baritone yet? My baritone's getting to heavy to carry anymore!

Could you do some reviews on pocket trumpets? I have a Jean Baptiste pocket trumpet that I am actually quite fond of.

11:52 to 12:37 had me cracking up for a while!

Does the trombone work as an alarm clock?

Do the tiger plastic trombone please. It is a plastic f attachment trombone

I guess I would consider one of those plastic trombone especially if I was in a marching band competition in the middle of a demolition crash derby.

Is that a clarinet case in the back?

I preferred the fuller, soft sound of the plastic one. I have a plastic trumpet and I never play it. I don't know exactly why. Perhaps because it feels "alive". It has a certain rounded color and that's it. It's not that it's ugly though.

Any way I can know where you got that craptastic metal trombone? I like to subject myself to various measures of pain on an occasional basis. Also if you have an interest in quadro-type trombones, Tromba has made an obscure jazzbone model.

You should review the new Tige plastic trombone, it sounds way way waay better than this *thing*. The other tiger instruments are also amazing

Thanks for your videos. Question: in 1971 I purchased a Selmer radial trumpet, an instrument I've always thought was pretty good. Seems like the radial valve idea should have caught on, but it evidently didn't. In fact I've never since run across another trumpet that had radial valves, so it must not have been one of Selmer's better ideas. Thoughts?

When you played on the metal one I noticed a difference without looking

I've hear rather good reviews of the plastic ptrombones and ptrumpets. Have you looked into those?

i can hear a little bit of stuffiness with the plastic, but that's really just a taste thing - its not very significant of a difference. the plastic is surprisingly resonant. what really surprised me were how good plastic trumpets and tubas sound. i dont think theyre an even trade on sound, but a great tradeoff for applications like you're talking about

Could you review the pTrumpet in comparison to a brass trumpet?

I need one of these.

Whats the name of the song he plays with both the plastic and normal trombone starting at 8:50 ? The song sounds really good but he doesn't say the name :(

I remember I went to band camp last year and the director was yelling at the blue trombone for not being able to play

You sound more advanced on the plastic because it sounds more in tune and any harsh articulations are washed away. You should consider using that plastic bell with a decent metal slide and a plastic mouthpiece. At least that's what I'm considering. Using the plastic slide around kids. Using the plastic bell when using a clip on microphone.

To me, the metal trombone sounds a little better, although not much. I think I'd go for a good name used 'bone. In fact I just ordered a Buescher Aristocrat. Probably a late model Selmer. I'll know more when it arrives. I looked on Amazon and found an ABS trombone with carbon fiber slide material and an F attachment for US$200. Might not be a bad toy if I were looking for something new and a little hard to kill. By the way, I've seen the unique qualities of a green clarinet. What special abilities does a black trombone give you?

I picked up the tiger the valve sticks easy and the spring on the spit valve is strong and the plastic is cheap so my spit valve has snapped off 2x. The glue on the bell is cheap and came undone. I just stick with the pbone. The only plus is it is a large bore.

You should do a review of the tiger plastic trombone! Those have the trigger

I use my uncle's old trombone in middle school. 30 year old trombones don't have the rubber tab at the end. That on top of about 10 years of prior use before me means that the end of the slide is littered with dents. My slide also has tons of bends. Yet I'm the best trombone in class. Btw any tips on how to make everyone else better?

I brought an allora. I have to admit I love it, but don't consider a trombone. It's the sound I want when I use a mute. Like using a mute the tuning is different. The slide takes more thought, but it's not great. I like it. Won't replace my trombone. But as a player that uses a microphone anyway, it's fine.

I play Trombone and I love playing Trombone

can confirm these are durable. source: played these at football games in the stands which involves getting lots of love taps and various abuses. Plus applied spray paint for weird patterns for fun and also random stickers as the years had gone on. Now it has been resigned to its fate of resting in its case for a long time possibly forever. However I can't bear to part with the piece of shit XD. has a lot of great memories attached to it and it's absurd war camo and stickers. If you are in a highschool band that plays at football games or anything like that, get a pbone. and then feel free to customize. it sounds decent and wont suffer from your customization, within reason. Should provide a lot of great memories.

@11:48 is it safe to say that's the first drop test you've done?

Does it come with a case or do you have to have a separate case

Where did you buy the cheap Chinese made one?

I much prefer like in other videos you have made, where you post the music on the screen for us to follow along. Wish you had done that here as well. Hope you choose to edit your videos with the music score for us to see as you play along in future Videos.

What do u do with these instruments because I want a plastic trombone