Startone SSL-45 Bb-Tenor Trombone

I've been learning trombone with this instrument for half a year now, and I'm still amazed with the quality for this price. The package also includes a case, slide lubricant, the large needle to clean the tubing and even small white gloves.

The case is of good quality, really holds up well and with no signs of any damage even after half of year using it.

The lubricant is good and usable, but not the best, as slide-o-mix would be better. The needle is also not as convenient as a flexible cleaning cord.

The instrument itself sounds as good as in the demo recordings, the slide is quite noisy and has a very very slight resistance, though. For this price, however, I expected the noise to be louder (it still kind of is) and resistance much harder than it is. Overall, slide works very nice. The golden finish, where the hands are holding the instrument, are already showing wear, and it makes it look older than it is.

The only real problem is the mouthpiece, which should be replaced immediately, as I've shown it to several trombonists and they said it can't be a trombone mouthpiece, maybe from another brass instrument.

All in all, very good small shank trombone for its price, very good case and a bad mouthpiece.