Thomann Jazz Bb- Tenor Trombone

When using a great mouthpiece for jazz purposes, this instrument can sound absolutely great. I primarily use it with a Jet Tone BM and that makes for easy playability and a very good tone, but...

The main question is how much you're willing to pay for not just good, but spectacular tone. I also happen to have Jiggs Whigham's King Legend signature and using the same mouthpiece, you can hardly compare the two instruments. Especially the higher notes are just downright beautiful and gorgeous on the King (it's also much lighter, by the way). The King just blows everything out of the water, but the pricetag is also 10x as much. Considering how this Thomann instrument is rediculously cheap however, it really becomes the question of whether you want to settle for good tone, or that you want legendary tone. That is for you to decide as 'quality' is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, as I thankfully have the financial power, I would absolutely buy the King again, though this relatively impressive Thomann instrument really makes me doubt that decision. Well done on your part, Thomann.

I bought this for a Jazz band where my Bb/F Large bore Tenor is not quite right for the task. First look inside the case I noticed the slide wasn't secured very well by the strap. In fact I could fit my hand as well as the slide under the strap and still have room between my hand and the strap.

My first play was at Jazz band. I got very sore where the thumb rests as the hand holds the Trombone up. I tried various ways to hold it. One finger up and three down. Two fingers up on top of the mouthpiece receiver and two down. The thumb still rested on a reasonably sharp join ridge.

The slide to bell section connection kept moving during play. So where I started out at a \./ shape angle, it ended up moving outwards to a __.__ , almost flat. I did manage to improve it by un-screwing it and pushing it up into the bell section as much as I could before re fastening. I know this is a reasonably common problem with trombone as I have had a bass trombone that had this very problem. A music repair shop claimed that flaring out the bell resolves it but it didn't for the bass. So I am reluctant to spend money on a repair when the instrument is brand new! Hopefully this will improve as it is used due to wear and tear.

The counterweight looks cool with the black branding on it but one side fell out after about an hour of my Jazz band test play. It is simply a disc with sticky on the back, like double sided tape. So I pushed on it to re secure it. It stayed there for the rest of band practice. Hopefully this has been resolved but it is cosmetic, so doesn't actually matter if it comes off the instrument. That said, it is new and although a budget instrument, it is new and I would still expect it not to have these types of issues.

The tone is good and similar to other small bore trombone's I have played. Things to consider is 1. The larger the bore and bell, the warmer the tonal quality. The smaller, the less tonal warmth. So it is a brighter sound and I noticed that for me and my test it was raspy at times, especially 4th to 7th positions. The water key is tight and doesn't leak or lose air. It was a little noisy or squeaky when pressed but this is common for springs. A simple solution was a drop of my rotor oil used normally on my Bb/f trigger. Solved the problem completely.

The slide action is fantastic and free flowing. Fast passages were easy to manoeuvre. The tuning slide is well spaced, so when I took the tuning slide completely off for cleaning, it matched up to reconnect without difficulty. I didn't find it worked well with the grease supplied, so I used my usual vaseline instead. It moves with just a push of the thumb.

I ended up using contact adhesive to create a small Z fold to shorten the slide strap. One on each side. If you have this problem and decide to glue a Z wedge, be aware that it does pull the felt and could even pull the felt away from the white foam protection underneath. I have had to glue it a second time. 1st to the felt and strap. 2nd time to glue it to the white solid foam protection. You can't really tell and it just looks like that is how it is meant to be. Just be careful not to make the straps too short the meet and slightly overlap to fasten together.

I didn't use the mouthpiece as I already have a denis wick 10cs. It sounded fantastic with my mouthpiece.

As a professional trombonist who has been gigging in rock groups since 1992, I recently started facing increased fatigue at 54 years old. After decades on large-bore horns, I knew it was time for a change, but I couldn’t justify spending thousands on a new instrument at this stage in my career. My research repeatedly pointed to the Thomann Jazz Bb- Tenor Trombone. Intrigued by its lightweight design, small 12.7 mm (0.500") bore, and sheer versatility, I bit the bullet and bought it. I absolutely love the way this horn plays!

Here is my breakdown after taking it out on quite a few gigs:

Response & Playability
Open feel: Despite transitioning down from a large bore, this horn feels incredibly open and responsive across all registers.
Upper register: It speaks beautifully in the upper register (F4 and above). The high Ab is a little stuffy, but honestly, I’ve played much more expensive horns that were worse there.
Low register: Notes slot in very true. The low register (Bb2 and below) requires a slight adjustment to fully open up the sound. However, I am pairing the horn with a tight, small commercial setup—swapping between a Bach 12C and a Giardinelli 6D—so that extra effort down low is to be expected.
Mouthpiece Receiver Fit: I was pleased to find that the small-shank receiver is machined beautifully. Both of my mouthpieces fit perfectly, seating securely with zero wobble and a great seal.
Action: The slide arrived very free, smooth, and fast right out of the box.

Features & Aesthetics
Stunning looks: The black nickel finish gives this horn an absolute "badass" look on stage. The embossed serial numbers add a sharp, modern touch.
Customization: The small-bore frame easily accommodates a Neotech Trombone Grip. I also added a yellow paracord wrap to the slide and thumb braces to preserve the finish and enhance my grip.
The Case: It is extremely lightweight and comes with both a shoulder strap and backpack straps. The main drawback is storage—the interior and side zipper pockets are small. You also have to push the tuning slide all the way in to close it, which can be tedious. I always want more room for an iPad or charts, but it gets the job done.

Sound & Tone
Effortless projection: It takes very little air to get an instant reaction out of this 0.500" bore.Rock-ready brightness: It delivers a bright, cutting sound with plenty of edge for solos and effects—perfect for the rock gigs I do. However, it can still pull back and sound quite mellow when needed.

Quality & Verdict
Solid build: The build quality is excellent. The water key is tight, the tuning slide has a great seal, and the finish is flawless.
Unbeatable value: At under $350, the instrument itself is an absolute steal. It completely blows away standard student models. It is an exceptional choice for lead jazz, rock, and solo gigs.
US Buyer Note: Keep in mind that if you are ordering from the United States, you will need to factor in international shipping costs from Europe, alongside potential US customs import taxes/tariffs upon delivery. Even with those added fees, the total out-the-door price is still an incredible value for an instrument of this caliber.

Most importantly, my endurance is back. After a four-hour set playing intense, high-energy charts from Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, and Tower of Power, I feel significantly less fatigued and way more confident. I would gladly recommend this horn to any large-bore player looking to save their chops with a lightweight, high-performing alternative!