Second hand trombone

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Hello

DS2 has been learning bass trombone at primary school and moves to secondary next year. To definitely continue it looks as if we will need to buy him an instrument.

He's only Grade 4 level but wishes to continue - enjoys it very much.

What sort of price would / should we be looking at? And where is best to look!

We are near Middlesbrough/ York but online options good too.

Thank you.

Slightly off topic but if he wants to develop his experience I recommend looking into joining a local brass band for practice, performance experience and some practical coaching. DS joined at that age and really enjoyed it.

Thanks @cortex10 He's in a regional concert band - a mix of brass, woodwind and percussion and really gets a buzz from it. But he can use the school instrument for that.

Our DC was allowed to keep the instrument from primary going in to secondary and still has it. I am presuming you have checked that this is not possible as we were in the same position thought the same) as you 4 years ago and were pleasantly suprised.

We payed £600 at that age thinking it would last him out, but when he got to grade 7/8 his teacher said he needed a better one so got one second hand from John Packer online for £1200! Sold the first one for £300.

Windstruments is a very reputable instrument shop in Bingley which will rent you an instrument at a reasonable price if you can't afford to buy straight away. They also have a rent-to-buy plan. I'm nothing to do with Windstruments, but I do know the people professionally and can vouch for them. You can Google their website.

Thanks all. Yes - the local council keeps a primary school stock and a secondary schools stock. He's been told he's unlikely to get a secondary school one in Y7. Bit disjointed and short sighted I'd say...

Thanks for the pointers. I did look at John Packer via google but was a bit alarmed at the bass trombone prices (but their trombone stands are £140 and I paid £25 for ours so I might just be out of touch!!).

Have a look at the Vat free purchase scheme to see if your council participates. Hope continues to enjoy playing for many years to come.

Our local Music Hub rents out instruments on a termly basis. The rates are reasonable and the instruments are decent and well set-up.

The scheme @horseymum mentions is called the Assisted Purchase Scheme. It only applies to state schools, but in short the school buys the instrument and claims the VAT back. The parent pays the net price to the school.

Dawkes (online), very good customer service For brass and wind. I don't work for them, I'm a customer. Also very knowledgeable helpful staff you can talk to on the phone.