Hello All,

I’m in the market for an alto and was looking at the JP Rath as an inexpensive horn. It seems like an alto would make life easier in the almost handful ‘o’ times a year. Does anyone have any first hand positive or negatives about this horn? Thanks

An alto is not an easy way to play high notes.

An alto is not intuitive to play; you have to learn it. Gooing from tenor trombone to alto is not like going from tenor sax to alto.

So I wouldn't expect it to make your life any easier when you think it might.

That said, it's not a bad horn if you want to learn alto.

Thanks Bruce.

I understand what you are saying, and I know how to play alto trombone. I was just wondering about the quality and if anyone had anything pros or cons about it. Apologies if that was unclear.

They are excellent horns, especially for the money. Not the best 7th, but good good good. It's what I mostly play.

Learning Alto is like teaching an aardvark to do calligraphy. A good horn will help.

[quote="whitbey"]Learning Alto is like teaching an aardvark to do calligraphy. A good horn will help.[/quote]

I think that's a bit extreme. But while the concept of playing trombone applies to an alto, it's a very different instrument from the tenor. And the F alto is even more different. You don't just put down the tenor and play alto like you would with saxophones.

When I was a kid it was extremely unusual to see an alto trombone in use. They were only used in symphony orchestras for a very limited repertoire and you didn't learn how to play one until you could borrow one from your conservatory. Many trombone players went entire careers without ever having to play an alto. Nowadays alto trombones are becoming popular, but not any easier to play.

I disagree. Alto can be easily learned by a competent tenor trombonist, but having a good horn and the correct mouthpiece is critical.

[quote="harrisonreed"]I disagree. Alto can be easily learned by a competent tenor trombonist, but having a good horn and the correct mouthpiece is critical.[/quote]

And in some countries children are routinely started on alto.

Probably we should all play alto twice. Once when we are small, again as we age and struggle with the weight and unergonomicness of the tenor.

[quote="timothy42b"]

And in some countries children are routinely started on alto.

Probably we should all play alto twice. Once when we are small, again as we age and struggle with the weight and unergonomicness of the tenor.[/quote]

This is my particular situation why i play alto trombone. In the age of 13 I learned trumpet in a brass band. 5 years later i had have a crash with a motorbike. Since this time i was paraplegic disabled. My arms and hands are not perfectly working, so I could no longer play a trumpet.

I looked for a brass instrument that I could still play. So, I came to the trombone. But with my

disable arms, I could not reach the 7th position on a normal Bb trombone. So I came to the alto and

it works fine for me. Now my search started for the perfect alto trombone. My first one was a

B&S alto, but it was to small for the sound I want have. So, I bought a Conn 34H. It was nearly

perfect. I needed a tenor like sound, cause I played the first trombone part, together with two

other guys, in a german church orchestra, calling “Posaunenchor”. The two other guys plays

36er Bach. So I looked for a bigger alto. I met Helmut Voigt on the Frankfurter Musik Messe.

He builds me an alto with a really big bore. 12,7/13,9mm. What a sound! I fall in love with altos.

Today, i play in three german “Posaunenchors”. Either the first trombone part, or the low trumpet parts.

I am not being a professionel, but I have a lot of fun with my altos. For my situation is an alto the best way

to make music.