Yamaha 421G

PaulT · 2019-05-10 12:41 p.m.

I have been asked if I could play bass trombone to fill the bottom in a casual quartet. I'm interested, but I have reservations about the cost, weight, and extra valve of a full blown bass trombone. I would be happy with 90% of a bass trombone and if there are a few notes I can't hit, well, that's no different than what I deal with with my tenor trombone. Or my guitar, or my singing, or ... well, you get the picture.

Would a Yamaha 421G be fun and useful instrument in 90% of the not overly demanding bass trombone arrangements an enthusiastic but decidedly amateur player might himself playing?

bassclef · by **bassclef** » 2019-05-10 12:51 p.m.

The answer to your question is: absolutely.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2019-05-10 1:18 p.m.

The Yamaha YBL-421G is a very fine, well-made trombone. It is, in fact, a "full blown bass trombone" - but it has only one valve.

Yes, it not only creates a full bass trombone sound, but it is indeed "fun and useful" for the applications you will probably use it for - and many more. [I'm currently playing Tchaikovsky Symphony #5 on mine.] And it's lighter and cheaper than any two-valve bass trombone. Buy it, play it, and enjoy it! :good:

Bach5G · by **Bach5G** » 2019-05-10 1:56 p.m.

I understand that the 421 is a single-valve version of my 620G. I wonder if Yam would sell me a 421 bell section?

PaulT · by **PaulT** » 2019-05-10 3:03 p.m.

Thanks for the replies.

And after I posted, I recalled the search feature, so I browsed some past threads on the horn.

From this point forward, please only say nice things about this horn as I just purchased one from Quinn the Eskimo on ebay.

Oh, and please, no mention of what's going on in Game of Thrones. I'm trying to wait till the end to I can binge (after re-watching season 6).

Schlitz · 2019-05-10 3:30 p.m.

PaulT · by **PaulT** » 2019-05-10 3:55 p.m.

Thank you!

(the beer that made Milwaukee famous!)

Mamaposaune · by **Mamaposaune** » 2019-05-12 3:32 p.m.

I've since sold it, but I bought a 421 for my son when he was in high school. It was a very good instrument, IMO, well made and 95% as good in every way to the Elkhart Conn 72H that I have. The only reason I can think of that Yamaha markets it as an intermediate is the single valve. (I wasn't crazy about the case, though, and ending up replacing it with a Bags of Spain).

bigbandbone · by **bigbandbone** » 2019-05-17 6:57 a.m.

Just joined the 421G club! Can't wait for it to arrive at my doorstep from Quinn!

PaulT · by **PaulT** » 2019-05-21 11:42 a.m.

Welcome to the club!

I have found playing this horn to be an easy adaption yet it offers a distinctly different trombone experience. Never much cared for low notes before, now they are a blast.

I hope the link below is forum kosher. I think it is a really good deal for anyone interested in this horn and I intend it as a service, not a shill. The 421G I got from Quinn struck me as a brand new factory fresh horn for a used horn price (as did the other horn I got from Quinn earlier this year... when he says mint, it is mint).

~~[url]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-Y ... 2749.l2649">https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-YBL-421G-Intermediate-Bass-Trombone-MINT-CONDITION/333168089390?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649</LINK_TEXT>

walldaja · by **walldaja** » 2019-05-21 12:09 p.m.

I've never been so pleased with the purchase of an instrument as I was with my 421G from Quinn. I love the horn for solos with the organist at our church--the sound just resonates. Today I played through several of the pieces for our Fourth of July concert (1st book) and I used the 421G--I'm tempted to take it just for the 1812 Overture. The notes speak easily and with great tone. Another piece I played was the trombone solo of "Bear Necessities"--sort of sounds like I'd imagine that big bear singing. It is the definition of sonorous!

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2019-05-21 1:47 p.m.

[quote="walldaja"]I've never been so pleased with the purchase of an instrument as I was with my 421G from Quinn. I love the horn for solos with the organist at our church--the sound just resonates. Today I played through several of the pieces for our Fourth of July concert (1st book) and I used the 421G--I'm tempted to take it just for the 1812 Overture. The notes speak easily and with great tone. Another piece I played was the trombone solo of "Bear Necessities"--sort of sounds like I'd imagine that big bear singing. It is the definition of sonorous![/quote]

And I thought the King 4B was Sonorous :tongue:

u_30hzbone · by **u_30hzbone** » 2021-06-22 8:22 a.m.

Got my YBL-421G today from Quinn. As new :).

Tested a few different mouthpieces and it works great with Doug Yeo, just like my Getzen 3062AF + R,

so I start with that mouthpiece.

JCBone · by **JCBone** » 2021-06-22 10:11 a.m.

I have the Yamaha 322. The 421's predecessor. It's a really good horn and it has a great sound. The only caveat with the 421 is that you can't pull the tuning slide to B like you can on the 32x series

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Yamaha 421G