Schagerl James Morrison Trombone

[TromboneSam]

Hey y’all,

I have the opportunity to try out a Schagerl James Morrison trombone for a couple weeks (with a deposit). I have seen maybe two of these in the wild. I played alongside someone with one in a big band, and he sounded good on it, but I didn’t get a chance to try out the horn.

Does anybody have experience with them? Curious about things like durability (re: the finish, the slide reliability over time, valve wear over time, etc.), weight/displacement, metal thickness, etc. I’d also be curious to hear some thoughts about how it stacks up against other .525 horns with triggers (Yamaha, Bach, Rath, whatever).

I know there’s a thread here from 6 years ago but it doesn’t have almost any info in it.

Point of clarity, not asking about the Schagerl Superbone, just the James Morrison medium bore Bb/F trombone.

Thanks!

[SubK]

Hi,

I did fall in love with the JM already some years ago and play it now for around a year.

Well, no wear to be seen on the JM now, but it is not yet really 'old'. The gauge is a bit greater than on the other .525 I have tested or owned (and as an 525 afficionado I have played and/or owned ten or so). The horn feels solid. Although it is not heavy. The playing and the responsiveness is a bit affected by the gauge/weight, but not very much. Example: I played a Yamaha 446 GE some time. When pushed I had the feeling the instrument started vibrating and prepares for breaking out. Not so the JM. It can really bark and feels solid all the time. The sound has a certain timbre that I dig very much.

When buying a JM, please take the time for a thorough quality check. I had bought one and had to return it as the valve section was not properly manufactured. Sorry, Schagerl, you really can do better in your QC.

But beside that: I love my JM

[RJMason]

The JM horns look really similar to a lot of various brands stamped on instruments built in China. This does not mean they are awful. Probably plays great. If you like it I would check out the Y-Fort 260. They look the same as the Schagerl, play amazingly, and cost less than $900.

[SubK]

Y-Fort 260 looks nice, yet has a bit different setting compared to a JM.

Gold brass bell vs. brass bell
Tubing is different
Bore size .525 vs. .523

I'd expect the Y-Fort to play a bit more in the direction of a Yamaha 446 GE.

Speaking of Chinese made, I do think the JM is built there with the specs provided by Schagerl and QC'ed.

[hyperbolica]

The case Dillons sells with the Yfort looks cool. Is it a decent case? Can they be bought separately? https://www.dillonmusic.com/y-fort-ysl- ... 09051.html

[TromboneSam]

If I recall correctly, James Morrison was playing the Yamaha 446G (in some variation), and in Australia they offered his signature model as something like 446GJ or 446J?

I’d imagine they play pretty similar, but it makes sense that Schagerl would tweak a couple design things to cater to what James wanted.

I agree it does look like a few of the Chinese stencil horns. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was built elsewhere and QC’d or even had the finish work done in Austria.

Re: the bore size discrepancies, I think that may just be a metric to imperial conversion flub. From what I can glean most people say it’s .525. Would be curious to see what someone’s calipers have to say about it.

[NotSkilledHere]

The case Dillons sells with the Yfort looks cool. Is it a decent case? Can they be bought separately? https://www.dillonmusic.com/y-fort-ysl- ... 09051.html

y fort cases are supplied by y fort with the horns direct to retailers. their cut bell models come with cut bell cases and from what I recall, those cut bell cases were actually quite good and have received a lot of interest from people wanting it separately for their own horns of other makes. i'm sure these cases are the same..though i dont know if people would prefer them to other options already out there for fixed-bell horns.

[hyperbolica]

..though i dont know if people would prefer them to other options already out there for fixed-bell horns.

It would depend on things like price and interior options. From the outside, it's nice to have an option other than black.