Tromba TF-SL Pro Professional Plastic BB Flugelhorn, Silver

I received a silver Tromba flugel yesterday and, so far, I like it pretty well. It is MUCH lighter than my Kanstul 1525 or Yamaha 631 and it seems to play great and a lot better that the P-Trumpet. The pitch slotting is acceptable in all ranges (although the upper range is a bit squirrely like on many flugels). I spent a little time checking its pitch centers with the tuner on my phone and it seems to do about as well as my Yamaha but not quite as good as the 1525. With the supplied deep-cup mouthpiece, it has the traditional dark flugel timbre although it brightens considerably with a standard cup (cornet) mouthpiece. Tuning is like on other flugels and uses an adjustable leadpipe (4+" adjustment range). All 3 valves have removable slides and there's a finger ring on the 3rd valve slide. An additional slide has been added to the bell pipe just downstream from the 3rd valve but I'm not sure what it does yet. The spit valves look to be well-designed with rubber seals. I like the fact that it has metal-to-metal piston and cylinder surfaces and the valve action is smooth but a little clanky. Might replace the rubber washers under the valve caps with felt ones to quiet things down. The valve springs are encased in the tops of the valves like on my others flugels. In the package I received were the silver flugel, a black soft bag, a metal mouthpiece (silver plated, deep-V copy of a Wick 4FL according to my caliper readings), extra springs, 2 cleaning worm brushes, cloth, and a couple other nondescript items). We'll see how well it blends with the tenor horns and cornets at the next brass band rehearsal.

Update 4-25-17Quick update. I now have 2 Tromba horns. This flugel and a red trumpet. I had a problem with my trumpet and so I messaged Tromba via their website. Within a day or so I received a reply from their office manager, Jason and he pretty quickly shipped me the part that I needed. I always appreciate good service! Good job Tromba!What?? I don’t know how you could give this thing a bad review! Been playing brass for 20 years, got recruited to play jazz in a bar band and I didn’t want to use my Getzen or Cortois flugels and risk damaging them in an uncertain environment. Found this and it’s perfect. Sounds great - not that different than the other two even tho it’s plastic. I use a Denis Wick 2FL mouthpiece rather than the one supplied (though that one is metal not bad, just not as deep as the 2FL). I don’t know what the other reviewers here mean when they say it “sounds stuffy etc.” It sounds like a flugelhorn. It sounds great if you play Flugel - that is, darker than a trumpet. It’s as easy to play as my other flugels-responsive, and doesn’t sound like it’s plastic. In fact I got the metallic silver one and it looks just like my silver-plated Getzen. Better actually since it’s not tarnished. I didn’t have the intonation problems some of there others have. The G above C is a little flat compared to the other open notes, but I can easily adjust with for that when playing. Valves are really smooth-I took the time to oil and clean them during the first week. There are no numbers on them so you’ll have to remember where they go. Slides are a little finicky but a liberal application of slide grease let’s me use the 3rd valve trigger to adjust my C# s etc just fine.Bottom line, this is great horn. Sounds great, plays great. Id buy it again if I ever lost it.

Played the horn a few days and found serious issues with valve intonation. Flugelhorns already have an intonation reputation but maybe the plastic material makes them more prone to pitch problems. At first I bragged to friends how lucky I was my valves were pretty good and avoided the number one complaint about the plastic type horns. But then it happened just like that - the first valve started sticking.... sent it back and ordered the Mendini student line trumpet and WOW what a difference in quality and sound in every aspect of performance and material and it was CHEAPER!Truthfully I really enjoyed the EastRock plastic flugelhorn. Loved the look and how resemble more of the trumpet feel and look. The sound was really nice. Warm and slightly brassy. Great for jazz - just a little more attention to "perfection" and it would blow you away!

The Tromba flugelhorn was purchased as an option to replace my metal flugelhorn. After comparing the 2 instruments beside some expensive models, I realized that the Tromba easily holds its own as a serious option. As a long-timie industry professional, I stand by this instrument and look forward to playing it among my peers. The valves need a few minutes to work in. Be sure and oil/lube the instrument and work the slides often. Pretty quickly you will be amazed at the quality and tone. Adding the price to this equation makes this a can't-miss deal.Of course I love the weight and feel of the Conn Vintage One, but the Tromba is highly competitive in several regards. I am very happy with this purchase and plan on buying more Tromba instruments for younger *students and charitable academic endeavors.I still love it after owning it for months. The metal-purist naysayers may be suffering from inexperience. You do have to break it in just a bit. If it won't play in tune, that is not the horn's fault-quit complaining and practice. This instrument is incredible.