Best Tenor Trombones 2026
Top-rated tenor trombones 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .500" G Nickel
Big Band
Blues
Orchestra
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both melody and harmony
✓ PROS
- • Professional standard instrument
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
✗ CONS
- • Requires significant arm length reach
- • Slide positions require precise intonation
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .500" G Nickel"Bart van Lier .500" Tenor...
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 192019
$4,068
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .512
Jazz
Marching Band
Blues
Key Feature:
• Professional standard instrument
✓ PROS
- • Classic trombone sound and range
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
✗ CONS
- • Large case for transportation
- • Can be difficult to play softly
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .512, Bb Tenor trombone "Bart van Lier .512"Especially suitable for jazz,...
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 184304
$3,574
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Kühnl & Hoyer .547 Bb-Tenor Trombone
Big Band
Jazz
Orchestra
Key Feature:
• Classic trombone sound and range
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Professional standard instrument
✗ CONS
- • Large case for transportation
- • Slide positions require precise intonation
Kühnl & Hoyer .547 Bb-Tenor TromboneBb tenor tromboneNew model with a newly designed bellGold brass bellDiameter...
⭐
4.7/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 267800
$2,811
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Kühnl & Hoyer Slokar Performance
Jazz
Classical
Orchestra
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both melody and harmony
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Professional standard instrument
✗ CONS
- • Slide positions require precise intonation
- • Can be difficult to play softly
Kühnl & Hoyer Slokar PerformanceBb Tenor Trombone"Slokar Performance"Gold brass bell Ø 220 mmNickel...
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 169219
$3,848
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Michael Rath R100 Bb-Tenor Trombone
by
Michael Rath
Big Band
Classical
Blues
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both melody and harmony
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
- • Classic trombone sound and range
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to play softly
- • Requires significant arm length reach
Michael Rath R100 Bb-Tenor TromboneBb Tenor TromboneØ 0.5 " (12.70 mm) BoreBell made of yellow brassCup size Ø 7...
⭐
5.0/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 293635
$2,088
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Michael Rath R100N Bb-Tenor Trombone SE
by
Michael Rath
Jazz
Blues
Orchestra
Key Feature:
• Classic trombone sound and range
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
- • Classic trombone sound and range
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to play softly
- • Requires significant arm length reach
Michael Rath R100N Bb-Tenor Trombone SEBb Tenor TromboneSpecial editionBore Ø: 12.70 mm / 0.5"Brushed nickel...
⭐
4.7/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 601448
$2,705
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Kühnl & Hoyer 134 G NZ Bb- Tenor Trombone
Big Band
Classical
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Professional standard instrument
✓ PROS
- • Professional standard instrument
- • Classic trombone sound and range
✗ CONS
- • Slide positions require precise intonation
- • Slide maintenance essential
Kühnl & Hoyer 134 G NZ Bb- Tenor Trombone, Bb Tenor TromboneThese trombones are characterized by easy response,...
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 155517
$2,638
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Kühnl & Hoyer van Lier .480/88" MKII BZ ML
Jazz
Orchestra
Blues
Key Feature:
• Professional standard instrument
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Slide technique enables unique effects
✗ CONS
- • Requires significant arm length reach
- • Can be difficult to play softly
Kühnl & Hoyer van Lier .480/88" MKII BZ MLTenor TromboneBrassBronze slideDouble bore: 12.2 - 12.4 mmBell Ø:...
⭐
4.6/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 605916
$3,628
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .480/88" MKII BZ
Marching Band
Orchestra
Big Band
Key Feature:
• Great for all musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Classic trombone sound and range
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to play softly
- • Requires significant arm length reach
Kühnl & Hoyer Bart van Lier .480/88" MKII BZTenor TromboneMaterial: BrassBronze slideGold lacqueredDouble...
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 405436
$3,354
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Michael Rath R3 Tenor GB
by
Michael Rath
Orchestra
Blues
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Slide technique enables unique effects
✓ PROS
- • Professional standard instrument
- • Classic trombone sound and range
✗ CONS
- • Requires significant arm length reach
- • Slide maintenance essential
Michael Rath R3 TenorBb Tenor TromboneBrassBore diameter: 0.525" (13.34 mm)Bell is made from gold brassBell...
⭐
4.7/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 280021
$4,102
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha YSL-897 Z Trombone
by
Yamaha
Marching Band
Orchestra
Big Band
Key Feature:
• Professional standard instrument
✓ PROS
- • Slide technique enables unique effects
- • Classic trombone sound and range
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to play softly
- • Large case for transportation
Yamaha YSL-897 ZJazz Trumpet"Reversed type" - Main tuning slideNewly developed BalancerDual bore: Ø 12.29 mm...
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 273665
$3,486
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Edwards T-302-3 Jazz Trombone
by
Edwards
Orchestra
Jazz
Blues
Key Feature:
• Classic trombone sound and range
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
✗ CONS
- • Slide maintenance essential
- • Large case for transportation
Edwards T-302-3 Jazz TromboneJazz TromboneBell Ø: 7-3 / 4"Bore: .508"With balancerOuter slide material:...
⭐
4.4/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 205636
$5,058
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Michael Rath R3 Tenor YB
by
Michael Rath
Marching Band
Orchestra
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both melody and harmony
✓ PROS
- • Professional standard instrument
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
✗ CONS
- • Slide positions require precise intonation
- • Can be difficult to play softly
Michael Rath R3 TenorBb Tenor TromboneBore: Ø 0.525" (13.34 mm)Bell size: Ø 8" (203.50 mm)Bell made of...
⭐
4.9/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 349404
$4,178
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Michael Rath R10 Tenor YB
by
Michael Rath
Orchestra
Jazz
Marching Band
Key Feature:
• Classic trombone sound and range
✓ PROS
- • Slide technique enables unique effects
- • Professional standard instrument
✗ CONS
- • Slide maintenance essential
- • Requires significant arm length reach
Michael Rath R10 TenorBb Tenor TromboneBore: Ø 0.5" (12.70 mm)Bell size: Ø 7- 1/2" (190.50 mm)Bell made of...
⭐
4.4/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 349403
$4,014
#15
⭐
5.0/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha YSL-891ZD
by
Yamaha
Big Band
Marching Band
Blues
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both melody and harmony
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for both melody and harmony
- • Professional standard instrument
✗ CONS
- • Can be difficult to play softly
- • Large case for transportation
Yamaha YSL-891ZDJazz TromboneReversed type main tuning slideNewly developed balancerBore: 12.90 mmYellow brass outer...
⭐
5.0/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 536957
$3,518
How to Choose the Best Tenor Trombones
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced tenor trombones typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
