I really want to buy a new Shires bass trombone. I already own a Shires large bore tenor and small bore tenor. My current bass is a Rath, which is a very nice horn, but there are some things that I don't like about it all that much. I know that a new Shires bass would be very expensive, but I truly believe that Shires makes the best trombones out there, and a Shires is the only bass that I really want to play.

I've been borrowing somebody's Getzen 1062 for a while, and I love the sound, although the valves are kind of stuffy. I'm sure that I can get my own Getzen bass with better valves for half the price of a Shires. But, I think in the long run, having the Shires would inspire me to practice more.

What do you think I should do? Get a Getzen and save some money? Or suck it up and pay more for the Shires because in my heart that's the horn that I really want?

I think you have made up your mind already. Get the Shires....you don't want to get the Getzen all the while knowing it wasn't what you really wanted. If that ends up being the case, you'll just end up having to sell the Getzen, for less than you paid, just to get that Shires in the end.

Go with the Shires, bro. Good Luck!!

Thanks for the advice, euphobone. That's what I figured, too. What's the point of getting the Getzen if I'm still eventually going to want a Shires one day?

So I called the place just now and I ordered it. (Ferguson Music near Los Angeles, CA) It's actually what's called a Pro-Select Shires, which is basically a Shires with one of the most popular sets of options. In other words, it's what Getzen is to Edwards. It's got a lightweight Conn-style red brass bell, a standard .562 bore slide, and independent rotor valves. The guy at the store told me that this one blows exceptionally well in the double trigger range, which is exactly what I wanted, and it also has a great sound. I paid $1000 less than what a normal Shires would cost, so I'm getting a really great deal. It should be arriving in the mail sometime early next week, so I'll let you know how it turns out.

Awesome. I hope it works out for you. Getting such a high quality instrument is a huge investment financially as well as musically and I hope you have found "the one."

I myself am very partial to vintage King Trombones.

I just got a late 70's King 4B Silver Sonorous with an F attachment. It has a solid sterling silver bell with 24K gold plating on the inner bell. So now I have to sell my regular laquered brass 4B Sonorous w/F. I currently own 3 vintage King 4B trombones and a Willson Euphonium.