Rath R4F Hagman Tenor Trombone with Screw Bell
$5,095.00
Item Details
-stock photo shown-
Michael Rath has been building trombones in the UK since 1996, beginning with a commission for Mark Nightingale. Since 2014 Rath has worked in cooperation with John Packer UK to sell JP Rath trombones and now the Rath 00 series trombones. Both those instruments are made in China, but Rath continues to build custom trombones in the UK for discerning players. After some years of absence here, we ordered this new Rath R4F to check out their latest work and compare to the JP models. Players of the Rath R4F in Southern California include Dr. Karen Marston and others.
Before Rath, the Conn 88H trombone had been a favorite in the UK for generations, beginning with Denis Wick. Rath trombones are sort of like that. The R4F features a relatively narrow hand slide, a lightweight bell and lightweight bracing, harking back to the classic Conn style.
Salient Features
Hand Slide: .547" with 41B threaded leadpipe, brass outer tubes with nickel trim and crook, chrome plated nickel inside tubes, hand fitted, ultra-smooth action, large shank receiver
Connector: Proprietary wingnut connection means no surprise loosening.
Rotary Valve: The Hagman rotor from Switzerland is the original valve used on Rath trombones. The benefits are that it's very light, the throw is very short, and the inside rotor is comprised of individual tubes like a piston valve. That way the entire valve airway resonates more like the straight neckpipe. If you want your instrument to resonate like the straight Bb trombone, choose this rotor. The valve section is removable for maintenance, or for those times you'd prefer a straight neckpipe or a different bell. Customize it to your wishes in moments.
Tuning slide: Yellow brass, reverse tuning, unbraced, with R medallion
Bell: 8.5" yellow brass with detachable bell flare, entire bell is removable from the valve section
Mouthpiece: Rath L5
Case: Choice of 1) no case, 2) a JP Pro fixed bell case or 3) a Marcus Bonna case for screw bell. If you'd like something else, please ask. The photos show the JP Pro case (with accessories), the Marcus Bonna Tenor Baby Case, and the Marcus Bonna MB2 2-piece case. You'll remove the F-crook to use the MB2 case.
