Schmelzer Model 3 Tenor Trombone .525" with Copper Bell

Item Details

New from the collection of late instrument Manfred Schmelzer, who has passed in January, 2026.  This is a .525" medium bore trombone with a copper bell featuring ornate hand engraving.  The receiver fits small shank mouthpiece.  Manfred was one of the premier custom trombone builders of Germany who retired last year.  Godspeed Slide Man.

Features

• .525" nickel hand slide with brass crook, threaded removable leadpipe
• Small shank receiver
• 8" 2-piece hand spun lightweight copper bell
• Ornate hand engraving
• Distinctive curved bracing
• Reverse tuning slide
• Lacquer finish
• Includes sleek hard case
• Mouthpiece sold separately

Condition

• New but with marks from handling, maybe from a trade show or banging around the workshop
• Some small marks at bell rim, shown
• Slide action is very good
• Includes slide tune-up by renown SoCal instrument technician Bruce Belo
• Case is new, each (faux) carbon half has a thin layer of protective clear plastic sheeting on it, like shrink wrap, likely to protect it during fabrication and transport.  Some pulled off when removing a sticker and then I pulled more, but you can see edges here and there where I stopped.  If you pick at it eventually you'll get it all. It's supposed to come off but having a little razor blade to get all the little bits at the edge would help.  I'll look at it.
• The brass-colored bell seam is normal - that's the color of the brazing rod used to join the two parts of the bell.  The use of copper or red brass brazing rod is rare, so this is how they look.

Musically

The grip is big.  The main brace, around which your left thumb grips, is up high on the connector like a trombone with F-attachment.  So you'll want to have large hands or or stretch or hold it with your thumb on the neckpipe instead of around the brace - Sackbut and Deutsche Posaune style grip.  Or a ring could be soldered onto the brace, or we can figure a thumb rest like Rath R400 or the Axe Handle.  A Neotech grip would do it too.  It's worth thinking about it because it's not ideal ergonomically for the smaller-handed player.

Just a few moments of playing told me that it's quite amazing. It's fast and fairly light but it has this big sound that especially fills the room and it flares easily to that level of soulful fire. This is a versatile instrument for players that like an open blow for pop music or an efficient blow in the concert band.  Now I want to take it to a gig.  Where is one?