Hi,my name is Adam,im 14 years old and I am buying a trigger trombone for marching band.Ive been playin the trombone for about 2 years now.My problem is,i dont know what to choose.I dont know whether i should wait to buy a trombone or just buy it now off of ebay,or i dont know what trombone to buy.Someone please help.What trombone?When?Where?What price?I appreciate posting...thank you.

If this horn is going to be used extensively for marching band, I wouldn't sink a ton of money into it. Personally, I would go used. You'll generally get a better horn for your money that way.
Also, I'm not a huge fan of closed wrap f attachments, but in your case, they are less vulnerable to damage, so may be the way to go for your particular situation.
As for brands, I hate getting into that argument, so I will stay out of it. If at all possible, try before you buy. Keep your eyes on the Trombone Forum Classifieds.
http://classifieds.tromboneforum.org/
Ebay can have some deals, but a lot of the time you're buying from someone who doesn't know what end of the trombone to blow into. At least on the forum classifieds you are dealing mostly with bone players.
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice Steve,but i forgot to mention,its not totally for marching band.Ill be a freshmen soon and i will be in the marching/concert band.I was thinking of an open wrap for less resistence,but ive never played a trigger trombone in my life(ive held a few),hence the reason i dont know what trombone to choose.I have no idea how to try them.It costs a lot to rent them,my mouthpiece wont fit in my friends trombones,and i dont know of anywhere that lets you test them.Please reply back.

what horn are you playing on now? are you going to get to keep it when you get your new horn?
Open wrap horns have less resistance on the F side of the horn, yes... but you also have more exposed tubing behind you. It's a bit more vulnerable to accidents. If you're willing to accept that, then go for it. I prefer open wraps myself. But of course, I don't have to use my own horn for marching gigs if I choose not to.
Bones come with either small or large shank mpc receivers. Small and medium bore horns have small mpc receivers, while large bore horns have larger receivers. That is why your mpc may not fit your friend's horn.
Something to consider.... You're only going to be in your third year of playing. The horn you choose will most likely NOT make you happy forever. Your playing will change over the years and so will your sound concept.
For now a good used Bach 36BO could be a good way to go. Or anything along the .525 bore range. A Conn 52H could be a good way to go also.
Just out of curiosity.. You seem very intent on a trigger horn... why is that?

Steve,the horn i am playing right now is a used rental.I dont know the exact model but it is a king.I know this trombone wont last me for my whole life but just for at least high school.The reason i want a trigger trombone is that ive been savin up now for a few months and i will need it for high school.Lots of trombones in the high school band have had dings in their trombones(colorguard)so it would probably be a good idea to get a closed wrap,like you said.I really dont mind some more resistance because my lung capacity is very good.

But should i buy one off the internet that ive never played,but is a quality instrument,or buy them,try them,and send them back,or try them at stores?

As long as you have the ability to return what you buy, you'll be fine. If the horn is unreturnable, then I wouldn't.
Unfortunately, good stores with a big inventory of horns are few and far between.
If you're anywhere near Northern Virginia, the Eastern Trombone Workshop is at the end of March. There will be many opporunities to try horns there.
Otherwise, try anything you can get your hands on. The local shop, your classmate's horns , anything.
Keep in mind that while you can buy online and many will let you return, you will still pay shipping both ways, so make sure you have pretty good reason to believe you'll like it.

http://classifieds.tromboneforum.org/detail.php?id=99
These aren't bad horns at all. Dual bore (.525/547) so it will take a small shank mpc but blow a bit freer. the open wrap doesn't stick out as far as Bach would either.
just an idea

In just a little bit my dad and i are going to a music store to see what we can do.By the way,this is just a curiousity question that ive always wondered.How good do you have to be to be in a symphony?Like about how old are the ppl that join and about how long have they played?

<Added>

nevermind that,but if you ever see any trombones that might be for me or have any advice please reply.

I know you said nevermind, but I'll answer anyway...
You have to be VERY VERY good to be in a symphony. That kind of playing requires a level of precision, accuracy, timing, and intonation, and consistency that takes a long time to achieve. You have got to want it really bad.
If it's a goal of yours, start working on it NOW. Get a really good teacher and get to work.

While i was out i tried a used benge trombone,closed wrap.It had a pretty nice sound to it,just needed some slide grease.Im gonna keep trying more if i can find some.

By the way,when i was testin the benge,i didnt know what to play!I played some 2 octive scales but i couldnt think of anything else...What do you usually play when you test a trombone?

I've had that same problem when testing my horn, Just ask for some sort of book, but instead of listening to the song and trying to get that, look for what you want in the horn itself. But this is how i was brought up in my school. I wanted to get a horn as well, a convertable bach, i didn't get it, but thats besides the point. i wanted a horn for marching band and concert band. My section leader, who was crazy about his horn, told me to never use a horn that you want to keep in good condition in marching band. it may not be you, its other people, as you even said, color guard. In my section, there is a girl who is playing on a Conn-88H and she bought it with a few scratches and dents here and there. Overall not that bad of a horn. now it has many many many dents, the bell is all scratched up, the slide probably will never be the same. Most of it is the people around her faults. So here my advice, use the school hornat school and during marching bnad. Get a really good one and then use that as your concert/home practice horn.

If you are making a big investment in it I would definately not use an F attachment horn for marching. Just use a student model and if you don't have one get one used because it will be way less than a brand new one.

1. It will get messed up (my friend's trombone got stepped on and crushed)

2. F attachments are heavier and will kill your shoulders during practice. Trust me I tried it once and I'm not a small guy.

When trying out horns, it doesn't really matter what you play... as long as you play
1.. something loud and something soft
2..test all ranges of the horn.
scales will work fine for this.
Check the slide.
Ideally, we'd all be able to try horns out for a few weeks, do some rehearsals with them, maybe even a gig to see if it's a really good fit. But that generally isn't the case.
Let's face it... you've only been playing for two years. The horns are probably not going to feel that different to you. Perhaps bring a more experienced player with you for a second opinion. If nothing else, bring your old horn with you as a reference point for comparison.