I see all over the place that it's better to use a straight trombone with no F attachment if you're playing jazz. If that's true, why?

There are a few reasons. One is that trombones with an f attachment are larger bore trombones, which are not as good to use as smaller bore for screaming lead jazz stuff, or should I say. not as easy. Also, a larger bore horn with a wider bell usually sounds darker, maybe not by much, but darker than a straight "jazz" horn.

Don't be fooled by people saying you HAVE to use a straight horn for jazz! It's easier for lead, but third chair and down doesn't really have many reasons to have a straight horn, and since they often go into the lower register, the trigger comes in handy.

There are plenty of trombonists that use large bore trombones to play jazz. One is Ron Wilkins, the man plays on a BIG horn, but man does he play some jazz, and if you get a chance, check him out, his high range will make you crap your pants!!

Sorry, I have to disagree about one point. Just because a horn has an F attachment does not necessarily mean it's a larger bore size. King 3B's come with F triggers as an option.
The F trigger does, however, add weight and more brace points on the horn. Some people feel that this deadens the sound to some degree, and that since the lead bone would virtually never need to drop below a low E, it's not worth it.
Personally, I use a straight horn for every chair I'd play in a big band except bass. But that's just me. The lowest not I've personally encountered in a third book is a low E flat, which is mangageable on a straight horn.
True, there are some great big bands out there with bone sections using big horns. But keep in mind that they are the rarer case and many younger players just don't have the chops to pull that off.
Remember, at the end of the day, it's all about the sound an the sectional blend.

Steve is right on. Go for what gets you the sound you need. I have done some lead work on a King 4B (.547 bore), it is a bit harder endurance-wise but it's what I like to play on. I prefer to have the F attachment because I know that I am not a "lead player" and will take a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th part as my first choice.


Some people I have talked to also claim that the added kink from the rotor makes the insrument less free-blowing, hence the use of a straight horn.

Whatever you do, just keep that air flowing and you can do whatever you want on any type of horn.

For the reason of wanting to work less on lead gigs, however, I think I will be in the market for a .525 or .508 bore myself.

That's my two cents!!!


<Added>


I know Ron, I played a Tuba-Euph Jazz gig with him and Freddie Mendoza's "Tuba Tzars" when I was in college for an International Tuba-Euphonium Association Regional Conference in Dallas, TX. He actually knows my brother a little better since he is a sax player in San Antonio Jazz Scene. Anyway, Ron is a monster on his trombone. He plays on an Edwards Bass, I think, and converts it from a BASS trombone to a Straight Tenor.

-Raul