Thank you to all who have responed to my orignial post on the king trombone. I found one from a gentleman from Texas who gave me a very good deal. It is silver, great shape and plays loud. He has used it for about 6 months now and he loves it. Made Jazz band, had solos and plays it daily (not bad for a 15 year old). It is a horn from somewhere between 1925 - 1930. NICE.
THanks again. Keep on blowing.

The 2B is a great horn and the manufacture date you mention is in the beginning of King`s vintage period (1930`s to the 1960`s) in which the best examples of their trombones were made. Trombones made during this period(and a little before) were very well made and very consistent. I haved yet to see or play a bad trombone from this period. Good luck.

Congratulations!!Keep on Blowing!!

I`m very sure I wouldn`t drink of it. However most of the water is condensation, because of the hot air you blow into the instrument, I`m quite sure there also will be some spit in it too

I started playing in 1972 on a new King Liberty 2-B, Ser no. 487000.
I still have the horn and in reflecting back, it was a good starter instrument for me. I played it for many years until graduating to the larger bore of the Bach Strad 36-G, a great great horn.

In my opinion, a beginner could use this horn because resistance is a good thing, building lungs and training the lip. The larger bore hornd take a little more wind that could cause the new player to get frustrated from the get go. The smaller mouthpiece as mentioned may not be a necessity either. Various cup diameters should be tried on for size by any beginner, I think, starting with a Bach 12-C.

Hey,
i would not recomend a king 2b for a beginner, but if he really LOVES it AND if its at a music store (NOT INTERNET)
never get a trombone on the internet. let him try it at the store. I just got a King 3B and i absolutaly love it. i have been playin for 3 yrs. and i play lead bone in jazz and ever king bone i ever played i luved! but,in later years maybe if he still wants the 2b GET IT, now i would get a conn beginneror or a king 606 model bone for him E Mail me back PLEASE

Hello. Glad to hear that you found a nice trombone for your son. Sounds like he truly is interested in Jazz. In that case, a Bach 42 would have been completely wrong. Your vintage King 2B will prove to be an outstanding Jazz Solo horn. My only concern is that you mentioned you had bought a silver trombone. Is this one of the Silver Sonics with a sterling silver bell? If so, he may eventually find the tone a little too invariable or monochromatic. The standard yellow brass is much more lively and responsive. If your "silver horn" is merely silver plated, you should be fine. Best wishes!

The king 606 or the conn director are great horns. However there is little bore size difference between those instruments and the king 2b. The king 2b is a professional horn of excellent quality. The king 606 and conn director are start instruments which are built for the rigors of student use. They are usually .500 bore size where the 2b is a .481/.491 dual bore. Most beginning and intermediate players won`t notice a difference.

Yellow brass has a more even sound timbre(not too bright or dark). That`s it. It`s really not more "lively"

Ruben, I must ask you:

How can you say that King trombones aren`t good? How long have you been playing, and what style(s) do you play?

I have a silver plated king 2b liberty from 1940 its a reallly nice expert jazz horn. If your getting your son a horn you should get him something a little less money and a begginer horn like a king tempo. If you really want to get ur son a 2b you better be prepared to spend alot of money.

I have a King 2B as well and I love it. kings are good horns and great for starting out. I wouldn`t recommend a king 2B because they are rare horns and a little expensive.

Its mostly condesation but there is some spit, and you wouldn`t want to drink it anyway, cause there is green stuff in the horn.

I have had and played a king liberty 2B for around a year now, from the mid 50`s and I love it. My dad has also played a king silver plated 2b that was new around ten years ago that he describe as the best playing horn he ever played in his life. So all in all I think a 2B is a great choice for your son.

Hi guys,

YAMAHA trombones are the best for beginners.
Conn trombones (88H) are the best to use in symphonic orchestras.
...and King (2B) trombones are the one and onliest for playing jazz.

my own experience !