When the PBone first appeared on the market, many trombone players were very skeptical as to the quality and sound this plastic oddity represented. Gradually the response began to filter in and player’s acceptance steadily grew. More and more professionals began to show up on the stage with these less than average instruments and were seen in many well respected ensembles including the David Letterman show, the Boston Pops, and many other professional groups. Today, the original PBone has made its way into high school and college marching bands and the obvious advantages are well documented.
Advantages of the original PBone-
• It’s cheap
• It’s light
• It’s fun to play
• It comes in many colors
Disadvantages of the original PBone-
• No one should take it serious as a replacement for a real trombone
• The slide at its best is always a problem
• It can be easily broken
• The plastic mouthpiece should be immediately replaced with a traditional mouthpiece
Now you might ask, “What does this have to do with trumpet playing”?
It was inevitable that more pretend, plastic instruments would hit the market and now we are faced with the possibility of playing on a PTrumpet. For this I say “No Way Jose”!
Now you might ask, “Didn’t you say you play a plastic PBone”?
Yes I play a PBone in a Dixieland band and I love it. It does everything I want it to do and because of the weight advantage, I don’t intend to ever play a brass trombone. Last night we had a three hour rehearsal and I never tired of lifting it to my shoulder. The PBone weighs only 1.8 lbs. That’s less than my trumpet!
Now you might ask, “Will you be playing a PTrumpet”?
No, and here are the reasons I will continue with my traditional family of trumpets.
Why I don’t like the PTrumpet-
• It sounds like a plastic trumpet (it has a soft almost cornet sound)
• Intonation is not as good and there is nothing you can do to correct it as in the case of the PBone
• Valves are noisy when they come up
• When compared to a brass trumpet as in this duet at the end (00:44), the PTrumpet sounds like a toy
• Initial attacks sound thudish
Intonation discrepancies on a TBone can be adjusted with the slide whereas the Ptrumpet is less accommodating. Tone is something I am not prepared to sacrifice when playing trumpet and in the case of my trombone, I don’t care.
I would defend the PTrumpets’ use when marching in the northern states where is possible to freeze your lip to the mouthpiece and any damage to your plastic instrument can be solved with a little model car cement or total replacement at a modest cost.
Here is my final decision on the PBone and the PTrumpet
PBone B+
PTrumpet D+
