drum roll...JP-RATH 2-rotor bass trombone model 333

[bloke]

Tomorrow, a few more of the new JP333-RATH two-rotor bass trombones arrive at blokeplace.
This time, I'll take pictures 'n' stuff...but (sorry) no mesmerizing/fascinating "unpacking" video.

This instrument: yet another JP no-nonsense truly professional quality instrument out of China, YET priced at something a serious doubler (who needs something that isn't clicky-sticky, and that resonates as it should) can afford.

These will be the first of only the second dozen of these on the planet.

Here's Michael Rath, back when he was inspecting the prototype:

[bloke]

Just fwiw...
JP - for years - has offered a lower-priced two-rotor bass trombone ("good for students and, perhaps not-quite-as-serious doublers") for a price roughly (to clarify: ~not~ made by Jb) in the Jb price range. That instrument is the model 232, and a hi-res picture of that much-lower-priced (i.e. ~not~ RATH series) double-rotor bass can be viewed here:
http://www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/images/magictoolbox_cache/52ea7ce97bd6291c00f12faba15ddd67/1/7/17651/original/3056269553/JP232-Trombone-INSTRUMENT-SHOT.jpg

The "333 RATH" model, though, is a really serious bass trombone.
If you LIKE Rath bass trombones, but aren't excited about stuff such as custom gauge, custom allow, custom mouthpipe, custom valves, etc., and are (simply) seeking "a great pro-quality production bass trombone for less than half the price of the other top-grade production models",
The JP-RATH is ~really~ a nice instrument.
One of my section mates uses the single-rotor version.
He's not exactly an "anything will do" type of player; his tenor is an Edwards Alessi model.

[Mark Finley]

I played the single trigger version last year at TMEA, and if I can find a buyer for my yamaha, I"m selling that and getting the 333. The single was fabulous, so I'm sure this one will be as well

[bloke]

yeah...
It's kind of interesting:
In two of the orchestras in which I play, the bass trombonists use Rath-designed instruments.
John Rojak uses a Rath (dependent 2-rotor model) made in the UK, and Ed Morse uses a JP Rath (single rotor) model.
I don't know if they would consider themselves to be "artistes" but, fwiw...
http://www.jdrojak.com/
https://www.mvsu.edu/Dr-Edward-Morse

Ed (just now) put this on youtube for me. It's from last week's first rehearsal. Obviously, I recorded it with my phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwxRVR1Xxe8

funny: I'm playing New World again next month with John.

bloke "I wish I could be as nice as either one of those guys..."

[Casca Grossa]

JP needs to get Max Bonecutter as an artiste. The Bonecutter Rath Bass Trombone....I would buy it just for the name alone.

[bloke]

JP needs to get Max Bonecutter as an artiste. The Bonecutter Rath Bass Trombone....I would buy it just for the name alone.

I dunno... He might even be a two-e's "artistee".

[Casca Grossa]

JP needs to get Max Bonecutter as an artiste. The Bonecutter Rath Bass Trombone....I would buy it just for the name alone.

I dunno... He might even be a two-e's "artistee". :shock:

Probably with an umlaut over at least one vowel too.

[bloke]

...so here's a hi-res pic.
I don't think this is very easy to find on the web (yet).

[Mark Finley]

Interesting. I can't ever remember seeing a open wrap trombone, especially a bass trombone, with a counterweight

[bloke]

LOL...
I believe it's removable.

[Mark]

Did I miss the price?

[bloke]

There are M.A.P. (Minimum Advertised Prices).
Out of respect for dealer agreements, I do not publicly advertise my prices of JP products.

[bloke]

They just arrived. The first one is certainly behaving well with the tuner...
Even though I certainly am not seeking any sort of bass trombone-playing license, the tuning across the partials only varies (without lipping or slide-favoring) a very few cents. (Were it that the open partials on my most in-tune tuba - or my Willson 2900 euphonium - were this good, I'd be in heaven.) The valves and linkage (per all the JP rotary tubas I've sold) are as one would hope to find with any top-grade European-made instruments. The included mouthpiece seems to be some sort of (no stamping) 1-1/2G Megatone knock-off...whatever...
playing slide - great
tuning slides - close tolerances and superb alignment. The main slide can be operated with just one finger of one hand (no "coaxing" required at all).
...and yep, it appears to be (as are most of the top-line JP brass instruments) made of 80:20 alloy brass and nickel silver.
With the bulky Megatone-like mouthpiece inserted and the two-screws counterweight removed, it weighs in at c. 6 lbs.
oh and this: It sure is purdy !
(I cannot easily take a picture, right now. (My iPhone is screwed up, and Mrs. bloke has it with her to exchange it for another at the store) ...but it looks just like the web-pic, except you might not be able to see the pretty engraving (groupings of concentric two-sized capital R's) on the rotor caps on that picture...
...so with what appears to be 80:20 alloy brass outside slide tubes and a nickel silver playing slide crook, I would rate the chance of any future playing slide red-rot at approximately 0%.

[Bob Kolada]

Single or dual bore slide?

[bloke]

Single or dual bore slide?

9/16" bore

[sweaty]

Is the leadpipe removable?

In the photo, the outer hand slide looks like it is nickel silver, same as the crook. Is that so?

[bloke]

It's a production (not custom) instrument, such as a $4000 - $5000 Bach or Yamaha production model...but for thousands less, so the venturi/mouthpipe tube is fixed. The mouthpipe tube is nickel silver so (unlike brass ones, when they get old) it shouldn't ever rot.

The outside slide tubes are made of the same type of brass (appears to be 80:20) as the rest of the instrument, and the playing slide crook is nickel silver.

[bloke]

This bell section is so dang purdy, that I just had to take some (albeit hastily taken) pictures of it.

Also featured is Mz. blokecat (Nikki, age 13...c. 68 in human years).

[Bob Kolada]

Single or dual bore slide?

9/16" bore

I think a dual bore slide would be a nice option.

[bloke]

Single or dual bore slide?

9/16" bore

I think a dual bore slide would be a nice option.

I certainly could be, were their options.
That having been said, the "blown out" instrument designs thing has been fading from vogue for a few years (in brass, woodwinds, and strings).
...but this isn't an "option" instrument...
It's a "production" instrument...with a model number...like a Bach or Yamaha with a model number and non-optional stuff.

Michael Rath's UK-located factory offers options.
Those trombones cost more, as do options.
Actually, I think the UK-Rath factory offers a remarkably similar no-options bass trombone called the R-900...for $1XXX more than this JP333-RATH instrument.