New Rath dealers
We're very pleased to say that we now have new Rath trombone dealers, expanding our worldwide network further in US and now in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Poland for the first time.
Please take a look at our dealer page for more information and contact details.
Rath merchandise still available
The New Year may be a distant memory now, but we still have all of the Rath gifts available.
We have Rath fleeces and polo shirts in sizes all the way up to XXL as modelled by our own Mr. Dennis Rollins, as well as Rath mugs and key rings. Of course we've also got a wide range of CDs from all of your favourite Rath artists.
Rath fleece: £34.95
Rath polo shirt: £17.95
Rath fleece and polo shirt ordered together: £49.95
Rath mug: £6.95
Rath key ring: £7.95
There are more photos on the Michael Rath Trombones Facebook page here.
Shipping rates will vary according to where you are in the world.
To order, you can use our contact us page or simply call us on 01484 660555 or +44 1484 660555 from outside the UK. Alternatively just email info@rathtrombones.com with your name and address and details of what you'd like to order and we'll do the rest.
Introducing the new Rath 00 series trombones!
For a long time we’ve wanted to make a series of Rath trombones that would bridge the gap between student instruments and our custom made, modular, hand crafted instruments. To take everything that Michael Rath knows about designing and producing trombones and impart it into a series of trombones that are elegant in their simplicity.
Many players from all over the world have asked for this over the years and we’re now delighted to be able to introduce the new Rath R00 series trombones.
We’ve taken the most successful modular combinations for the Rath R10, R4F and R9 and created new, non-modular instruments - the R100, R400 and R900.
For students looking to move from a beginners instrument to their first professional level trombone these are excellent instruments to develop their style and technique before progressing to a fully modular trombone.
Or perhaps you simply want to concentrate on you and the trombone without the potential complications of a modular trombone.
Whatever your needs, the new Rath R00 series offer a unique combination of the highest level of insight in design and craftsmanship in trombones with the production qualities that make Rath famous around the trombone world.
Guide retail pricing is:
R100: £1125/$1495/€1395
R400: £1495/$1975/€1875
R900: £2295/$2995/€2850
The new R00 series trombones will be previewing at the ITF in Paris in a couple of weeks and will then be available from your Michael Rath dealer from late September.
You can download the R00 series brochure PDF here
00 series - update
To clear up a few misconceptions about the new 00 series that have arisen since we made our first announcement about it, Michael Rath has commented as follows:
"For over 34 years I have strived for the highest of standards in brass musical instrument manufacture and have gained an international reputation in doing so. When expert training and quality materials are put together and quality control adhered to, it is irrelevant where the manufacturing premises are.
Over the past four years, I have worked extensively with the skilled craftsmen in the factory in Tianjin, China and have developed the exciting new 00 series of trombones.
Listening to customer feedback there is obviously a definite requirement in the market place for a range of Rath trombones priced at this point, unfortunately this is impossible to achieve here in the UK.
If I were not confident of the quality of this product it would not be going to market, it would not be fully guaranteed and would certainly not bear my name.
The new Rath 00 series represents excellent quality, playability and affordability!"
New Rath Artist Michael Powell
The latest addition to our ever growing list of artists is Mr. Michael Powell of the American Brass Quintet.
As well as being a member of the ABQ since 1983, Mr. Powell is also principal trombone at the Orchestra of St.Lukes and is one of the busiest trombonists in New York. He also teaches at the Juilliard School and at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rugers University.
We're delighted that he's the latest in a line of great musicians who have chosen to use a Rath R4F tenor trombone.
Full details of the R4F specification of Mr. Powell's trombone are on our artist page here and you can find out more about Mr. Powell on his website.
Count Basie Orchestra playing Rath trombones
The name "Count Basie" is one of the single most recognisable names in music as a whole, so when the trombone section of Alvin Walker, Mark Williams, Clarence Banks and David Keim approached us to make a complete set of trombones for them we really couldn't be happier about it.
The guys have had their new Rath trombones for around a month now and you should be seeing them in the Count Basie Orchestra very soon!
The UK newspaper "The Yorkshire Post" was one of many media outlets who ran stories about this. You can read their piece here.
Dutch Bass Trombone Open 2012
Our friends at Atelier Pfeiffer are delighted to announce that this year's 
Dutch Bass Trombone Open is taking place from the 14th to the 16th of September.
This year the featured artists are Csaba Wager, Mattis Cederberg, Ben van Dijk and Charlie Vernon who will be presenting a series of masterclasses, performances and directing ensembles.
The DBTO is aimed at all bass trombonists regardless of age or ability - it's really an event that everyone can take part in, enjoy and learn an enormous amount about the bass trombone.
You can find out more about the DBTO and register for the event at the DBTO website.
Rath email newsletter
Are you signed up on our email newsletter? We have some very interesting things planned for this over the next few months, so if you're not then please do sign up here.
Posted 24/03/2011
New hand support design
Since we introduced the first Rath hand support it's helped thousands of trombonists worldwide overcome physical problems holding their instrument.
Now we have a new version which gives improved support, whilst at the same time being more secure, easier to fit and easier to adjust.
You can get more information about the Rath hand support here. For fitting instructions for the new hand support please have a look at the hand support assembly page.
Posted 14/03/2011
Rotax valve option now available
We're very pleased to announce that Rotax valves will be an option on our trombones starting in February. The Rotax valve design is very well-designed and machined and works extremely consistently with our trombones, giving very good projection, focus and response.
The first Rath trombones will be available shortly both directly from us and from our other dealers worldwide. They will also be at the TMEA conference in February on the Brook Mays stand and also at the ETW and ITF shows later this year.
Rath R11 Alto Trombone
We're delighted to say that our new Rath alto trombone, the R11 is available now!
It's been a long time in coming but we're very pleased with it and the response that we've had from everyone who has tried it has been fantastic.
All of the details about specifications and options are on our R11 Alto page.
Want to test the new R11 alto? Please get in touch with Chris on 01484 660555 or by emailing chris.beaumont@rathtrombones.com.
Bronze leadpipes now available
If you're looking to add some core, depth and warmth to your sound then one of our new bronze leadpipes may just be what you're looking for.
They're great for orchestral tenor and bass trombonists but they also work very well on the smaller tenor trombones too, particularly if you are looking to add some core to a bright, direct sound.
Reggie Watkins is now playing Rath
At the recent ITF, Mick was able to meet up with US trombone star Reggie Watkins. Reggie had been interested in Rath trombones for a few years, but it wasn't until we were able to meet up in Austin that we were able to set up Reggie with his own R2.
Reggie was the musical director for Maynard Ferguson for many years and has also performed with many musical greats including Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Dianne Schuur, Jose Feliciano, Urbie Green, Christian Castro, The Temptations, The Ojays, James Moody, Benny Green, Michael Feinstein, Poogie Bell, Roger Humphries, and Denis DiBlasio.
It's great to have Reggie playing his R2 and we're really excited to be working with him.
For more information on Reggie, including details of his tour with Jason Mraz, visit Reggie's website.
Introducing the new JP/Rath Bb/F tenor student trombones
We're delighted to be able to introduce the latest additions to our student trombones range, the JP331/Rath and JP332/Rath Bb/F tenor trombones.
Since we launched our first student trombone, the JP/Rath 231 last year, we have been inundated with requests from players and teachers worldwide for student Bb/F tenors in both medium-large and large bore.
The initial feedback on the new models has been fantastic, and we're sure that these are going to be as successful as the earlier models.
If you're lucky enough to be at the ITF in Austin, Texas this week you can be among the first to get your hands on the new trombones.
For more information, specifications and images go through to our student trombone area.
The new JP331/Rath and JP332/Rath Bb/F tenor trombones will be available from September 1st, priced at just £699 inc. vat for UK customers. They'll be available directly from us or from your Rath distributor.
Michael Rath Trombones on Facebook
Now there's a new way to keep in touch with everything that's going on in the Rath trombone world. Our new Facebook page has the very latest news, photos, videos and other features.
We'll also be running some very special "Facebook-only" offers, so make sure you sign up!
You can also find us on Twitter here.
Visiting Rath
If you're planning to visit us to test and setup your Rath trombone, please have a look at the new "Visiting Us" page for lots of useful information.
The Ultimate Custom Finish
We're delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for you to add a completely custom, unique finish to your trombone.
Artist Andrew Matthews produced this highly detailed, intricate engraving on an R4 bell flare as an example of the way that you can make your Rath trombone something even more personal.
This can be something as straightforward as adding your name to the bell flare, or something much more complex. There's really no limit on what can be achieved!
For more images of the bell, please visit our Flickr gallery. If you'd like more information on a personal custom finish like this one please contact us.
Carol Jarvis - "Smile"
Carol Jarvis is one of those musicians for whom "versatile" doesn't even come close to covering what she does.
She performs regularly with all of the 
major UK orchestras as well as touring with Sting, Michael Bolton and Seal.
In October 2004 Carol, aged 26, was diagnosed with stage 2a Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which she's still battling.
To raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research she put together a selection of some of London's best session players to record "Smile", her first solo album.
It features a mix of standards and original compositions written especially for the CD, but above all some superlative playing.
Add a cover portrait painted by none other than Rolf Harris and you really have something very special.
You can get your copy of "Smile" here and as well as some great music, you can also help support a very worthwhile cause at the same time.
Visit Carol's website at caroljarvis.com and follow her on Twitter @jarvbone
Unique instruments
When Bruce Collings came to see us in November 2009, 
he was looking for something a little more than just a new R4F.
Bruce is part of Musik Fabrik, a contemporary music group based in Germany, where Marco Blaauw, the ensemble's trumpet player had been using a double belled trumpet for some time.
Bruce was keen to try this concept on a trombone and we were happy to put this together for him.
The second bell is actually our alto sackbut design, 
which gives a great contrast between the two bell flares. You can also use regular trumpet mutes with the sackbut bell as well, giving Bruce lots more possibilties.
The second bell fits into the valve wrap and can be used with a rounded crook which brings the second bell round to the front of the trombone, or a straight crook which takes the second bell straight out behind Bruce!
It gives a whole new meaning to antiphonal playing!
Projects like this can be challenging, but a lot of fun at the same time. If you have something that's a little out of the ordinary, why don't you contact us about it?
You can see more photos of Bruce and his double belled R4F on our Flickr gallery.
John Rojak - "I plan on playing my new Rath bass trombone for the next 30 years"
We're fortunate to work with some oustanding musicians; none more so than American bass trombonist John Rojak. Anyone who has heard John play can testify to his outstanding musicianship and after 32 years playing the same bass trombone we were delighted to help him find his new instrument.
Visit John's page in our Artists section here.
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