Rath R3 Medium Bore (.525) Custom Trombone: Build Your Own

Build YOUR Dream Rath Trombone Today!

Austin Custom Brass is excited to be able to offer this remarkable line of trombones to you! Made in England, with incredible craftsmanship and design, Rath trombones offer incredible sound and playability. The R3, medium bore trombone (.525") is an ideal instrument for almost every musical genre. Possessing clarity, brilliance and flexibility usually demanded from the jazz and commercial player, to a dark, full, round tonal quality that is desirable for solo recital playing, brass band, and chamber and large classical ensemble. Michael Rath tenor trombones provide the perfect solution.

The R3 Model comes standard with:

• 8" Yellow Brass Bell, standard weight
• R3/R4 Yellow Brass Main Tuning Slide
• .525" bore
• Yellow Brass Gooseneck
• Yellow Brass Handslide
• 31SS Brass Leadpipe (small shank)
• Rath Case

*the photo on the listing shows a custom trombone, not the standard configuration. 

You may customize your horn by choosing:

• different bell materials
• lightweight bell
• change your bell flare size
• choose to have a screw rim bell flare
• handslide outer slide legs material
• different main tuning slide materials
• add on a F-attachment with your choice of valve
• choose the finish you like best

 Finish Options (select one above when checking out)

• Clear Lacquer Finish
• Brushed #1 = Fully brushed
• Brushed #2 = All brass brushed, all nickel silver polished
• Brushed #3 = Body of bell brushed, nickel silver parts and inner bell flare polished. Brushed brass tuning slide, valve section (if applicable) and nickel silver parts polished. Slide fully polished.
• Brushed #3A = Bell section same as #3 but slide outer legs are brushed. Inner slide, bow, ferrule, sleeves stay polished.

Please note that handslides with nickel silver outer legs cannot be brushed, they will always be polished. 

About Rath's bell material options:

Michael Rath Custom Trombone bell flares offer wide range of tonal characteristics, each material giving a variety and flexibility of sound. They are available in yellow brass (70% copper, 30% zinc), gold brass (85% copper, 15% zinc), red brass (90% copper, 10% zinc) and nickel silver.

The higher the copper content in the material, the darker and warmer is the sound. For example a yellow brass bell will sound more brilliant and brighter than gold and red brass bells with a consistency of tone. Nickel silver bells tend to produce an extremely clear sound, but without becoming excessively bright. When coupled with the right main slide, tuning slide and leadpipe, nickel bells can also sound dark, full and resonant, particularly on our bass trombones.

All Michael Rath bells are constructed in two pieces, a flare and a spout, allowing us to select the most appropriate gauge (or material thickness) for the bell flare and spout independently. They are produced entirely by hand in our workshop and are finished in clear lacquer as standard, although various other finishes are available.

About Rath's Valve Options:

There are two valve options available for Michael Rath Custom trombones, both Swiss designed: the René Hagmann valve and the Willson Rotax valve. Both valves have their own distinct playing characteristics. The Hagmann is designed to cause as little disruption to the airflow as possible and feels very open in the valve register, even through the pedal register. The Rotax valve is the best option if you prefer slightly more playing resistance, which can help with projection and focus. However the Rotax valve is nowhere near as “stuffy” as a traditional rotary valve and the response on the valve is remarkably consistent when going from the open to the valve side of the trombone.

About Rath's Slides:

Michael Rath slides are available in three different materials for the outer slide – yellow brass, bronze and nickel silver.

A nickel silver slide allows a more articulate, brighter sound than yellow brass or bronze and it can also feel more open on some component combinations. A bronze slide typically sounds darker and feels more centred. Bronze can be an excellent choice, for the R4 or R9 models, for a player searching for a dark, symphonic sound. Yellow brass slides sit in between nickel silver and bronze in terms of their tonal characteristics and feel.

Michael Rath slides feature dual radius nickel slide bows and an interchangeable leadpipe system. The connection, slide to bell section, has a locking system unique to our instruments. The advantage of this system over a regular screw fitting is that the slide matches directly to the gooseneck, without any step in the bore.

Want to customize your trombone even further? Call us 816-410-0826 to place your order if you want to add any additional customization options call such as: 

• additional leadpipe(s)
• addition main tunings slides
• gooseneck (if you ordered with an F-attachment)
• add an additional bell
• Dual Bore Slide
• Personalized Custom Finishes

You can add a Rath Hand Support to Your Order (will not come attached to your horn):

Players are becoming ever more aware of the problems caused by excessive tension and physical strain when holding and playing the trombone especially in situations such as marching or simply performing for extended periods without a break. It can affect a wide range of players, from young children to those with conditions such as arthritis. The Michael Rath hand support system is a very simple yet very effective way of reducing, and in many cases eliminating, physical tension in the hand, arm and shoulder. Musically, the benefits of being able to perform free from unnecessary tension can be considerable and often this can also lead to a reduction of excessive pressure on the embouchure.

Attaching to the main bell stay of the instrument, the pad of the Michael Rath hand support fits snugly across the back of the left hand, providing all the necessary support needed to eliminate tension from the fingers. When properly adjusted a player can even remove their fingers from the slide stay completely leaving the hand support to take the full weight of the instrument. The Michael Rath hand support has been designed and successfully tested with a number of different makes and models of trombone, in addition to all Rath instruments, and, as well as its popular use with bass and contra bass trombones, the hand support has proven to be equally as successful with Bb/F tenor and even straight tenor trombones.

The Michael Rath hand support comes as a very simple kit which is easy to fit and adjust though care should be taken to not over tighten the screws as this may damage the bell stay.

Prior to ordering please check our Shipping and Returns policy. All sales are final on custom ordered/custom built trombones.

If you have any questions please send us an email or give us a call at (816) 410-0826! 

Also note weight indicated in the ad is shipping weight not actual weight of instrument.