Bass Trombone: Orquesta Filarmónica de España

Principal Trombone: Studio Live Orchestra

Tenor: QAlessi
Bass: Q36YR

”With the Shires trombones I have been able to prove their very high quality and their great sonority that make my work much easier, being able to get a wide range of shades and colors. Without a doubt, they are trombones that I recommend to everyone.”

Bass Trombonist of the Fort Worth Symphony

BII7GT7 DF/ B62/78BOL/BYCBOL/BAXLW

“I play Shires because their instruments offer unrivaled ease of flexibility and stability. They are popular for a reason!”

Assistant Professor, Florida State University

Tenor: Ralph Sauer Model TBRS with TW47G handslide

Co-Principal Trombone, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra & Co-Principal Trombone, Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra - Teatro Colón

 Tenor: Shires 7YLW / TW47 / Alessi Rotor
Alto: Shires A7YLW / A85-95

“Shires gives me a full and flexible sound, immediate response, and the freedom to find my own voice in every repertoire. It’s an instrument that inspires me every day.”

Assistant Professor of Trombone, University of Maryland

Joseph Alessi Model Tenor Trombone

Bass Trombonist Duke Ellington Orchestra

Dean of the College of Music and Communication Arts at Nelson University

Bass: TBBSCA

“It’s important to me that my music depicts a narrative, and my S.E. Shires Bass Trombone is the perfect voice to communicate the triumphs and struggles of that story.”

Bass Trombone, Philadelphia Orchestra

Bass Trombone: TBBO Blair Bollinger Artist Model

“I love playing my new Shires Bollinger Model trombone. It's got just the right balance of power and response. It's the most satisfying trombone I've ever played.”

Composer, Conductor, Trombonist, Educator

Tenor: 2RVET7 / Rotor / TW47G

“The Shires trombone has always, from the very first moment, given me great satisfaction in all types of playing, whether it be orchestra, chamber music or solos, and still does. It is a wonderful instrument.”

Trombonist, Teacher, Clinician

Tenor: TBQ30GA

"I have been a huge fan of Steve Shires through the years. It is an honor and pleasure to be playing the S.E. Shires Q Series Model Q30GA. I particularly enjoy the resonance of the horn and the axial-flow valve allows for a very natural flow of air in changing registers. The Q-Series horns are an excellent alternative to the custom horns, offering a very reasonable price for the value offered."

SPANISH BRASS, Trombonist

Tenor: TBALESSI

“Shires is the best option I have found in the trombone market. Easy to play, great sound and high quality workmanship.”

Adjunct Professor of Trombone, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TX),

Principal Trombone, Temple Symphony Orchestra (TX)

Tenor: 7YLW / TB47 / Axial Flow / TX

Alto: A7GM / A85-95

“I love the versatility, response, and ease of playing with Shires. The options for customization allow me to create my ideal sound across all registers and in all aspects of playing. With Shires I truly have my own voice on both alto and tenor. Shires trombones are a joy to play! “

Asturias Symphony Orchestra, Spain, Principal Trombone

Tenor: TBVNYDB Vintage New York with Dual Bore

“I've been playing on vintage instruments almost my entire career and I've flirted with other horns only to go back in the end. Imagine my surprise on finding a genuinely better horn in the Shires Vintage New York trombone! The sound is rich and colorful and holds together at high volumes, while also being more present in soft dynamics. Additionally, I'm totally impressed with how it plays so easily and precisely across all registers. I love it!”

Evansville, IN/Tri-State Freelancer; Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra

Tenor: 1GM / Axial / TW47

“My Shires feels right in my hands and on my face. This perfectly constructed instrument has eliminated all excuses. I will never go back!”

Principal Trombone, Rochester Philharmonic

Alto: A7GLW / A85 hand slide

Tenor: 7GLW / Tru-Bore / TW47 / TY

University of New Mexico, Associate Professor of Trombone

Santa Fe Opera, Acting Second Trombone

Tenor: 1GT7 / Axial / TB47NLW / 2SS

“Shires trombones have the beautiful, resonant sound I'm always striving for. They play very easily, with big slots around the notes--particularly in the upper register, where you need it most. And they are made to mechanical perfection. I couldn't be happier with my Shires and I'm only sorry I wasn't playing them years earlier!”

Assistant Chair of Instrumental Studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee

”I play Shires because of the flexibility and consistency of sound, clarity of articulation, ease of projection and blend with other musicians. My Shires bass trombone is very versatile and enables performance with clear musical intent in symphony orchestras, brass ensembles, big bands, and solo recitals.”

Professor of Trombone at the University of Chile

David Rejano Model Trombone

Co-Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Symphony

Artist Lecturer in Trombone, Carnegie Mellon Institute

"I have been playing Shires trombones for 30 years ever since I purchased Steve's very first horn. Steve has the vision and ear of an artist which are essential in creating such fine instruments. Short of playing themselves, Shires play easily, with focus top to bottom, but most importantly the sound is warm and flexible. I only regret waiting too long to purchase my Shires alto trombone. Both of my solo CDs are recorded on Shires alto and tenor horns."

Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Perú, Trombonist

Professor of Trombone at the national University of Perú

Tenor: TBALESSI

Colombian National Symphony Orchestra, Bass trombone

Javeriana University & De los Andes University, Trombone professor

Bass Trombone: Bollinger / Bass Axial / B62 / BYB

“In Shires I found my perfect instrument to play everything I want and everything I like, it's all in one instrument, It’s just perfect.”

Principal Bass Trombonist--Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Vintage Elkhart Bass Trombone

"Having formerly played vintage bass trombones, they are known for their sound but less so for their flexibility and ease of use. The Shires Vintage Elkhart Bass Trombone has found the perfect sweet spot: achieving the rich, focused core sound of the old-school American instruments, while maintaining the incredible flexibility and consistency across the entire range, as seen in their other bass models."

Trombonist (bass/tenor) with Novus and Alarm Will Sound / Professor of Trombone, Dickinson and Messiah Colleges

Small Bore: S7YLW 7.75 / T00LW
Tenor: 2YM / Axial Flow / TG
Bass - BI 7YM / Bass TruBore / B62-78 / BGB

“Each of my Shires trombones allows me the flexibility to produce timbres that blend with a trombone just as well as a flute or violin. Shires trombones are the backbone of my work.”

Bern Symphony Orchestra, Bass Trombonist

Budapest Festival Orchestra, Bass Trombonist

Professor at l'Haute École de Musique Vaud Valais Fribourg

Bass Trombone: BII 1Y Bell / Bass Axial / B62 / BGB

“Shires makes by far the most versatile and reliable bass trombone I have played. It is an absolute joy to play!”

Professor of Trombone, Frost School of Music & University of Miami

Tenor: 7YLW / Dual Bore / TY / TW47

“I had been looking for a long time for a trombone that helped me find a clear, rich, and warm sound; flexible and not overly cumbersome. I have happily found this is my Shires trombone!”

Principal Trombone, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine

Alessi DF Bell, TX, Axial flow, TW47

"My custom Shires allowed me to rediscover qualities that seemed lost... I simply didn't have the right equipment... it's like a rebirth! "

Assistant Professor of Trombone/Jazz - University of Central Arkansas

Festival Manager - International Trombone Festival

Tenor: 7YLW / Axial Flow / TB47 / TG

Bass: Curran Bell / Axial Flow / B62

“The horn is an incredibly versatile instrument that completely matches the sound in my mind. Its highly responsive and, as a freelancer, is a great instrument in any situation that I play. I couldn't ask for a better instrument of higher quality than my Shires!”

Bass Trombone, New York Philharmonic

Bass - George Curran Model

“This is my favorite instrument to use, both in the orchestra and on the solo stage, and I am proud to put my name on this beautiful bass trombone!”

Utah Symphony, Principal Trombone

Tenor: Model TBSCA

International Jazz Soloist / Educator

MD Model
MD + Model

“...this trombone is without question, the finest instrument I have ever played!”

Principal Bass Trombone, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Artist Lecturer, Carnegie Mellon University

Bass: TBBSCA

“The high demands of my job in the Pittsburgh Symphony require an instrument that can be versatile in all styles and extreme dynamics. My Shires bass trombone surpasses these standards and allows me to perform comfortably and with confidence.”

Associate Professor of Music at Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.), Principal Trombone of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony

Tenor: 2YM bell / Trubore

“Playing a Shires allows me to achieve my most vibrant, responsive, colorful sound with a consistency of tone, articulation, and intonation that is unparalleled.”