Yamaha 421G Trigger

[walldaja]

I must have a short thumb because just the tip of my thumb is on the lever. After looking at an 882 I noticed it had a nice adjustable plate. I realized they probably use the same lever on all of their trombones, or at least a very similar one.

I got an illustrated parts breakdown for a Yamaha 882 and tried to order the parts via my local Music Arts store. Never a call back which wasn't the first time but for me was the last time I'll bother with them.

I'm not sure why Yamaha decided to just provide a simple lever on their intermediate trombones and even some professional models. Those models are the 446G, 448G, 421G, 620, and 640. They provide a nice adjustable plate for the 882 though. Was it worth saving $30 or less in parts on horns that sell for thousands of dollars? I would have paid more to have the part.

Turned to Mouthpiece Express. They had the parts on hand, were extremely helpful in getting them (especially set screw that locks the adjusting plate to the slide lever). A couple days later I had the parts on hand.

It took less than 30 seconds to install the part on my 421G and really made it much more comfortable for me.

If you have a 446, 448, 421G, 620,or 640 and want an adjustable plate for your trigger lever the part # is YAMD8A41250 and the set screw is YAMA3141221 at Mouthpiece Express. Cost was less than $30.

[PaulT]

Thanks for the tip!

[ArbanRubank]

I super glued on an Etsy Trombone Acrylic Trigger Thumb Rest and it made a difference.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/661477344/ ... -1-2&frs=1

Perhaps your fix is better, though.

I still had to train myself to maintain a firm and proper grip, though so my thumb won't contact the linkage. I wish they had turned the linkage around like it is on their 620 tenor.

[walldaja]

Here is a picture of 421G bell with 882 thumb lever.

[ArbanRubank]

That looks like a great fix!

I discovered that if I put my left-hand little finger up over the brace, rather than under it - things go a lot better. It feels like a more solid grip for this horn and it's also not as hard on my little finger. I guess it takes a big-boy grip for a big-boy horn.

Congrats on your fix!

[walldaja]

It certainly looks better than stock. With just the bar stock it looks like they forgot an assembly step.

[walldaja]

Got the call I was waiting on, "trombone is ready for pickup." I couldn't wait to see how the horn felt and played with the lever switched from below my thumb to above my thumb. I had been using a Neotech brace originally just to try to position my hand as far from the lever as possible. Found I didn't need it at all which certainly simplified handling mutes--could do it with either hand now.

The technical stuff. The original trigger bracket was brazed on this horn and cleaning up the appearance was the biggest part of the job. The original bracket also had a detent on the inside where it fits against the crossbar and the crossbar had a notch milled into it. Rob filled in the notch on the crossbar and took off the detent on the bracket.

The action is direct and short. The trigger no longer binds against my thumb. I removed the Neotech brace. I'm quite pleased with the mod. Thanks for those who responded.

[elmsandr]

Now, for a question I have always wondered... can you put the removable second valve from a 622 or 822 into the small tuning slide?

Cheers,
Andy

[walldaja]

I don't have one; but, looking at the Yamaha video it looks likely. Of course getting one and the related hardware may be problematic.