.525/.547 dual bore - pros/cons

[EriKon]

Please tell me about those .525/.547 dual bores. How do you feel about it? What do you like about it and what's not so good? Of course there's way more on an instrument and a player that makes the deal, but I just want to hear your thoughts about those and see if there's some sort of general characteristics about those. Basically all input about horns/slides with this bore size is appreciated.

[hyperbolica]

I personally prefer straight 525. The 525/547 to me doesn't give enough difference from a 547. In general, though, the 525/547 would save you some air and articulate a little cleaner. I use mine on 8h/88h. My 525 horns are lively, light on their feet and fun to play.

[Matt K]

Love mine. With a large leadpipe it’s 90% the same breadth of sound as a single bore 547 but like 30% easier blow. With a small pipe, like a slightly more open 525.

Bear in mind a lot of medium bores share a bell section with a large bore counterpart, like on Edwards, Shires, and Yamaha instruments. On those types of bells, the larger dual bore seems to play very well for me. On other medium bores, I’m not so sure it would work as well, like a King 3B plus, which shares a bell with the 3B. A 547 lower would probably feel quite odd in such a circumstance.

[JohnL]

...a King 3B plus, which shares a bell with the 3B. A 547 lower would probably feel quite odd in such a circumstance.

I would think that a 4B bell section would be a better choice if one were building a .525"/.547" using King parts.

[Matt K]

Now that you mention it, I suppose king did have a .536/.547 slide for one of their larger bell sections

[Thrawn22]

Love mine. With a large leadpipe it’s 90% the same breadth of sound as a single bore 547 but like 30% easier blow. With a small pipe, like a slightly more open 525.

Bear in mind a lot of medium bores share a bell section with a large bore counterpart, like on Edwards, Shires, and Yamaha instruments. On those types of bells, the larger dual bore seems to play very well for me. On other medium bores, I’m not so sure it would work as well, like a King 3B plus, which shares a bell with the 3B. A 547 lower would probably feel quite odd in such a circumstance.

These are my most of my feelings as well.

While I'm not a fan of the large shank .525 leadpipes, the .525 upper tube makes blowing a large bell instrument a bit easier. I'm fortunate, and quite frankly lucky enough, to have a diverse inventory of modified trombone equipment. I initially used my 2547 with my 8H bell and it made playing in the upper register. Now i use it exclusively with my 78H and 36BG bell. It can sound big with ease.

[SteveM]

Now that you mention it, I suppose king did have a .536/.547 slide for one of their larger bell sections

That was the King Symphony Bass, the bell section of which was later used for the 5B.

[whitbey]

I have 547/562 and a 525/547 slide.
I play duo bore much better than single bore.
The 547/562 is great for syph and band.
The 525/547 is great for solo and quintet.
I also have used it when the syph parts are soft and high. Less work.
525/547 is much more nimble. 547/562 is solid and secure. For me.

[TrryReynolds]

From your list of equipment, whitbey, I assume each of those slides are paired with different bells. Bach’s LTbofg has a few different slide options with the same bell. Can that work in your opinion?

[Macbone1]

Never played on a dual bore of any size I didn't love. Comparatively responsive and nimble while retaining a rich full tone. I personally feel more in control of the dynamics and tone colors on a dual bore too. And as has already been mentioned, they are less fatiguing.

[Trombola2112]

Related question, say one is interested in a dual bore but there aren't any to try nearby. What would be a good way to answer this curiosity. Would be a slide for an 88HO

[Thrawn22]

Related question, say one is interested in a dual bore but there aren't any to try nearby. What would be a good way to answer this curiosity. Would be a slide for an 88HO

Conn dual bores seem hard to come by. I was lucky to have gotten my 2547 slide used. Researching where i could potentially buy a 4762 or 6280, no stores had any in stock so I'd have to special order one. I'm most like just going to have a tech build me a 4762 or 6280 off of existing slides since it's just the lower tube.

[Matt K]

Dillon Music has a dual bore Conn slide for sale now iirc

[Matt K]

Yep: https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-conn-t ... handslide/

[whitbey]

From your list of equipment, whitbey, I assume each of those slides are paired with different bells. Bach’s LTbofg has a few different slide options with the same bell. Can that work in your opinion?

The bells all have slides that work well......for me.
The 547 brass bell works with a 547/562 slide, brass or nickle. The 562 slide also works. Just a bit too big.
The 547 Sterling bell works with a nickle slide 525/547 or 547/562. The yellow 547/562 slide woofs.
My 500/508 horn has only a nickle slide and works very well. Funny thing, As I used an old Edwards valve to make the Ab/1st valve on this horn, I can put other slides on it or this slide on the 547 bell. The 525/547 nickle slide will work good enough IF my small slide was damaged to get by. It does not work well, just good enough to for an emergency. And if you put the 500/508 slide on the 547 bell you have an old style German small bore with a big bell. This combination is almost as bad as an old small bore big bell German horn.