What is your favorite handslide?

[BrianJohnston]

Hi all,

This question is for those who have messed around with different bells on different slides. I know Bach slides can be vastly different, and a lot of Bach bell players like putting Edwards/Shires hand-slides on their set-up. I'm wondering what slides you've found being your favorite especially for sound, but also for general playability.

[Burgerbob]

Edwards TBCN (standard weight, nickel bass crook) is a perfect match on Bach 42 bells. Easier to play, still has that Bach color, consistent, great action. I've had two that were exactly the same and they both made Bach 42 bell sections 100X better. I've had a couple 42 slides that played well (I have a nickel one at the moment) but overall, the Edwards is just better.

[tbonesullivan]

I have a Bach 42 slide that came with a factory warped outer slide. Eventually had it fixed by Freddie at Dillon and then it turned into the best slide in terms of feel, action, and sound that I have ever played on.

[elmsandr]

More bass centric…. But I love my my old NY Bach with equal length oversleeves. Heavier, but sound is fun. BUT the best is an M&W TIS that they made for another project horn here… narrower slide, and the weight is heavier, but the sound is the bees knees.

Cheers,
Andy

[Matt K]

Shires T0825GLW. Kick myself for selling that one! Probably would still have it if it were a T0825YLW. Tremendously versatile slide. Sold because I had smaller and larger slides that did that specific thing “better” although in hind side I keep gravitating to that size rather than either of those extremes.

[WGWTR180]

The ones that came with the bell sections they were mated to.

[MrHCinDE]

My favourite slide for sound and playability with by Bach 42 based bell section is an Edwards T-STDN prototype I bought on here. It‘s a .547“ in standard weight with yellow brass outers and a nickel silver crook, described by the previous owner as being „just a touch more open than the standard T-STDN slide but not as open as the T-BCN slides.“

The action is superb, I have access to the wide range of Edwards leadpipes and for me the decisive factor is that it‘s slightly shorter than a Bach slide. I mainly play in groups who tune to A=442 or A=443 and find the shorter slide still has some wiggle room on the tuning slide whereas with the Bach slide needs the tuning slide fully in and even then can be borderline. I don’t know if the horn really sounds much different between an Edwards and Bach slide but I would say the Edwards feels slightly more secure and has a bit more dynamic headroom.

I have recently acquired the equivalent .525” Edwards slide and first impressions are excellent.

When I used to play Conn 8h/88h, my favourite slide was the SL2525.

[harrisonreed]

I really like my Edwards 396-A slide, which I guess is based on a classic Bach horn, and I think it's probably the best match for the rest of the horn (don't want to mess with it), but secretly the best slide I've played was the classic Edwards T-STDN T-350 slide with a #2 pipe in it, the one that is like a wideish 88 slide. That horn though, with the axial valve and the bell it had on it, played kind of boring and was like too "locked in" while at the same time being kind of tubby.

I'd be really curious to try that slide, which I think was trying to balance that T-350 out and make it a bit brighter and snappier, on my 396 bell. It might be truly awesome.

In terms of slide action, the best slide ever was my 88H slide from 2005 after the Slide Doctor did some magic with it. It went from the smoothest slide ever, to the even smoothester slide ever. But after playing the above Edwards, I realized just how crazy the 88H design is and went for something in between the 88H and T-350 in terms of snappy/lively/interesting. No matter how great that Eastlake slide was it came along with the baggage of an overall jealous, backstabbing, and "only wants to be played one way" 88H design.

[Posaunus]

The ones that came with the bell sections they were mated to.

The slide of a Getzen 3508Y that I've played (untouched, from the factory) is as good as I've ever played (though almost all my slides are pristine and smooooth). Do my various slides "sound" different? Sure. But, as Bill said, I'll keep my slides mated to their factory bells.

If your slide isn't smooth - bring it to Bruce Belo. You'll be astonished at what he can do.

[Tbarh]

I stay away from nickel crooks.. Even on Conns..ancient Conns have the same crook material as the rest of the Horn… Match !

[Wilco]

I stay away from nickel crooks.. Even on Conns..ancient Conns have the same crook material as the rest of the Horn… Match !

Me too, don’t like them

[Lastbone]

I'm fond of everything in nickel. The sound is always there for me. That said, the Bach nickel 42 and 50 slides seem to have a bit extra magic in the alloy...

[Mamaposaune]

I like my Bach lightweight nickle slides a lot, but I think my favorite is my Courtois lightweight yellow brass slide. Light, almost weightless while in use, but resonant. (I say lightweight because it is all brass with no oversleeves)
I am seriously considering getting the oversleeves removed from my 88H slide - it just may become my favorite tenor.

[whitbey]

Fav Slide is my 547/562 Edwards nickle slide without over sleeves. I have a copper leadpipe and nickle end crook.
Second choice is the 525/547 with the same as above.
Although the 500/509 Edwards slide for my small bore is just as loved.It is also nickle

They all move easy. I like when slide can move a small amount with no real force. All do.

[modelerdc]

Generally I prefer Brass slides with nickel crooks. Most horns play the best for me with a standard weight slide, and then a medium to light bell. There are exceptions, small bore tenors for commercial work I usually like nickel sliver slides, they seem to get a more commercial sound. Vintage Conns sound best with the OEM red brass slides with nickel crook. I also like Bach 36 and 42 with the factory lightweight nickel slides.