TromboneChat

I was playing my Reynolds bass trombone for an extended period of time, and I noticed the slide is a little bit wider than I'm used to and the horn is not particularly a fantastic example of ergonomic design.

I'm used to playing on narrower slides, and the wide slide doesn't feel to great with my extraordinarily average hand size. I'm going to a Contempora bass slide from slides like those found on an 18H or a Yamaha 548.

Are there any lower-budget solutions you folks found work for you? I don't want to put $500 into a $500 horn, but if there's something that does wonders for like $50 or less I'd like to hear it.

Try changing the way you hold the horn. Instead of the index finger on the mouthpiece, try just having it rest on the fixed slide brace.

Sometimes having a finger ring installed touching the upper cork barrel and the fixed slide brace (just under the mouthpiece) can help. Instead of a finger on the mouthpiece you just put it in the ring.

Both available for well under $500.

Narrow slides are uncomfortable on my neck. Guess there's problems either way.

I actually prefer wider slides when they have a ring on them. I made a ring for my edwards slide and it was pretty easy. I would go to your local tech and have them install a ring, but make sure you are there so you can tell them where to put it so it’s actually comfortable.