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My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 11:49 pm
by Shumanbean
On a lark, I attached my Bach 16 .508 slide to my 12 bell and found I prefer it. It's a nice open sound, but the horn plays flat, such that 1st is often questionable. The intonation with the 12 slide is fine. The .508 16 lt slide has been modified with a round (yamaha I think) slide crook, and a press-in Kanstul H8 lead pipe. Is the slide the problem?

Is there a way to bring the pitch up a hair?

Thanks.
D Crockett

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 12:49 am
by Burgerbob
The crook could add a bit of length.

What mouthpiece are you using? My 16Ms have always been fine to play to pitch, even with some wiggle room. A 12 bell section is exactly the same as a normal 16 bell section after all.

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:47 am
by ithinknot
If there's a significant length change from the mods, the tape measure will tell you.

I'm not saying it's you... but from experience the H8 considerably widens the slots (as might the round crook), so if one wanted to play low on the pitch, it would definitely be easier on that setup (especially if the point of comparison is a 12)...

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:58 am
by Doug Elliott
You don't really even need to measure since you have both slides. Put them next to each other and compare. inner and outer separately, and assembled. I bet there's a significant difference in length somewhere. The crook is part of it but maybe not all.

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 4:59 am
by baileyman
Small Bachs seem to be often only just sharp enough for lots of players, part of the motivation to cut down tuning slides.

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 2:29 am
by Bloo
Shumanbean wrote: Mon May 02, 2022 11:49 pm Is there a way to bring the pitch up a hair?

Thanks.
D Crockett
brass pipe cutter / dremel, blowtorch, and some solder should fix it ;P

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 7:03 am
by GabrielRice
Shortening the tuning slides of Bachs is pretty simple for a competent tech. I've had it done to every Bach I've owned.

Re: My trombone plays really flat.

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 5:49 pm
by Shumanbean
Thanks, y'all.