TromboneChat

Hello everyone, I hope yall are having a great day. I wanted to inquire here for outside opinions.

I'm saving money right now to buy or put together an orchestral bass bone, and I'm not sure what my best options would be. My current plan would be either to set up an appointment with an Edwards or Shires representative, or to put something together by searching for parts and putting everything together myself or sending it to a tech to do it. I'm really not sure what to do, but I know that I'm willing to wait a decent amount of time - I have my bass currently even if it isn't really set up for what I have in mind.

Getting fitted is quicker (and probably cheaper) than trying to accumulate parts and then replace the ones that don't quite work.

Used Shires or Edwards parts aren't really cheap enough to allow accumulating a large number of pieces to mix and match to find what you are looking for. Besides, some pieces don't ever show up in the 2nd hand market.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun.

Reading your bio, it looks like you currently have a YBL-613G bass trombone, which is a pretty good horn. Probably best to wait until you can really go to get fitted for a set up if you want to go for a modular horn. If you are studying privately I would definitely get your teacher's input as well.

Save up the price for a new boutique horn… then spend $1k of it going to ITF or ATW and buy the best prepared instrument on the floor. Only being half facetious. Obviously, if everyone bought used there would be no new horns… and a fitting is great. If you want to spend the money, you can hardly go wrong with any of the boutique makers. But there are some really killer horns out there and you might be surprised. I was blown away by the newest Yamaha models this year and they’re quite a bit cheaper new than other boutique makers.

I ended up buying a custom shires from Dillons and spent some time trying friends parts and eventually buying everything I wanted secondhand. This took about 2 years to do and honestly, I’ve got a great horn, but I have played ones I like more. I also did do an unofficial fitting and swapped slides because of it. All said and done, spent roughly 10k and built 2 basses. I only need one and have essentially sold the other one for parts, making about $5300 back from the sale.

If you want to go through this route be prepared to wait, if you have the cash and live close to some place like Edwards, you could spend the 5-6k and have it that day

Have you tried an Adams Bass Trombone? Dual Hagmann valves. They offer two different bell sizes. The larger bell is round, rich, full, and dark but still has clarity in articulation and definition. The smaller bell is a great all around bass trombone sound and more ideal for someone who plays primarily in jazz bands or smaller ensembles. Are you going to ITF this year?

ACBEric wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 11:57 am Have you tried an Adams Bass Trombone? Dual Hagmann valves. They offer two different bell sizes. The larger bell is round, rich, full, and dark but still has clarity in articulation and definition. The smaller bell is a great all around bass trombone sound and more ideal for someone who plays primarily in jazz bands or smaller ensembles. Are you going to ITF this year?

Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to. I've tried a Getzen 3062AFR at my local music store, but haven't played any other basses. I won't be able to fly out to ITF because I'll be marching, but I'll be at TMEA next convention for sure.

BGuttman wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 3:35 pm Getting fitted is quicker (and probably cheaper) than trying to accumulate parts and then replace the ones that don't quite work.

Used Shires or Edwards parts aren't really cheap enough to allow accumulating a large number of pieces to mix and match to find what you are looking for. Besides, some pieces don't ever show up in the 2nd hand market.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun.

I didn't elaborate on the used side further - I'm planning on buying a new Shires or Edwards slide either way, and then putting a bell section together with a (probably) Bach bell and valves from somewhere (Instrument Innovation axials or meinlschmidt rotor/radial valves? not Haggmans because I know they're super expensive, but not sure.). I seem to remember seeing an unlacquered '80s Shires bell on reverb not too long ago, so there are certainly parts I would be looking for floating around one way or another.

Thank you

If you are seeing a “Shires” bell being advertised as being made in the 1980s, there is some bogus information on that Reverb sale. Steve Shires did not start his “Shires” branded trombones until the mid 1990s.

Just stick with what you have. Don't buy anything yet. Get as good as you can on your current gear, and try as many horns as you can get your hands on. Eventually you'll find something that is so much better than what you have that you'll know what to get.

Bassbonetyler wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 2:38 pm

ACBEric wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 11:57 am Have you tried an Adams Bass Trombone? Dual Hagmann valves. They offer two different bell sizes. The larger bell is round, rich, full, and dark but still has clarity in articulation and definition. The smaller bell is a great all around bass trombone sound and more ideal for someone who plays primarily in jazz bands or smaller ensembles. Are you going to ITF this year?

Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to. I've tried a Getzen 3062AFR at my local music store, but haven't played any other basses. I won't be able to fly out to ITF because I'll be marching, but I'll be at TMEA next convention for sure.

I would imagine they will have bass trombones at TMEA next year. If you are ever in the Kansas City area let me know and (at least at the moment) I know a place (Austin Custom Brass) that has Adams Bass Trombones you can try.

Crazy4Tbone86 wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 5:36 pm If you are seeing a “Shires” bell being advertised as being made in the 1980s, there is some bogus information on that Reverb sale. Steve Shires did not start his “Shires” branded trombones until the mid 1990s.

It's a bell made by Steve Shires during the time he worked at Osmun, pre the Shires brand, but still made by Steve.