TromboneChat

Anyone familiar with Edwards small bores? One hardly hears anything about them.

I had one for a hot second, a .500 with yellow bell. It was amazing. Very easy player, cool sound. I didn't have much use for it so I sold to someone on here, I think.

I can see why Marshall played one for a long time.

I bought a mint condition Getzen 3508R earlier this month - probably only 4-ish years old. Would be a very close relative to Edwards - nearly identical, most likely. Dual-bore .500/.508, red brass bell. I fell in love immediately - plays effortlessly. Like Aidan said above, very easy player.

The Getzen 3508 trombones are excellent - made in same factory as Edwards custom models.

I have a great .508 bore that is essentially the same combo as what Steve Weist plays. Plays really well - this particular setup has a heavy bell, but it's very resonant, and feels solid coming from a 547 horn. I have used it on some Pops shows that have a mix of commercial playing and a few light Classical pieces, and didn't need to bring along a large bore - the .508 worked double duty on those occasions. If I played small combo gigs for a living, I would probably want a lighter setup, but that's the beauty of Edwards, Shires, etc. with the ability to choose the components that work for your needs.

Jim Scott

I have an Edwards 500 bore that was sold to me, erroneously, as a Getzen 3508 500/508 dual bore. Mine has a custom Kanstul copper bell, it plays beautifully, even when I'm behind the mouthpiece. I think it was a bank error in my favor.

Those of you that have played the Getzen 3508, can you play loud on those and does the sound hold together well, or is it more of a softer ballad and jazz combo type horn?

I’ve only known a few players in person who have them. Very underrated imo. The Getzen 3508 is a fantastic instrument too. I have a 3508Y bell on my Frankenstein 607F and it’s my Goldilocks bell for what it does. 7 3/4”, so a touch smaller than 8” bells like the King 3B but larger than Bach 16 and King 2B bells. Not too light, not too heavy. Can’t recommend it enough!!

There is a guy I know who won the custom small bore trombone prize from Edwards at one of the jazz competitions some years ago. I believe the bell is sterling. He sounds unbelievable on it.

Rusty wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 4:08 am Those of you that have played the Getzen 3508, can you play loud on those and does the sound hold together well, or is it more of a softer ballad and jazz combo type horn?

Those bells are at the lighter end of the spectrum, and you could definitely put together a T-302 that was more of a Power Horn, but no, the design as a whole doesn't feel light and edgy. Also, the dual bore on the 3508 means that there's less of a defined resistance point to push against... whether you like that is a separate matter, but you'd be working pretty hard to consistently overblow it.

Also Scott Whitfield out in L.A. plays a 3508R. Sounds great on his!

Not lately... Back on the gold bell Bach!

Rusty wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 4:08 am Those of you that have played the Getzen 3508, can you play loud on those and does the sound hold together well, or is it more of a softer ballad and jazz combo type horn?

I recently got one, and I wouldn't call it a loud horn, but it's certainly "loud enough", and addictively easy to play. Something like a 48h or even Olds Recording is a bit louder. Since I got mine, I can't play any other small bore. And with the 3 leadpipes and mouthpiece options, you can kit it out to be surprisingly big sounding. I have the 3508R variant. I suppose the 3508Y is possibly a bit brighter and more cutting, if that's important to you. Great horns, great slide too.

I just watched a short video of Bob McChesney promoting his new recording, and he appears to be playing an Edwards small bore. Sounds great!

Jim Scott

Bob always sounds great. I am surprised if he moved away from Bach.

Bach5G wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:57 pm Bob always sounds great. I am surprised if he moved away from Bach.

Plenty of miles on his 2B+ alongside the Bachs. Would be interesting to know what sort of Edwards he chose.

I do sessions with Bob in Nashville every now and then. He’s definitely playing on Edwards (and a .547 too). His horn is a custom design made with Christian I believe? Not sure of the specs. Yellow brass, Very lightweight, perfect for his style, sounds fantastic!

I remember a cool small bore being made for Bob McChesney while I was there. It had a single piece hand slide brace and some other unique designs on it. I heard it didn’t work for him though.

Edwards has amazing small bores

I’ve had 2 in my day , have one now with a yellow brass bell and a gold brass bell, easy modern blow, great core , very flexible. I like it better than the shires examples I’ve tried fwiw

Steve Wiest plays edwards has done for over 12 years

Other than the option to customize, is there any quality difference between small-bore Edwards and "standardized" trombones like the Getzen 3508?

Posaunus wrote: ↑Mon Oct 02, 2023 11:56 am Other than the option to customize, is there any quality difference between small-bore Edwards and "standardized" trombones like the Getzen 3508?

Flanges are diamond shaped on some of the Getzens, rather than oval. I believe in the 3508Y the cork barrels are chrome plated rather than nickel. The counterweight says "Getzen" rather than "Edwards". On the 3508Y the bell is not removable, nor is it on most Getzens other than the ones with Thayers. The slide receivers on Getzens are typically "Conn" receivers, and those on Ewdards are "Bach" receivers. But quality differences: No. If you get a Getzen 3508Y it would be essentially identical quality as if you ordered a 500/508 with a lightweight, nickel slide & yellow crook with a 23 gauge, yellow brass bell and a yellow tuning slide.

I have several Edwards horns including a 500/508 with a nickel slide.

This is the easiest horn to play I ever had. I sometime thing the horn is playing it's self. I love the sound! Very predictable player.

I had an old Edwards valve put on it in the length of a 1st valve. Kind of the same trick as a trumpet does with the first valve for fast playing. Except I can move the slide too.

Pics on my profile.

Edwards is American made with a family owned company in the heartland of the country with a really good horn designer that really helps you get a horn that matches you. You cannot really go wrong with an Edwards in my mind..