Adding a Counterweight

[Bombardino23]

I've recently been given an old B&S straight trombone.
The bell section is quite short, which makes the instrument very front-heavy. It already has one counterweight on the back but would anybody suggest adding another one? And if so, where would you suggest buying it from (I've seen a couple on the internet but the cost way more than what I'm willing to pay for a piece of metal).

[Mamaposaune]

Could it be high-pitch, 1st position being closer to a B than a Bb? If so, it may not be all that useful for playing outside the house anyhow.

[Bombardino23]

Could it be high-pitch, 1st position being closer to a B than a Bb? If so, it may not be all that useful for playing outside the house anyhow.

No definately not high pitch, it's a tuneful instrument with a gorgeus sound. The single problem I found with it is ergonomics and the fact that it's very front-heavy.

[heldenbone]

Hickey's stocks two different weights of generic counterweight for reasonable cost. I use the smaller of the two on my King 4B-F. The larger is roughly the same weight as a usual Conn pot metal weight.

https://www.hickeys.com/search/products/sku079240.php

https://www.hickeys.com/search/products/sku032155.php

[BGuttman]

If you want something even heavier, find the counterweight from a Conn 38H, 40H, or 42H. These were TIS Ballroom models with a really heavy slide and a relatively short bell section.

You could do a McGiver solution with a D battery (or two) and some duct tape.

[ghmerrill]

I use one of the Hickey's on my bass -- actually just half of one since that's enough in my case. It's well made, but I did have to bore out the channel a bit (and then added a slim plastic sleeve) for it to fit the brace snugly and well. Another thing I considered was to add several "clamping collars" up to the required weight. Things like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VXS9KS?re ... tails&th=1, which come in different weights and bore sizes.

[dbwhitaker]

Another possibility (but more expensive than other suggestions): https://instrumentinnovations.com/olsen-side-balancer/

[ghmerrill]

I like the idea of a side balancer (to get more neutral side/side balance), but I wonder how well the horn will fit in the case if it's sticking out to the side. Also, there's the whole $75 for a chunk of metal on a clamp issue , although I note that currently the Hickey's generic "Standard" counterweight kit is now $49.95 (twice what I paid for it within the past year -- but I think I got some of the last of old stock).