TromboneChat

It seems over the years that my horn is losing the ability to be tuned. I've extended the tuning slide out almost completely. Anyone know if that is repairable? Thanks

Huh? You probably have a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed. Fix the leak and the tuning slide is likely fine.

What horn is it and has it been previously modified?
Andy

What model of Bach Strad are you referring to? Many Bach 50 bass trombones tend to be flat. Bach 36 and 42 models can be sharp with the factory-provided mouthpieces. Most musicians play these models with larger mouthpieces, which brings the pitch down. The smaller models can be a little sharp as well, but many play those with 1st position out about 1/2 to 3/4 inch….it allows for slide vibrato in 1st position.

My point is that equipment combinations have a huge impact on pitch. If you are playing a Bach 36 with 12C mouthpiece, that could easily make your tuning slide be maxed out.

Another factor is temperature of the playing environment. I had a concert band rehearsal in an outdoor pavilion this past week and it was 95 degrees. I checked the tuning in the middle of rehearsal and the entire group was hovering at about A= 448. It really was not an issue because the entire group was (except for the mallet percussion) going sharp together. Thus, nobody was panicking and changing their tuning.

Please give us more details of your situation. What model of trombone? What mouthpiece? What type of group are you playing with? In what conditions are you playing?

I had a 16m that the tuning slide had to be pulled out alot and the high Bb in first was basically unusable being very flat. Same with an Edwards .508 that I have. The only explanation I can come up with is the hand slide geometry. As simple as a straight trombone is, if the geometry is not right, you can really screw it up. Anyone else see this?

I have been sticking Schilke 47 mouthpieces in Bach 42 and Conn 88h, and a Bach 11C mouthpiece in 79H, and Shires 0.525 trombones over the past 50 years. I never have had intonations problems. That doesn’t mean a mouthpiece choice couldn’t do it. My mentor’s LT6G had had the tuning slide shortened. And a Bach bass trombone was screwed up from the factory.

Have you tried other trombones to see whether you encounter the same issue? I don't know your age but I know that as I got older, into my 60s, I found that I needed to push the tuning slide further and further out, on any instrument I played. I believe this may have been due to changes that were occurring inside my mouth - my tongue and cheeks were swelling.

We need more information. How long have you been playing? How long have you had the instrument? How accomplished are you as a player? Is this your first trombone? Without knowing any answers to those questions, it is almost impossible to give reasonable reply

Edit. After looking at your info, I see you have been playing the same horn for 61 years. Have you had the instrument checked by a tech? Sounds like it could be leaking somewhere. How is your facial structure? Have you noticed any obvious changes in strength?

Randy has a ~1951 Bach 6 V11. Yes. It should be repairable. BAC in KC MO repaired my Bach LT6 after a nasty fall. The horn played better when I got it back than it ever had before. It wasn’t cost prohibitive, either. Tell us where you are and/or how it turns out. Best wishes.

Randy's profiles says Bach 6 vii, "Playing same horn since 1963. Concertband,dance band,jazz band, orchestras, etc."

I'd guess he's probably 70 or so.

I have the same horn but I have only played it occasionally. No pitch problems that I recall.
Glenn Miller played that same model.
I've played his horn that's on display at the Wright-Patterson AFB museum.

I suspect the problem lies with Randy and not Randy's horn. Our bodies change over time. Our muscles react differently. This means playing is different. The sound is different.

The horn is constant.