[Trombone-l] 57 and Thinking About My First Double-Rotor Bass Trombone

[Moran, Doug]

On Aug 19, 2007, at 6:23 PM, t.stone at att.net wrote:

> Hi List,
>
> I've been a dedicated single-rotor bass trombone guy for 45 years and 
> have resisted switching to a double-rotor horn  for a lot of reasons 
> -- stuffiness, poor response in all ranges, especially the 
> double-trigger range, weight, and a whole host of other reasons. That 
> is until now. For a lot of reasons I'm taking a long, hard look at 
> making the switch to a double-rotor bass trombone, or at least adding 
> one to my equipment arsenal, and would like some input from all of you 
> regarding this and the types of moderately priced horns that might 
> worth looking at, along with some details about their playability if 
> you wouldn't mind. For the last few weeks a tenor player friend of 
> mine I frequently play with was gracious enough to allow me to borrow 
> his Getzen 1062FDR to try for a while. It plays very well. Better than 
> I ever really expected, actually. It is similar on the F horn to the 
> Holton TR-169 I played for 40 years and traded for my current Elkhart 
> Conn 72H (se e my recent post "Proble
> m with my Elkhart Conn 72H") in 2004, but that's another story for 
> another time if anybody's interested. And the double-trigger notes pop 
> out pretty good I must say, and it doesn't seem all that heavy, even 
> after a two-hour rehearsal. Have any of you had any experience with  
> the 1062FDR? Tell all about all of them. At 57 I'm new at all this and 
> am anxious to learn!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim Stone

Tim,

Play all the current bass trombones you can, either at a convention or 
a large retailer.

Regarding the Getzen 1062, I really wanted to get this model since I 
played a dependent bass trombone in college.  I had played 9 (I think) 
different models of bass trombones that day and for me the Getzen's 
were the choice.  (I was looking for a bass trombone for use as a 
double.)  The weight of the 1062 hung off the left side of the horn as 
I played it, since both sets of valve tubing are on the left side of 
the bell.  The 1052 (independent valves) has the tubing one on each 
side of the bell section, and that was better for me in holding the 
horn.  Also, I was fortunate to get the 1062 handslide (dual bore) with 
the 1052 (not a dual bore).  I purchased my Getzen 1052 in June 2006.

This has made a great horn for me.  Everyone that plays it likes it a 
LOT as well.  Good luck, and let us know what you decide on.

Doug