[Trombone-l] D slide: An ageing bass trombonist with no imagination needs to know

[Eric & Candice Swanson]

Keith Marr wrote:

>An ageing bass trombonist with no imagination needs to know:
>
>What are the advantages of having a D slide for the second valve on an independent set-up? I see Weril are offering it as part of the outfit with their Gagliardi GG295WL Bb/F/Gb/D which I'm considering buying as a back-up horn (Yes I have been warned the slide might need a set-up.).
>
>  
>

Keith,

I never could figure out what these things were good for until I got a 
horn (not my regular horn) that was built that way and tried to figure 
out how to play it.  What I figured out is that you use either the F 
attachment or the D attachment (second valve by itself pitched in D) but 
never both valves together.  By using either valve by itself you can 
play all the notes on the horn and never be blowing through both 
attachments at the same time.  So it is less stuffy than most double 
rotary valve horns because you are not blowing through both valves at 
the same time, which is when most horns get stuffy.  However the weight 
is an issue.  I don't recommend this setup.  If the horn is real stuffy 
when playing low C and B, then I just would not buy the horn in the 
first place.  There are others out there that play fine.

If you try one of the Werils, check out the intonation before you agree 
to buy it.  The ones I tried a few years back were so flat that I didn't 
recognize the "Bb" that came out in first position because it was more 
like an A.  I had to look to see if a trigger was stuck down.  Don't 
expect too much from the slide, even after you have it repaired, and it 
might be a usable back up horn.

Eric Swanson