[Trombone-l] The big dark bass trombone sound

Mon Sep 8 16:02:59 CDT 2008

I hope everyone knows my comment was tongue-in-cheek.

That said, I love my Ferguson Jeff Reynolds L, but it's not for the meek - it takes some solid strength to use well...

Eric's right on the money...

J.c.

---- Eric & Candice Swanson <swan325 at earthlink.net> wrote: 
> 
> On Sep 8, 2008, at 1:35 PM, Daniel Alessi wrote:
> 
> >
> > .......Since two or three weeks the director asks me to get a  
> > "darker" "more like a
> > tuba" sound. Well. If he wants that sound he will get that sound,  
> > but how
> > can I make my sound darker? I play plenty of long tones, listening to
> > myself, but the sound doesn't really get darker, what to do? How  
> > practice?
> >
> > My equipment: (if it's an equipment question) Schilke 59, Edwards  
> > Leadpipe
> > (don't remember the number), Slide Edwards BDBN, Hagmann progressive  
> > bore
> > valve section (by mr. Hagmann) and a 9.5 Bach 50b bell (gold brass I  
> > think).
> >
> > I don't want to change very much in my equipment but. maybe a  
> > leadpipe or
> > the mouthpiece?
> >
> > Oh and soon I'm getting those mp's for trial: Jeff Reynolds, Faxx  
> > 11/2g,
> > Schilke Symphony 6.0, Yeo signature, Gold plated George Roberts SE.  
> > Maybe
> > one of those may help me?
> 
> Daniel,
> 
> There is nothing wrong with your equipment.  Don't run out and buy  
> tons more mouthpieces, leadpipes and bells.  You should be able to  
> produce a nice characteristic bass trombone sound on the equipment you  
> already have.  You might already be doing it.  I suggest finding  a  
> good bass trombone teacher and having a lesson or two.  Ask his  
> opinion about how you sound and perhaps he can suggest some things if  
> you are having a sound issue.
> 
> The Schilke 59 is a fine mouthpiece.  The 60 or 6.0 (I assume they are  
> more or less the same size) may give a darker sound if a bigger  
> mouthpiece proves necessary.  The other mouthpieces you list are about  
> the same size or smaller (1 1/2G).
> 
> Sometimes it is more a problem of opening up the throat, keeping the  
> tongue down and out of the way, etc.  Here's where the good teacher  
> comes into it.
> 
> PS  Maybe the director doesn't know what he's talking about.  That  
> sometimes happens.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Eric Swanson
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