[Trombone-l] Doubling on Bass

[Ray Horton]

I gave these recommendations to my former student (for a time while in 
HS) privately, but I'll go ahead and post them to the list for 
posterity.  YMMV


If you want a bass trombone to play in a big orchestra, look for a good 
Bach (try a lot of them) or Shires.  Doug Yeo sounds good on his model 
Yamaha but I've not tried it, and I prefer in-line valves.  Edwards are 
close to a good Bach but I prefer the latter. 


Other than a big orchestra, a lot of brands are out there, as other 
messages here have said.   In general, there are horns that play easier 
than a Bach, and sound good close up, but the sound may not hold up in a 
big concert hall.  Holton TR-180, for example - excellent horn, though. 


What I have typed above is true for players like myself, that tend to 
play on the heavy side.  I can't say if it would be true for you.


Mouthpiece - if you are using a different rim, use the smallest one that 
gets the sound and range you need - Bach 2G, 1 1/2G or  1 1/4 G, (avoid 
the Bach 1G) Shilke 58, 59.  If you can try any Laske mouthpieces, they 
are excellent, but harder to get a hold of.   I have a bass trb student 
that plays very well on a Marcinkiewicz Phil Teele model. 


Raymond Horton
Bass Trombonist,
Louisville Orchestra


Jeff Marcilliat wrote:
> Awesome. Thanks! I've checked with A&G but I'll see what Best Music  
> has to say.
>
>
> ~Jeff
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On May 18, 2009, at 11:00 AM, Daniel Pliskin  
> <daniel_pliskin at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Hey Jeff,
>>
>> I play my peashooters with a reamed-out Bach 3.  You can certainly  
>> go bigger with a large-bore tenor.
>>
>> I know bass trombones are relatively expensive, but you're still  
>> going to grow into the instrument.  Your genre will change, the tone  
>> you're after will change, you'll probably want a different actuator  
>> setup for the attachments.  The chance that you'll wind up with a  
>> bass trombone that will serve you for the next 20 years is remote.   
>> That's not necessarily a bad thing.  You can buy an instrument that  
>> serves you now and switch to something else later on.
>>
>> You're in the Bay Area, so try:
>>
>> Best Music in Oakland
>> A & G music in Oakland
>> Hornucopia, in San Carlos
>>
>> Best Music and/or A & G might be able to rent you a bass trombone,  
>> so that you could get your embouchure together, while looking for  
>> something to buy.  Hornucopia sells used instruments, and may have  
>> something.  A&G and Hornucopia also have good repair people.
>>
>> Enjoy,
>>
>> DanP
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>>> From: jeffmarcilliat at mac.com
>>> To: trombone-l at samford.edu
>>> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 23:03:08 -0700
>>> Subject: [Trombone-l] Doubling on Bass
>>>
>>> Hello trombone world -
>>>
>>> I've been on this list for years but this is my first post! I need  
>>>       
>> to
>>     
>>> start doubling on bass rather quickly. At IU I went the other route
>>> and learned alto. While I'm trying my best to find a bass in the Bay
>>> Area, what is a good mouthpiece for my tenor (Shires .547) that  
>>>       
>> would
>>     
>>> facilitate the lower range a little better? I've been working in the
>>> low register this week on my Bach 4G, but feel like bigger equipment
>>> could help immensely.
>>>
>>> Also, what are the best bass trombones out there? The Conn 62 HCL
>>> caught my eye. I just need something that plays easily and has both
>>> valves. Hoping to hear from you guys. Thanks! And if you know
>>> somewhere that rents basses in SF, let me know!!
>>>
>>> - Jeff Marcilliat
>>> San Francisco
>>>
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>>     
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