Courtois New York tenor and bass

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-09-29 5:10 a.m.

Anyone tried them? I see they combine edge btacing as known by edwards and vibrabell as known from the Hagmann custom horns.

Add the screw bell and it looks like a cool horn!

So what are your impressions?

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-10-09 3:20 p.m.

Yes! Awesome outfits! The guys knocked it out of the park on these horns. I can tell you that it is probably the best outfit available at any dealers- complete with flat Marcus Bonna case and accessories. Note the edge bracing applies to the bass trombone only because of the vibre-bell set up. and I believe the pricing is very good too!

<YOUTUBE id="gLO9g8xd0EU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLO9g8xd0EU</YOUTUBE>

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-09 3:48 p.m.

[quote="timbone"]Yes! Awesome outfits! The guys knocked it out of the park on these horns. I can tell you that it is probably the best outfit available at any dealers- complete with flat Marcus Bonna case and accessories. Note the edge bracing applies to the bass trombone only because of the vibre-bell set up. and I believe the pricing is very good too!

<YOUTUBE id="gLO9g8xd0EU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLO9g8xd0EU</YOUTUBE>[/quote]

How is the vibrabell set up? On my two Hagmann custom horns, the screws holding the vibrabell in place can unscrew themselves when the horn vibrates strongly and thus they can create an annoying buzz. How did courtois solve this?

Do you detailled pics of the vibrabell?

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-10-09 4:50 p.m.

I have not heard of that problem yet but if it was a problem, I'm sure Paul would let me know. I can send you some detailed photos.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2018-10-09 8:21 p.m.

If that screw comes loose you can use teflon tape or locktite on it.

For a little context for those who might be familiar with different terminologies:

1) As best as I can tell from the marketing material, "Vibrabell" means that the screws keep the bell in place rather than having the brace soldered directly to the bell. Ergo, it is modular.

2) "Edge bracing" is when you don't attach the f attachment tubing to the bell the way Edwards used to. The non-edge bracing are the little wings that are built into the bell that the F tubing screws into.

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-10 12:35 a.m.

[quote="timbone"]I have not heard of that problem yet but if it was a problem, I'm sure Paul would let me know. I can send you some detailed photos.[/quote]

Yep, would like to see some pictures

mrdeacon · by **mrdeacon** » 2018-10-10 2:11 p.m.

What exactly is the vibre-bell system?

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2018-10-10 4:28 p.m.

As best I can tell, it basically means modular.

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-10 5:07 p.m.

[quote="mrdeacon"]What exactly is the vibre-bell system?[/quote]

http://www.trombone.ch/EN/customshop.html#convertible

In my experience convertible but also helping the sound.

mrdeacon · by **mrdeacon** » 2018-10-10 5:58 p.m.

[quote="cozzagiorgi"]<QUOTE author="mrdeacon" post_id="69088" time="1539195084" user_id="3239">
What exactly is the vibre-bell system?[/quote]

http://www.trombone.ch/EN/customshop.html#convertible

In my experience convertible but also helping the sound.
</QUOTE>
Looks elegant!

Any benefits to using this modular system versus traditional Edwards Edge bracing or Shires style bracing? I'm curious because this thread is the first I've heard of this system!

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-11 1:12 a.m.

mrdeacon, can't compare. Never played an edwards or Shires for long enough.

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2018-10-11 8:11 a.m.

Is that an Edwards harmonic brace ripoff in that first pic?

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-10-11 12:16 p.m.

Its a system that Rene Hagmann developed. When I figure out how to post some pic, I will. Its been out for a while.

http://www.trombone.ch/EN/customshop.html#convertible

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2018-10-11 2:49 p.m.

:amazed: [quote="timbone"]Its a system that Rene Hagmann developed. When I figure out how to post some pic, I will. Its been out for a while.

http://www.trombone.ch/EN/customshop.html#convertible[/quote]

But does a harmonic pillar screw into the gold bridge? If so, I wonder if the edwards or haggman one was first.

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-11 3:02 p.m.

No, not a harmonic pillar. Just a screw.

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-11 3:44 p.m.

For those of you interested, here are some pics of my hagmann custom tenor. Based on a bach 42b.

https://app.box.com/s/zn8ncf4fqrlxqzhwobenh9w2z5obxq5d

Also a pic of the screw.

The work was done in 2004 and the system already existed well before that.

Hope this link works.

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-12 10:33 a.m.

Have been in contact with the sales rep for Switzerland. Those models have not yet been launched in europe. Seems rather strange for a european brand, but I guess thats all marketing strategy.

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-10-12 4:30 p.m.

To answer the above- there is a launch called the Creation series of which the New York series is one of four to launch. The others; the Amsterdammer (Jorgen van Rijen), The Parisienne (Michel Becquet) and the Berliner (Stefan Schultz). The other guys are still tweeking their horns that I am aware of.......

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-10-12 4:42 p.m.

[quote="timbone"]To answer the above- there is a launch called the Creation series of which the New York series is one of four to launch. The others; the Amsterdammer (Jorgen van Rijen), The Parisienne (Michel Becquet) and the Berliner (Stefan Schultz). The other guys are still tweeking their horns that I am aware of.......[/quote]

Interesting, thank you for that information.

With these high level artists working on horns, some great trombones should come around.

Carolus · by **Carolus** » 2018-10-15 5:48 a.m.

The NY tenor slide also seems to differ from the standard AC420 BH based on the description on the Courtois web site. Does anyone know what the differences are if any?

blast · by **blast** » 2018-10-15 8:37 a.m.

[quote="cozzagiorgi"]<QUOTE author="timbone" post_id="69260" time="1539376210" user_id="3176">
To answer the above- there is a launch called the Creation series of which the New York series is one of four to launch. The others; the Amsterdammer (Jorgen van Rijen), The Parisienne (Michel Becquet) and the Berliner (Stefan Schultz). The other guys are still tweeking their horns that I am aware of.......[/quote]

Interesting, thank you for that information.

With these high level artists working on horns, some great trombones should come around.
</QUOTE>

It has not often been the case that high level artist input has created great horns.... at least, not single artist input. Great players can make anything sound great, so they often have a job working out how good a horn actually is. Also, many great players have a unique style that is not mainstream and look for different qualities in an instrument to most players..... this is why a lot of companies (like Yamaha) consult many top players during development to find elements of consensus.

Top player endorsements can help a new model sell better in the early days.... nobody cares who had a hand in the Conn 88H now..... it stands on it's own merits.

Chris

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-10-15 9:07 a.m.

The slide on the New York tenor has a leadpipe picked by Weston and extrusions on the outer slide, which makes it a little more vibrant than a slide with nickel sleeves, which is standard.

hoy127 · by **hoy127** » 2018-10-24 12:00 a.m.

If anyone is interested I just played 3 New Yorker tenors, 2 rose brass and 1 yellow brass. They are 1 day away and I can get one in your hands in about a week. Fantastic sound. I preferred the rose brass bell - very rich.<ATTACHMENT filename="Creation New Yorker Courtois JPG" index="0">~~[attachment=0]~~Creation New Yorker Courtois JPG</ATTACHMENT>
Stephen

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2018-10-24 9:29 a.m.

[quote="hoy127"]If anyone is interested I just played 3 New Yorker tenors, 2 rose brass and 1 yellow brass. They are 1 day away and I can get one in your hands in about a week. Fantastic sound. I preferred the rose brass bell - very rich.Creation New Yorker Courtois JPG

Stephen[/quote]

Are you a dealer or something?

hoy127 · by **hoy127** » 2018-10-24 9:47 p.m.

Yes, small time. Just trombones. These tenors are extremely appealing. I also love the B&S tenors, very responsive. Just got a B&S bass, a beautiful looking horn and also very responsive. Pix on facebook's trombone marketplace.

Stephen

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2018-10-25 9:57 a.m.

Cool. Yeah, all those horns look great

SwissTbone · by **SwissTbone** » 2018-11-03 9:42 a.m.

Looks like they have been released in europe since they are now available at thomann.de.

Interesting to see their bass is the most expensive one at thomann. Even more than Rath or Shires:

https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/bassposaunen.html?oa=prd

The tenor pricing is more in the range of the others:

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/tenorpos ... tml?oa=prd">https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/tenorposaunen_mit_quartventil.html?oa=prd</LINK_TEXT>

Really tempting... especially considering thpmanns great return policy...

NordicTrombone · by **NordicTrombone** » 2018-11-03 3:47 p.m.

[quote="cozzagiorgi"]Looks like they have been released in europe since they are now available at thomann.de.

Interesting to see their bass is the most expensive one at thomann. Even more than Rath or Shires:

https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/bassposaunen.html?oa=prd

The tenor pricing is more in the range of the others:

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/tenorpos ... tml?oa=prd">https://www.thomann.de/intl/ch/tenorposaunen_mit_quartventil.html?oa=prd</LINK_TEXT>

Really tempting... especially considering thpmanns great return policy...[/quote]
I’ve been told they come with a Marcus Bonna case, so that would explain the pricing :good:

Bassbonechandler · by **Bassbonechandler** » 2018-11-04 8:17 p.m.

I hope they have these horns at ITF this coming summer. I'd really like to try one.

timbone · by **timbone** » 2018-11-12 10:59 a.m.

Yes they do come with Bonna cases!

BassboneJ25 · by **BassboneJ25** » 2022-11-07 10:44 a.m.

Bump this thread, does anyone know where to find a place to by the vibrabell screws?

LowBrassJunkie · by **LowBrassJunkie** » 2022-11-09 10:48 a.m.

You should be able to order them from any authorized Buffet (Courtois) dealer. Dillons, Landress, etc...

conn88Hagmann · by **conn88Hagmann** » 2024-03-31 9:47 a.m.

I had one of these for Jan - March to try.

I’m waiting for the Amsterdam model To try now.

Bloody superb!

bassbone1993 · by **bassbone1993** » 2024-03-31 11:15 p.m.

I'm waiting for a different creation bass other than the NY model. Hopefully with axials.

conn88Hagmann · by **conn88Hagmann** » 2024-04-01 4:24 a.m.

I had to remove the support thingy though, bloody uncomfortable compared to our grips. . . I think it may hold the models back unless they can be made easily removable. At the moment they aren’t.

ryanmiller · 2025-03-06 3:55 p.m.

[quote="conn88Hagmann"]I had to remove the support thingy though, bloody uncomfortable compared to our grips. . . I think it may hold the models back unless they can be made easily removable. At the moment they aren’t.[/quote]

Can I ask how you removed the support brace? Removing the screws that hold it tight didn’t seem to allow the arm of the support brace to come out.

pfrancis · by **pfrancis** » 2025-03-11 9:39 p.m.

They do, it may take a little persuasion but it’s just a through hole with the screws clamping the rod in place. Loosen the screws and then see about getting the support out. Little elbow grease may be required.

conn88Hagmann · by **conn88Hagmann** » 2025-07-30 7:12 p.m.

[quote="ryanmiller"]<QUOTE author="conn88Hagmann" post_id="238994" time="1711959852" user_id="3611">
I had to remove the support thingy though, bloody uncomfortable compared to our grips. . . I think it may hold the models back unless they can be made easily removable. At the moment they aren’t.[/quote]

Can I ask how you removed the support brace? Removing the screws that hold it tight didn’t seem to allow the arm of the support brace to come out.
</QUOTE>

I didn’t. I was afraid was going to break it so just had to put it back into its furthest position to the rear.

They made it too tight to get off reasonably.

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Courtois New York tenor and bass