Best slide techs? (U.S.)

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-05-17 3:06 p.m.

I've got a Bach 50 nickel slide that I'm considering resurrecting, but it needs a pro. Any recommendations? It had some significant dings which were taken out but it's still only about a 5.5/10 with fresh Yamasnot, so alignment may also be an issue.

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2024-05-17 3:35 p.m.

Dick Hansen in Brimfield MA is awesome. Studied with Minick. He repaired one of my slides.

Scott Sweeney just repaired my 3B slide. I almost don't want to recommend him ... Because I don't want his shop filling up with other people's work and getting in the way of the other repairs I want to send his way... He did a great job.

chobone · by **chobone** » 2024-05-17 6:21 p.m.

Another thumbs up for Scott Sweeney in Raleigh, very skilled in repairing and modding and is a great musician himself.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-05-18 2:20 p.m.

Tom,

If you are in Maine, Osmun Music in Acton, MA has always done great repair work, including trombone slides.

I'm in southern California, so I take my most challenging slide work to Bruce Belo in Anaheim.

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2024-05-18 2:33 p.m.

Sweeney allows you to mail your stuff to him and is very fast. Hansen is relatively close to you as well

GabrielRice · by **GabrielRice** » 2024-05-18 2:39 p.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]If you are in Maine, Osmun Music in Acton, MA has always done great repair work, including trombone slides.[/quote]

Osmun's repair techs have moved on. Jim Becker now works for Yamaha, and Jim Engele has opened a shop in Nashua, NH. Bob Osmun was a great repair technician back in the day, but what I hear is that he's getting ready to retire and sell the business.

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2024-05-18 3:39 p.m.

[quote="GabrielRice"]Osmun's repair techs have moved on.[/quote]

Maybe so. But I got some excellent slide work from the new crew.

GabrielRice · by **GabrielRice** » 2024-05-18 4:38 p.m.

[quote="AtomicClock"]<QUOTE author="GabrielRice" post_id="243293" time="1716057587" user_id="102">
Osmun's repair techs have moved on.[/quote]

Maybe so. But I got some excellent slide work from the new crew.
</QUOTE>

How recently? A friend was in there just the other day, and Bob told him he was looking for a buyer for the business.

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2024-05-18 4:41 p.m.

October, I think. Seems like yesterday.

GabrielRice · by **GabrielRice** » 2024-05-18 5:17 p.m.

[quote="AtomicClock"]October, I think. Seems like yesterday.[/quote]

I think Jim Engele left since then.

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2024-05-18 5:36 p.m.

I don't remember her name, but Bob mentioned the tech's name when I picked it up. It wasn't Jim.

flyingcow · by **flyingcow** » 2024-05-18 6:36 p.m.

[quote="GabrielRice"]<QUOTE author="AtomicClock" post_id="243299" time="1716061158" user_id="17161">

Maybe so. But I got some excellent slide work from the new crew.[/quote]

How recently? A friend was in there just the other day, and Bob told him he was looking for a buyer for the business.
</QUOTE>

Bob just did some work on my 2b slide last week. It was just him in the shop. The work was predictably exquisite.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-05-19 3:20 a.m.

Bob Osmun is great, but he has earned a happy retirement. He must be~80 years old by now.

I played in a brass quintet with him in the early 1970s, as he was leaving Tottle and starting his own repair business. He deserves all the success he has had these past 50+ years! :good:

GabrielRice · by **GabrielRice** » 2024-05-19 9:07 a.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]Bob Osmun is great, but he has earned a happy retirement. He must be~80 years old by now.

I played in a brass quintet with him in the early 1970s, as he was leaving Tottle and starting his own repair business. He deserves all the success he has had these past 50+ years! :good:[/quote]

Absolutely. He built something great there.

Spemrick · by **Spemrick** » 2024-06-05 7:57 a.m.

I just got a slide back from Jim Engele at New England brass Works in Nashua and can certainly vouch for his work. It turned out excellent.

ssking2b · by **ssking2b** » 2024-06-05 11:46 a.m.

The Slide Doctor does my work and it's always great!

www.slidedr.com

whitbey · by **whitbey** » 2024-06-19 11:56 p.m.

Kevin Powers

Monroe Michigan.

734/242-4914 cell734/915-5606

He used to be the man at Tuba world and custom music. Adding valves and taking the tension out of horns.

Back in the 80's or so he was the foreman at Shilke.

He changed brass to nickle tubes on an Edwards slide for me. 525/547.

Most of my slides have a curved grip that is same size as the grips. Putting these on always dinks the alignment.

When I hold the horn level and blow in the MP, a slide done by Kevin moves. The only guy that does a slide better then Edwards or Shires.

mjrochatbn74 · by **mjrochatbn74** » 2024-06-20 10:57 a.m.

Ken Pope at Pope Horns in Jamaica Plain, MA is a wizard. Saved a Constellation slide with wear and gave it 20 more years on the inner tubes.

Johnstad · by **Johnstad** » 2024-06-20 11:32 a.m.

Graham Middleton in Portland, OR is our "Slider Whisperer" of choice out here.

bbocaner · by **bbocaner** » 2024-06-21 11:03 a.m.

[quote="Johnstad"]Graham Middleton in Portland, OR is our "Slider Whisperer" of choice out here.[/quote]

Oh Graham is awesome! I miss him here in DC.

jjenkins · by **jjenkins** » 2024-06-24 1:16 a.m.

I've had superb slide work done by both Eric Edwards in Denton, TX who is highly skilled and experienced (and conveniently nearby) and Graham in Portland, who rebuilt my Corp. 42 slide to perfection.

tromboninator4000 · by **tromboninator4000** » 2024-07-14 4:42 a.m.

James Baker has a shop called Custom Brass in Birmingham, Alabama and does exceptional work with slides.

JohntheTheologian · by **JohntheTheologian** » 2024-08-21 12:06 a.m.

Merlin Grady, in Waterloo, IA is superb. His slide work is masterful.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-08-21 12:09 a.m.

[quote="JohntheTheologian"]Merlin Grady, in Waterloo, IA is superb. His slide work is masterful.[/quote]

With a name like Merlin, his work should be magical!

nateaff · by **nateaff** » 2024-09-05 2:59 p.m.

In the Mountain West the best guy I've found was Justin Slack at Bridgerland Band repair. He's breathed new life into a few old slides of mine.

Slidehamilton · by **Slidehamilton** » 2024-09-05 8:27 p.m.

Bruce Belo is the best that I know. The slides come out amazing, and his turn around is pretty quick. He's in California, but you can sent the parts to him.

TrryReynolds · by **TrryReynolds** » 2024-09-06 6:01 a.m.

May I mention Bill Korzick, New Haven CT.

slidefunk · by **slidefunk** » 2024-09-08 9:49 a.m.

I'll throw in another recommendation for Graham Middleton out in Salem, OR. He's always done incredible work on all my horns. Recently he assembled a custom slide for my 3B and it's fantastic.

tbonesullivan · by **tbonesullivan** » 2024-09-09 2:37 p.m.

The slide I had Freddie at Dillon Music rebuild (factory Bach warp) remains the best slide I have EVER owned.

nebtrombone · by **nebtrombone** » 2024-09-14 9:00 p.m.

Brad Obbink in Lincoln, Nebraska. His slide work is the best I have seen.

WGWTR180 · by **WGWTR180** » 2024-09-18 10:08 a.m.

[quote="TrryReynolds"]May I mention Bill Korzick, New Haven CT.[/quote]

You may! He's great!!!

WGWTR180 · by **WGWTR180** » 2024-09-19 11:58 a.m.

[quote="Slidehamilton"]Bruce Belo is the best that I know. The slides come out amazing, and his turn around is pretty quick. He's in California, but you can sent the parts to him.[/quote]

Best way to reach Bruce?

Fridge · by **Fridge** » 2024-09-19 3:51 p.m.

James Baker in Birmingham and Aaron Chandler here in St. Louis.

Fridge

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-09-19 5:17 p.m.

[quote="WGWTR180"]<QUOTE author="Slidehamilton" post_id="252513" time="1725582475" user_id="3222">
Bruce Belo is the best that I know. The slides come out amazing, and his turn around is pretty quick. He's in California, but you can sent the parts to him.[/quote]

Best way to reach Bruce?
</QUOTE>

Call him directly: (714) 615-5547

Bruce is excellent with slides!

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-10-24 11:40 p.m.

For the record: I chose New England Brassworks. The initial results seemed very marginal at best, but with a buildup of Yamasnot (not just a fresh application, but applied multiple times and left on the slide overnight), it's a measurable improvement. Enough to get it to a usable state, although I wouldn't call it great - something like a 7 to 7.5 with a little spritz of water.

Not great, but good enough.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-10-24 11:55 p.m.

[quote="TomInME"]For the record: I chose New England Brassworks. The initial results seemed very marginal at best, but with a buildup of Yamasnot (not just a fresh application, but applied multiple times and left on the slide overnight), it's a measurable improvement. Enough to get it to a usable state, although I wouldn't call it great - something like a 7 to 7.5 with a little spritz of water.

Not great, but good enough.[/quote]

I would call that a failure. After a tech visit (chemical cleaning, dent removal, alignment, polishing), my (mostly "vintage") slides are 8.5/10 to 9/10 dry, better after a few drops of Yamaha Slide Lube or Slide-O-Mix Rapid Comfort. Lasts all day (or more). No water spray necessary (ever). If not up to that standard, I'd sell the trombone or at least replace the tubes. [That's only happened once.]

chouston3 · by **chouston3** » 2024-10-24 11:58 p.m.

I have had great work done by The Slide Dr in the past.

I found an old reference to Dana Hofer on the forum. Is he still in business?

TomInME · by **TomInME** » 2024-10-25 12:36 a.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]I would call that a failure. After a tech visit (chemical cleaning, dent removal, alignment, polishing), my (mostly "vintage") slides are 8.5/10 to 9/10 dry, better after a few drops of Yamaha Slide Lube or Slide-O-Mix Rapid Comfort. Lasts all day (or more). No water spray necessary (ever). If not up to that standard, I'd sell the trombone or at least replace the tubes. [That's only happened once.][/quote]

I rate it a draw / break-even. I was hoping for 8.5+, but it wasn't in a great place to start with, and nickel outers are harder to work with. Not necessarily a great value, but it crossed over into "usable", which was the minimum.

JLivi · by **JLivi** » 2024-10-25 12:44 a.m.

[quote="chouston3"]I found an old reference to Dana Hofer on the forum. Is he still in business?[/quote]
Yeah, Dana is still in business and the go to repair tech in the Chicago area. His work is absolutely amazing, but pretty costly. You get what you pay for though. High quality repair work. It's tough stomaching a $300 cleaning service fee, but the horns always come back so great!

flyingcow · by **flyingcow** » 2024-11-07 1:46 p.m.

[quote="TomInME"]For the record: I chose New England Brassworks. The initial results seemed very marginal at best, but with a buildup of Yamasnot (not just a fresh application, but applied multiple times and left on the slide overnight), it's a measurable improvement. Enough to get it to a usable state, although I wouldn't call it great - something like a 7 to 7.5 with a little spritz of water.

Not great, but good enough.[/quote]

That's a bummer. He did my Benge a few months ago, and I finally added some Yamasnot to it last week. It's butter smooth.

TromboneLAB · by **TromboneLAB** » 2024-11-11 10:12 a.m.

Not sure if it’s unprofessional to recommend myself, but I am an excellent slide technician and very proud of the quality of my work. I am highly regarded in the Oklahoma City area for the quality of my slide repair. I’ve also done work for musicians outside the Oklahoma City area, most notably bass trombonist Jen Hinkle of Caliopy Brass in NYC.

I have high standards for my own slides and apply the same quality standard to every slide I work on.

I learned extensively from Eric Swanson in the DFW area and have been repairing since 2012. I work for a music store in Oklahoma City called Larsen Music, and this year also opened TromboneLAB out of my garage, where I build carbon fiber slides and do custom modifications on trombones.

I’d be happy to help anyone get their slide feeling awesome! You can check out some of my work on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/TromboneLAB?mibextid=LQQJ4d

sckarpen · by **sckarpen** » 2024-12-06 7:54 a.m.

I’d try the Slide Doctor in Dawsonville, GA (https://slidedr.com). He’s worked on at least 6-7 slides for me—some of which barely moved when I bought them—and every one has turned out great. Usually, they’re better than they were new. He also charges less than most other techs.

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Best slide techs? (U.S.)