Bach 16M slide for a 34?

johntarr · by **johntarr** » 2024-10-20 2:53 p.m.

I read of a forum member using a .508 bore Shires slide on his Bach 34. This got me to thinking that maybe that would make the horn a little easier for me to play. Plus a lighter slide would be nice. I wonder if a 16 M slide would fit, at least to try it out.

Thanks for any advice,

John

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2024-10-20 2:55 p.m.

I believe those medium bore bell sections are a different length than the small bores and it doesn't quite work.

Elow · by **Elow** » 2024-10-20 3:47 p.m.

The guy I bought the 34 bell from said he played it with a 16 slide and it was really bad. He didn’t speak English well so he didn’t go into detail. My Shires slide seems to be fine.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2024-10-20 5:20 p.m.

The Shires doesn’t surprise me. I had a 508/525 shires slide with a small Bach receiver on it and it was super mega flat on my Bach 9 bell section (same length as a Bach 16 bell section). I suspect the previous owner had it paired with a 36 or possibly a 34. The Bach small bore slides would likely be the wrong length for that bell.

Whatever you do, check it with a tuner.

sgreatwood · by **sgreatwood** » 2024-10-23 6:17 p.m.

I tried something similar years ago with my 70's 36B and 12 slide. BIG difference in tuning, so whilst it 'works' it may not be practical.

Mamaposaune · by **Mamaposaune** » 2024-10-24 9:41 p.m.

I once owned a 36 bell section with a 16 slide, and it just did not work for me. It felt weird, but can't remember the details. Interesting in that it had been owned by Steve Turre; the bell was beautifully engraved with his name, but I suppose that it didn't work for him either.

johntarr · by **johntarr** » 2024-10-25 2:16 a.m.

Thanks for all the answers!

That is a combination that I won’t try.

Happy Halloween,

John

dukesboneman · by **dukesboneman** » 2024-10-25 7:52 a.m.

Years ago I had a Conn 32H and a 78H

The 32H slide was .500/.522 and the 78H was.522

So theory, it should not be a problem switching slides and bells

The 32H slide did not like the 8" bell, it played fantastic with it`s regular 7 1/2"

RJMason · by **RJMason** » 2024-10-31 3:39 a.m.

Put a Bach 8 slide on my 36B. Sounds and plays like really sharp awkward versions of both horns.

hornbuilder · by **hornbuilder** » 2024-10-31 9:28 a.m.

I tried my 39 alto bell on my 36 slide, and 39 slide on 36 bell.

Beat that!!

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2024-10-31 9:48 a.m.

[quote="hornbuilder"]I tried my 39 alto bell on my 36 slide, and 39 slide on 36 bell.

Beat that!![/quote]

A while ago I put my soprano slide on my 34 and vise-versa .. I didn’t realize that it was a competition at the time, what do I win?

Cheers,

Andy

hornbuilder · by **hornbuilder** » 2024-10-31 12:54 p.m.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2024-10-31 1:32 p.m.

Listen, I don't mean to brag, but I've put a Conn 36H slide attached to a mug as a bell section :cool:

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2024-10-31 8:19 p.m.

[quote="Matt K"]Listen, I don't mean to brag, but I've put a Conn 36H slide attached to a mug as a bell section :cool:[/quote]
Sir, this is a thread about Bach slide compatibility.

How would that mug sound with an LT slide?

Andy

Joebone · by **Joebone** » 2024-11-01 3:12 p.m.

Have read that Luis Bonilla play a 16M with a 36 bell on it... if bell mounted to 16M crook and neckpipe, a different result?

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2024-11-01 3:20 p.m.

[quote="Joebone"]Have read that Luis Bonilla play a 16M with a 36 bell on it... if bell mounted to 16M crook and neckpipe, a different result?[/quote]

Different for sure, but the real issue here is lengths. There's nothing inherently wrong with putting a 508 slide on a 36 bell. But putting a slide where the length is way too short or long is going to be not a good result. Unless you were basically thinking about taking a 16M an putting a 36 bell on it. That might be tricky, the bells are both different lengths and the throats are also pretty different size.

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2024-11-01 3:20 p.m.

There would be some serious taper mismatch in there.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2024-11-01 3:59 p.m.

What is the ID of a 36 neckpipe entrance? I know the valve is the same as the 42, nominally .562", but I don't know what the neckpipe is. Stock 36B difference would nominally be (.562" - .525") = .037". Going from, technically .509" (.562" - .509") = .053" difference. Typical bass is is (.593" - .562") = .031.

So definitely a bigger difference than anything stock. But also a not-that-expensive fix to retaper the neckpipe or have one made, so I wouldn't let THAT be the thing to dissuade someone. But the length issue is a total showstopper.

Just because something fits on the slide doesn't mean it'll work. The people mentioning these custom horns that have a small Bach slide with the bigger bell section, I would be willing to bet that they have all had at least some of the following customizations: slide length adjusted, slide receiver/tenon swapped, neckpipe retapered/custom neckpipe, main tuning slide length adjusted, slide crook swapped.

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Bach 16M slide for a 34?