Shires bass slides - "long" vs standard
- TomInME
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Jan 03, 2024
Does anyone have any experience comparing the two?
I found some notes from a Shires rep in the archive stating that the "long" version (Bach length) tends "to feel a little more locked in to the harmonic series" while the standard length slides "move a little easier through the harmonic series".
My questions:
Is this more of a flexibility thing, or a width-of-slot thing?
Is it similar to the difference between the standard leadpipes and the "S" leadpipes?
Is it barely noticeable, or fairly pronounced?
I found some notes from a Shires rep in the archive stating that the "long" version (Bach length) tends "to feel a little more locked in to the harmonic series" while the standard length slides "move a little easier through the harmonic series".
My questions:
Is this more of a flexibility thing, or a width-of-slot thing?
Is it similar to the difference between the standard leadpipes and the "S" leadpipes?
Is it barely noticeable, or fairly pronounced?
- GabrielRice
- Posts: 1496
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
It's more subtle (for me at least) than the differences between leadpipes of different lengths.
- TomInME
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Jan 03, 2024
[quote="GabrielRice"]It's more subtle (for me at least) than the differences between leadpipes of different lengths.[/quote]
Thanks! That's probably the most important part.
Thanks! That's probably the most important part.
- Johnstad
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
What I appreciate about the “Bach Length” slides is the ability to play low C with the F valve. The standard shires slides did not facilitate this for me.
- GabrielRice
- Posts: 1496
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="Johnstad"]What I appreciate about the “Bach Length” slides is the ability to play low C with the F valve. The standard shires slides did not facilitate this for me.[/quote]
I don't really have a usable 7th position with a Shires - or Edwards or Yamaha - standard length slide.
I don't really have a usable 7th position with a Shires - or Edwards or Yamaha - standard length slide.
- Dennis
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Mar 24, 2018
[quote="GabrielRice"]I don't really have a usable 7th position with a Shires - or Edwards or Yamaha - standard length slide.[/quote]
It's a lot like 7th position on most altos for me...right on the edge of falling off the slide on both of my Shires horns. And forget about C2 on the F-valve alone, unless I pull the tuning slide several inches.
It's a lot like 7th position on most altos for me...right on the edge of falling off the slide on both of my Shires horns. And forget about C2 on the F-valve alone, unless I pull the tuning slide several inches.
- TomInME
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Jan 03, 2024
I never really noticed that, but I checked just now and it's true for me also, even with the "Bach length" Shires slide I currently own - low E is a little bit sharp unless I take some chances. But I never use 7th unless it's the end of a fast chromatic line or part of a gliss. (I'm probably lipping it subconsciously in those cases).
For me, the low C is significantly sharp when F is in a good place, but the only real need I've ever had for that extended 7th position on the valve is Hary Janos, and I think the G may be easier to bully than the low C.
For me, the low C is significantly sharp when F is in a good place, but the only real need I've ever had for that extended 7th position on the valve is Hary Janos, and I think the G may be easier to bully than the low C.
- paysonmcc
- Posts: 71
- Joined: May 21, 2019
I like longer slides as well. Thein has an interesting way they made their slides longer- longer legs of the slide crook. I’m not sure why they didn’t just use longer slides tubes, but this could be a nice fix for shorter horns like Edwards/ Getzen basses. Newer Edwards V models have longer Bach length slides. Here’s a photo comparing the crooks: