Rath R900 Bass Trombone with an R8/R9 slide

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MrBadger
Posts: 31
Joined: Sep 24, 2021

by MrBadger »

Hi All,

[Asking for a friend!] Are the Rath custom bass trombone slides compatible with the "off-the-peg" R900 bass trombone? I'm talking about physical connection, and playability/intonation.

Many thanks.
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MrBadger
Posts: 31
Joined: Sep 24, 2021

by MrBadger »

Just to close this one out - they are not physically compatible.
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DougHulme
Posts: 558
Joined: Apr 27, 2018

by DougHulme »

Out of curiosity - why not? R900 bigger tenon or such like?
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MrBadger
Posts: 31
Joined: Sep 24, 2021

by MrBadger »

The official (albeit from a distributor, not they guys themselves) answer I got was - they are slightly different construction and don't fit.
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WGWTR180
Posts: 2152
Joined: Sep 04, 2019

by WGWTR180 »

[quote="MrBadger"]The official (albeit from a distributor, not they guys themselves) answer I got was - they are slightly different construction and don't fit.[/quote]
Curious. IS this from a US distributor and, if so , which one?
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MrBadger
Posts: 31
Joined: Sep 24, 2021

by MrBadger »

John Packer, UK - who should know.
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DougHulme
Posts: 558
Joined: Apr 27, 2018

by DougHulme »

Indeed, since John now owns Rath Trombones. Still doesent actually indicate what differences do actually make them incompatible however.
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WGWTR180
Posts: 2152
Joined: Sep 04, 2019

by WGWTR180 »

[quote="MrBadger"]John Packer, UK - who should know.[/quote]
Yeh wasn't questioning the information. I'm just trying to actually find a US distributor that carries something besides the 900 series.
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bassbone1993
Posts: 435
Joined: Feb 10, 2023

by bassbone1993 »

I've seen J Landress and Austin custom brass carry the custom series
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WGWTR180
Posts: 2152
Joined: Sep 04, 2019

by WGWTR180 »

[quote="bassbone1993"]I've seen J Landress and Austin custom brass carry the custom series[/quote]

I've checked. Yes they get in an instrument from time to time but it's not the same as going somewhere and trying options. Dillon Music used to be the place on the East Coast. Now they have little to zero instruments or parts. They're also not listed on Rath's page anymore as a distributor. Many of the places that are listed only carry the cheaper model instruments. Times have changed.
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DougHulme
Posts: 558
Joined: Apr 27, 2018

by DougHulme »

Its all to do with John Packer, he's obviously got different plans for marketing. They were at NAMM so he must have plans - email Packers and ask them who the agent is now?
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Basssteakman
Posts: 1
Joined: Feb 04, 2025

by Basssteakman »

[quote="MrBadger"]The official (albeit from a distributor, not they guys themselves) answer I got was - they are slightly different construction and don't fit.[/quote]

Good to know, I was curious about this as well.
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dbwhitaker
Posts: 196
Joined: May 16, 2019

by dbwhitaker »

[quote="WGWTR180"]<QUOTE author="bassbone1993" post_id="266013" time="1738681083" user_id="16272">
I've seen J Landress and Austin custom brass carry the custom series[/quote]

I've checked. Yes they get in an instrument from time to time but it's not the same as going somewhere and trying options. Dillon Music used to be the place on the East Coast. Now they have little to zero instruments or parts. They're also not listed on Rath's page anymore as a distributor. Many of the places that are listed only carry the cheaper model instruments. Times have changed.
</QUOTE>
The Baltimore Brass web site indicates they have currently have an R9 in stock. I visited them last year during ATW and they had 2 R9 and one R900 in stock at the time.
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WGWTR180
Posts: 2152
Joined: Sep 04, 2019

by WGWTR180 »

[quote="dbwhitaker"]<QUOTE author="WGWTR180" post_id="266027" time="1738686748" user_id="7573">

I've checked. Yes they get in an instrument from time to time but it's not the same as going somewhere and trying options. Dillon Music used to be the place on the East Coast. Now they have little to zero instruments or parts. They're also not listed on Rath's page anymore as a distributor. Many of the places that are listed only carry the cheaper model instruments. Times have changed.[/quote]
The Baltimore Brass web site indicates they have currently have an R9 in stock. I visited them last year during ATW and they had 2 R9 and one R900 in stock at the time.
</QUOTE>

Yes they do. Let me explain further as I think people aren't understanding the difference between having 1 instrument to sell and having multiple bells/slides/valve sets/ lead pipes to try. THAT is what Dillon Music was. They used to have drawers full of pipes in addition to multiple instruments and parts to try. No one seems to offer that at the moment. I'm guessing some of it is pandemic related and their possible market shift here in the US. #Iplayshires has taken over big time here so I'm guessing it's not worth it to anyone to keep all of that stock.
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bassbone1993
Posts: 435
Joined: Feb 10, 2023

by bassbone1993 »

Fair. I was thinking about making a trip to Dillons to try out their Rath stuff since it looked like they had a lot in stock at the time. Now they only have some bells and slides.