Alternative Materials for Valve Tuning Slides?
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
I was wondering why there do not seem to be any alternative tuning slides for trombone valves as for main tuning slides.
My layman's guess is that there's a lot more "bang for the buck" altering the main tuning slide as the last piece of tubing before the bell section, but I suspect there might be more to this.
My layman's guess is that there's a lot more "bang for the buck" altering the main tuning slide as the last piece of tubing before the bell section, but I suspect there might be more to this.
- GabrielRice
- Posts: 1496
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Edwards does it.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
I think for most horns, a yellow valve section makes sense as a balance between response and sound. Plus that's the easiest to source and assemble.
I have horns with gold brass and nickel valve sections as well- and they match the horns they're on.
I have horns with gold brass and nickel valve sections as well- and they match the horns they're on.
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
Thanks, I should have specified: I meant after-market options!
- elmsandr
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="JTeagarden"]Thanks, I should have specified: I meant after-market options![/quote]
Q) what does a ball out tool cost for a crook?
Q) how many different crooks do you need to make to have a reasonable product range?
Q) how much can you sell them for where people will buy them?
Q) how many can be sold reasonably?
Q) will this be profitable aftermarket?
A) not likely.
Instrument innovations has some:[url]<LINK_TEXT text=" https://instrumentinnovations.com/teno ... ide-crook/"> https://instrumentinnovations.com/tenor-trombone-tuning-slide-crook/</LINK_TEXT>
Might work with some others, but they aren’t going to be hot swappable.
Cheers,
Andy
Q) what does a ball out tool cost for a crook?
Q) how many different crooks do you need to make to have a reasonable product range?
Q) how much can you sell them for where people will buy them?
Q) how many can be sold reasonably?
Q) will this be profitable aftermarket?
A) not likely.
Instrument innovations has some:
Might work with some others, but they aren’t going to be hot swappable.
Cheers,
Andy
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
[quote="elmsandr"]<QUOTE author="JTeagarden" post_id="292192" time="1767976072" user_id="19182">
Thanks, I should have specified: I meant after-market options![/quote]
Q) what does a ball out tool cost for a crook?
Q) how many different crooks do you need to make to have a reasonable product range?
Q) how much can you sell them for where people will buy them?
Q) how many can be sold reasonably?
Q) will this be profitable aftermarket?
A) not likely.
Instrument innovations has some:[url]<LINK_TEXT text=" https://instrumentinnovations.com/teno ... ide-crook/"> https://instrumentinnovations.com/tenor-trombone-tuning-slide-crook/</LINK_TEXT>
Might work with some others, but they aren’t going to be hot swappable.
Cheers,
Andy
</QUOTE>
This calculus would seem to hold true for after-market main tuning slides as well.
Given the large array of after-market doodads for trombone that are available and compatible with Shires, Bach, and Conn at the least, it seems like these OEMs are either 1) all over the board in terms of the spacing of their valve tuning slides compared to their main tuning slides (such that it's a crapshoot if an after-market valve tuning slide will fit or not), or 2) there's not enough change in the sound or playing characteristics from in "afyter-market" valve tuning slides.
Thanks, I should have specified: I meant after-market options![/quote]
Q) what does a ball out tool cost for a crook?
Q) how many different crooks do you need to make to have a reasonable product range?
Q) how much can you sell them for where people will buy them?
Q) how many can be sold reasonably?
Q) will this be profitable aftermarket?
A) not likely.
Instrument innovations has some:
Might work with some others, but they aren’t going to be hot swappable.
Cheers,
Andy
</QUOTE>
This calculus would seem to hold true for after-market main tuning slides as well.
Given the large array of after-market doodads for trombone that are available and compatible with Shires, Bach, and Conn at the least, it seems like these OEMs are either 1) all over the board in terms of the spacing of their valve tuning slides compared to their main tuning slides (such that it's a crapshoot if an after-market valve tuning slide will fit or not), or 2) there's not enough change in the sound or playing characteristics from in "afyter-market" valve tuning slides.
- trombonedemon
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Aug 06, 2018
[quote="Burgerbob"]I think for most horns, a yellow valve section makes sense as a balance between response and sound. Plus that's the easiest to source and assemble.
I have horns with gold brass and nickel valve sections as well- and they match the horns they're on.[/quote]
You have copper tuning slide on one of your horns, correct?
I have horns with gold brass and nickel valve sections as well- and they match the horns they're on.[/quote]
You have copper tuning slide on one of your horns, correct?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.
- trombonedemon
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Aug 06, 2018
[quote="Burgerbob"]I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Custom made?
Custom made?
- brassmedic
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Dec 14, 2018
I'm working on a 42B sterling bell project and made a seamed gold brass valve slide crook. I'll let you know how it comes out, but probably will be awhile.
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- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
[quote="trombonedemon"]<QUOTE author="Burgerbob" post_id="292342" time="1768163883" user_id="3131">
I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Custom made?
</QUOTE>
Hoelle
I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Custom made?
</QUOTE>
Hoelle
- AtomicClock
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Oct 19, 2023
[quote="Burgerbob"]I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Didn't you say you'd prefer to use Pawel Wilk's support on everything, but it deadens the sound too much? Could this be a solution?
Didn't you say you'd prefer to use Pawel Wilk's support on everything, but it deadens the sound too much? Could this be a solution?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
[quote="AtomicClock"]<QUOTE author="Burgerbob" post_id="292342" time="1768163883" user_id="3131">
I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Didn't you say you'd prefer to use Pawel Wilk's support on everything, but it deadens the sound too much? Could this be a solution?
</QUOTE>
There are other reasons to not use that kind of grip- for one, the horn won't fit in most cases with it on.
I'd also rather not add weight if I don't have to.
I used to have one, yes. I eventually gave up on it as it made the horn a bit too zippy for my uses.[/quote]
Didn't you say you'd prefer to use Pawel Wilk's support on everything, but it deadens the sound too much? Could this be a solution?
</QUOTE>
There are other reasons to not use that kind of grip- for one, the horn won't fit in most cases with it on.
I'd also rather not add weight if I don't have to.