Just wondering if anyone has done any sort of mods, like changing bells, tuning slides or valves to their Yamaha trombone. I've got an 830 Bass. Is it a good idea to get into this on a Yamaha? I've just never seen anyone do this...

Has it been a good investment to modulate (?) your yamaha (or other company) or did you just buy a Shires... ;)

Share your experience I'd love to know!!

Interestingly from a Tech standpoint, Yamaha has been the least modded horn in my career!

Not sure why.

Eric

I also have a YBL-830. I think it is already a balanced horn in its own way. I have tried non-permanent non-invasive modifications in the past, such as light valve caps and gold brass tuning slide (both from YBL-822G), and I came back to the original. I love the look of the lightweight cap though.

Yamaha’s rotary valve is pretty open (I play-tested it side-by-side with a Bach 50B3GL today), so unless you go the exotic route with Hagmann or Thayer it can hardly be more free-blowing.

What kind of sound or playing chatacteristic are you looking to be the target of the modification?

I have a modded Yamaha: it started life as a 682G and had a major accident that destroyed the bell. I was able to get a Shires 1G bell installed on it. I went through 6 months where I wasn't sure if I had made a good decision and scrapping was better. But the bell "worked in" and now it's a great playing horn.

Had I not had the accident, I'd never have considered any mods to the Yammie. It's pretty good as it is.