Wide slide ergonomics?

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Hobart
Posts: 126
Joined: Sep 15, 2019

by Hobart »

I was playing my Reynolds bass trombone for an extended period of time, and I noticed the slide is a little bit wider than I'm used to and the horn is not particularly a fantastic example of ergonomic design.

I'm used to playing on narrower slides, and the wide slide doesn't feel to great with my extraordinarily average hand size. I'm going to a Contempora bass slide from slides like those found on an 18H or a Yamaha 548.

Are there any lower-budget solutions you folks found work for you? I don't want to put $500 into a $500 horn, but if there's something that does wonders for like $50 or less I'd like to hear it.
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

Try changing the way you hold the horn. Instead of the index finger on the mouthpiece, try just having it rest on the fixed slide brace.

Sometimes having a finger ring installed touching the upper cork barrel and the fixed slide brace (just under the mouthpiece) can help. Instead of a finger on the mouthpiece you just put it in the ring.

Both available for well under $500.
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timothy42b
Posts: 1812
Joined: Mar 27, 2018

by timothy42b »

Narrow slides are uncomfortable on my neck. Guess there's problems either way.
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

I actually prefer wider slides when they have a ring on them. I made a ring for my edwards slide and it was pretty easy. I would go to your local tech and have them install a ring, but make sure you are there so you can tell them where to put it so it’s actually comfortable.