Holton TR100

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2020-12-04 5:49 p.m.

I know this is a 500 bore 8" rose brass bell, nickel slide, some had mini-48hish gussets, some didn't. Don't know much other than that. I've seen them with the round counterweights and the D shape counterweight. Do they play well? Is it similar to another model? When were they produced? A TC search doesn't turn up much.

modelerdc · by **modelerdc** » 2020-12-04 8:12 p.m.

I had one once, in very good shape. It played well but I sold it as I felt the sound was rather bright for my tastes. Perhaps a little more like a Conn than anything else, but it got brighter faster than a 6H. The one I had was not of a very old vintage, and I can't say if they all are like that.

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2020-12-04 8:17 p.m.

It was later than the 65, 66, 67, 68, and 69 models. Probably 1980s.

Vegasbound · by **Vegasbound** » 2020-12-05 4:01 a.m.

Great playing horns, under appreciated I know Chip Hoeler used one for years

JerryY · by **JerryY** » 2020-12-07 2:49 p.m.

I played one up until last year when I had Roy Lawler make me a horn. Mine is a great horn that I've had since 1979.

Nice sound, solid throughout. Mine is still in great shape. The horn needs to "be driven", in other words its not to be finessed. It will take whatever you give it. It is not quite as nimble at low volumes as a lighter horn, but is great all around instrument. The Lawler trombone I replaced it with is a Model 3, Bronze Stem, 7 1/2" and 8" bronze lightweight flares matched to a .500 bore all nickel slide with a #15 leadpipe. It has everything I loved about the TR100,the nimbleness and more!

spangy · by **spangy** » 2020-12-15 7:34 p.m.

I have one that I used to play fairly regularly. Mine has the heavy D shaped weight which is removable. Pretty horn, nice player. JerryY is spot on in saying it has to be "driven". I think the heavy counter weight, at least on mine, really stabilizes the sound. If I take it off the horn gets a little too bright, but a little more nimble. But it becomes so nose heavy its almost unplayable. I also have its predecessor, a Holton 69 that I tend to play more often. The 69 has no weight and is fairly light. Fantastic horn.

Small bore Holtons seem to be over looked. Great horns that you can often get a great deal on.

jorymil · by **jorymil** » 2022-02-12 12:28 a.m.

One just popped up on Reverb for $150. Don't need another small-bore horn right now: already have a 63 and a Yamaha 352 I like, so somebody snap this one up!

Crazy4Tbone86 · by **Crazy4Tbone86** » 2022-02-12 8:48 a.m.

I’m not convinced that the horn on Reverb is really a TR-100. The bell appears to be yellow brass. Did Holton offer a pro .500 bore horn with a yellow brass bell?

biggiesmalls · by **biggiesmalls** » 2022-02-12 9:34 a.m.

[quote="Crazy4Tbone86"]I’m not convinced that the horn on Reverb is really a TR-100. The bell appears to be yellow brass. Did Holton offer a pro .500 bore horn with a yellow brass bell?[/quote]

One thing I've learned from buying and selling vintage Holtons is to expect the unexpected regarding variations in the alloys they used for various parts. This was especially the case with the Stratodynes, where I've seen just about every combination of materials you could imagine. So I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a TR-100 with a yellow brass bell.

Variability is one of the things that makes buying and trying vintage Holtons so fun and interesting.

Crazy4Tbone86 · by **Crazy4Tbone86** » 2022-02-12 10:44 a.m.

Hmm? Biggiesmalls, you make this particular instrument sound more intriguing. Possibly a TR-100 with a yellow brass bell would be more “nimble” than the regular bell with higher copper content? It might also prevent the horn from getting brighter on the higher volumes.

chromebone · by **chromebone** » 2022-02-12 9:28 p.m.

The old saying about Holtons is that they were consistently inconsistent. The existence of any number of variations for any model is possible.

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Holton TR100