I’m wondering what might happen if I put a bronze slide on my Rath R3F, which has a nickel slide and red brass tuning slide? I like how it plays now but feel I could use a little more density when (I get back to) playing in the orchestra.

Any one out there with any experience?

Many thanks,

John

I had bronze slides on both my R4 and R3. My R3 had a nickel silver bell (750N I think) and with the bronze slide the red brass ts was the way to go. I would have never sold that horn if it wouldn't have been so expensive to add a valve.

On the R4 I had a red bell (750R) and the yellow ts was by far the best.

I don't know about density, but the bronze slides were a crucial part of why I loved both horns. They just weren't anywhere near as interesting without them.

I started with a nickel slide (in fact a dual bore .525/.547) on my Rath 3F with red bell and found the overall sound too bright and punchy. I subsequently replaced with a single bore .525 bronze slide and find it much more nicely balanced and approachable - for me at least. A great horn

[quote="Mv2541"]I had bronze slides on both my R4 and R3. My R3 had a nickel silver bell (750N I think) and with the bronze slide the red brass ts was the way to go. I would have never sold that horn if it wouldn't have been so expensive to add a valve.

On the R4 I had a red bell (750R) and the yellow ts was by far the best.

I don't know about density, but the bronze slides were a crucial part of why I loved both horns. They just weren't anywhere near as interesting without them.[/quote]

“Density” wasn’t the right word, maybe color or core would’ve been better. When I bought the horn, I was looking for something with a very clear sound and got it. Now I want the horn to blend in the orchestra (it’s a small orchestra some I don’t need a huge sound) better and be able to push the volume more without the sound becoming too bright.

Hi John!

I spend most of the time playing an R4F with a bronze slide. I also have an R3 slide in yellow brass and this is a noticeable change (to me as a player at least) in terms of being a lighter, clearer sound with articulations easier. I’d imagine a nickel slide would be (probably considerably) further down this scale.

Sorry I can’t offer you a direct experience of an R3F switching from nickel to bronze, but from my experience I’d say you’re definitely going to feel a difference between the three materials, and I think you’d likely find what you’re looking for in either a yellow brass or bronze slide. Obviously the ideal would be getting to try both to see what suits you best - it always come down to how the parts combine and most importantly how you as a player adapt to them.