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| Author | Topic: What About the Eb Trombone? |
| VegasGeorge |
posted 5/2/08 0:21 AM
Have any of you Eb Tenor, Alto, Mellophone, players tried one of the Eb Trombones? I'm thinking about getting one. I'd play the same music as always, Eb treble clef. What do you think? |
| Craig |
posted 5/2/08 6:38 PM
If I recall correctly, Alto trombones take the smaller (Jazz) shank Tenor Trombone mouthpieces. So, the mouthpiece would be larger than what you'd use on a Tenor Horn. |
| Greg |
posted 5/6/08 7:06 PM
VegasGeorge, if you want to play the alto trombone, there are a few things you should know about the instrument first. I play F and Eb alto trombone, and in the tenor trombone world this horn is thought of in the same manner as the Eb soprano trumpet or cornet in the trumpet world in that you use the same mouthpiece-size (I recommend the Bach 15EW and NOT a 6 1/2 AL, which despite its designation is a tenor, not an alto mouthpiece). Now, coming from the Eb/F tenor horn, alto horn, mellophone, alto trumpet camp, there is absolutely no reason you can't use the mouthpiece you're used to with an adaptor, or have a copy made having a larger aperture and a small-shank trombone shank. Bruzo Tilz makes a 20.00 mm alto sackbutt mouthpiece, which is too shallow for use in an alto trombone, but you could ask him to make this mouthpiece with a deeper cup (I think you'd call it a "c" cup but you should verify that first). The advantage to using an Eb tenor/alto horn mouthpiece with an adaptor (I just shim it with a piece of paper- works just as well) is that it turns the alto trombone into a whole new instrument with the same range as other Eb alto/tenor range instruments. The only downside is in the low range which is no longer its fat, tenor-tromboney-sounding self. A number of guys play the alto trombone this way, and if the "purists" question what you're doing, just point out that tenor trombone players (who assume doubling on the alto automatically makes them alto players) seldom use a proper alto trombone mouthpiece anyway. |
| vegasgeorge |
posted 5/9/08 8:12 PM
Greg, thank you! That was exactly the information I was hoping to get. Now, it's just an exercise in finding the right instrument. |
| Greg |
posted 5/10/08 6:55 PM
VegasGeorge, the best bang for your buck is the Amati Eb alto trombone. Lots of pros use this fine little horn. It's modelled on the Bach but is a better horn (in my opinion) and is a very good price. |
| Greg |
posted 5/10/08 6:59 PM
There's also the cheap little Selman Eb altos for sale on eBay. A few guys recommend buying this and buying a Slokar lead-pipe to replace the one that comes with the horn. I'll post a link to what one fellow has said: http://tromboneforum.org/index.php?topic=33874.msg460039 |
| Kevin in Carolina del Norte |
posted 5/12/08 1:39 AM
That's pretty darn interesting, about switching lead pipes. He's talking about the section that just screws into the bell, right? No soldering involved? I'm tempted to try this.... |
| Greg |
posted 5/13/08 7:00 PM
Hi, Kevin. No, the lead pipe is the part you stick your mouthpiece into. It's removeable, either by soldering out or in some cases with a good yank. Here are some photos of trombone lead-pipes: http://www.elthamwoodwind.com.au/edwards/lead.html |
| VegasGeorge |
posted 5/20/08 6:07 PM
I just bought one of the Selman Alto Trombones on eBay. The lead pipe is threaded and simply screws out. I am seriously considering replacing it based on the online recommendations of Trombone players. I also need to see about getting a mouthpiece adaptor made for my Tenor Horn mouthpiece. I've had a bad cold, so I haven't had a chance to play it much. |
| Craig |
posted 5/21/08 10:17 PM
Kanstul makes custom mouthpieces. You may want to ask them if they can do a Tenor Horn MP with the trombone shank. |
| VegasGeorge |
posted 6/8/08 4:36 AM
I'm thinking about cutting the shank off the mouthpiece that came with the Trombone, and drilling it out to make an adaptor for the Alto Horn mouthpiece. Anyone have any thoughts on that? |
| Greg |
posted 6/12/08 5:11 PM
Whatever works. I often use a rolled-up sliver of paper. |
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