Show me your stable

[meine]

Here a fast view at mine. From left to right:
Conn 88HSGX
Sterlung Virtuoso Ebb tuba
Williams Model 10 with M&W valves
York Eminence 4052 euphonium
Conn 70H Fuchs with Hagmann valves
Conn 62H bell with Thein Hagmann Bartok valve
Conn 62H 9.85“ sterling silver bell
Thein basstrombone with CAIDEX valves and Thein gold brass cut bell

[gbedinger]

Here's the most recent addition to my stable:

I like!

[tbdana]

Oh, look. Someone dredged this thread up again. (Me! )

I don't have much of a stable compared to many of you. But such as it is...

trombone stable.jpg

From left to right:

Bach LT16MG (Mazikeen)
Christian Lindberg Conn 88HCLSGX (Silver Sally)
Greenhoe Bach 50B custom build (Big Bertha)

[Finetales]

3rd quarter update? I like it!

I'll spare myself from taking the time to make an updated collage, and I'll also spare you all from quoting the last one unedited, but here's how my stable was in January vs. today. Horns in red I no longer have, horns in bold are new.

1970 King 3B, 1970 King 3BF, 1967 King 607, another King 607, 1976 King 605F, 1964 King 1480, unmarked German trombone, 2023 Y-Fort YSL-763L, 1963 Conn 72H with Yamaha rotors, 1939 B&H Artist's Perfected G bass (small bore), Yamaha YSL-682G

Schiller Elite IV euphonium, Jinbao JBBR-1240 British baritone, Blessing M-300 Artist marching baritone, 1985 King 1130 flugabone, Lidl rotary bass trumpet, J. Melich Eb/D rotary bass trumpet

1969 Conn 16E mellophonium, Holton M602 mellophonium, 1993 King 1120 marching mellophone, late-1970s Getzen 383 frumpet, Kanstul KMA 275 marching alto, late-1970s Yamaha YTR-737 Bb trumpet, Yamaha YCR-2310 cornet

1990 King 2270 Eroica double horn, 1947 Conn 6D Artist double horn, Selmer Thevet Ascendant piston double horn, Yamaha YHR-321 single Bb/A horn, Holton MH-101 Bb marching horn, Holton LT-101 Bb trumpet, Selman 17001 C trumpet, Jinyin JYTR-A688S Eb/D trumpet, Mendini MPT-N pocket trumpet

Hampson Horns/Jackalope Brassworks corno da tirarsi (slide horn) in Bb/A/Ab/G, early-1990s Kanstul low alto bugle in G (one of only 6 in the world!), Elkhart (Couesnon) F/Eb alto flugelhorn, pre-WWI Couesnon flugelhorn, Cerveny Eb oval althorn

1918 Conn 6E mellophone (Eb), 1925 Buescher 25 mellophone (F/Eb/D/C)

[JohnL]

That Kanstul marching alto is a rare bird. The only I can remember seeing was in Steve Ferguson's shop.

[Finetales]

That Kanstul marching alto is a rare bird. The only I can remember seeing was in Steve Ferguson's shop.

Yeah, I've never seen another one. It just showed up on local Facebook Marketplace one day, listed as a mellophone.

Most of those Kanstul marching middle brass are very rare. The Bb marching horn (285) is by far the most common as it was bought by schools, and the late-pattern marching mellophone (280) shows up from time to time. All the others are ultra rare. I've only ever seen evidence of one early-pattern (looks like a King 1120) mellophone, and I'm still looking for evidence of an early-pattern F marching alto (275) or late-pattern G alto bugle (175).

I've somehow owned a lot of the others. The early-pattern G alto bugle (175) was the best of the ones I owned, just a fabulous instrument. But also useless, hence why I sold it. I shouldn't have though, that might be the only horn I've sold that I really wish I could have back. My marching alto is cool and very good, but it doesn't have the magic that 175 had. I've also owned one of the 14 G French horn bugles (185), one of the 6 G low alto bugles (no model number), and the only meehaphone in private hands. It helps to be interested in instruments nobody else is, so you can find them for next to nothing.

[JohnL]

It helps to be interested in instruments nobody else is, so you can find them for next to nothing.

It also helps to have a recession-resistant job; I was in a position to buy when a lot of people weren't.

[WilliamLang]

so left to right:
Conn 6h with some customization (bought here!)
Yamaha 882V - awesome large tenor with a unique and very cool valve
Yamaha 671 Alto
Stephens MV42 French Bead with an annealed valve-cap and a little brace near the main tuning slide
Shires Tenor - RVE bell, original O.E Thayer, serial 00445, and a Mt. Vernon Bach Slide
Minick Conn 62h TIS, independent valves with a Mince leadpipe... might be open to selling soon...
in front a good old Yamaha 321
in back a Czech Eb Bass Trumpet with a Scott Sweeney added 4th valve
not pictured: a 70's Bach 43 trumpet, a Yamaha 643-II and a Benge 165f

stable.jpg

[carguy2003]

Currently have a Bach 42B0 but switched to Bass Trombone and am playing on a Getzen Eterna 1052FDR.

[LeTromboniste]

Already posted here but seems the picture links went dead, and there have been some changes.



Egger tenor sackbut after Sebastian Hainlein the Younger (1632)
Slide trumpet by Graham Nicholson after Marcian Guitbert (1442)
Wessex ophicleide in Bb after Gautrot
Tenor cornetto (aka lizard) by Ricardo Simian







Egger bass sackbut after Isaac Ehe (1612), modular model designed with my collaboration, here in its standard (D bass), shortest (G bass) and longest configurations (C contra).
Soon-to-be-added: late-classical/early-romantic bell





Pollter straight German tenor in old traditional Leipzig style (Sattler, Penzel), probably 1890's




Unmarked German convertible tenor-bass similar to a Modell Kuhn





Courtois & Mille French tenor, 1890's


Not depicted:
Christian Reisser straight tenor(-bass) German tenor
Conn S LP (2H-like), 1913

[jonathanharker]

For my sins, I got a grant from Wikimedia NZ to photograph instruments that don't have good openly licensed (public domain or Creative Commons) photos that can be used in Wikipedia articles. Naturally, I started with trombones and trombone-adjacent, some mine and some from a few friends in the Wellington area. I'll post the results in a few days, but in the meantime I've been tracking the project here.

[dukesboneman]

OK Here goes.
Bach Lt12G with Kanstul W6 Leadpipe - Mount Vernon 7C
Bach 8G Bell with Modified 12 Slide (I had the over sleeves taken off and a Nickel crook added ) Mount Vernon 7C
Bach (Mount Vernon) Lt 36 with Edwards #2 Leadpipe - PIcket 7S & 7M
Bach 36B Silver Plated (Closet Horn 1976) With Edwards #2 Leadpipe - Picket 7D
Bach 42 BO with The Olsen Rotary Valve - Copy of Minick 5
Bach 50B3 Bass Trombone - GB 1 3/8`s GM
Weril TIS Alto Trombone - Modified Bach 7C Megatone with 1/2 the weight turn down
King 2B Valve trombone with 1953 Nickel Tempo Bell
Blue PBone - Aluminum Jet Tone 7C
Yamaha 641 Straight .551 Bore Tenor Trombone - Picket 6S
1928 Conn Eb Tuba - Miraphone Eb Mouthpiece
Nickel Plated Malhillon Bb tuba - Miraphone Rose Orchestral
Yamaha 321 Euphonium - Schilke 51, 51D & Yamaha 4AY
Forte Oval Tenor Horn - Custom Doug Elliot
Eb/F Alto Flugel horn - Custom Doug Elliot
Conn Herald Bugel - Bach 1 1/2 C
Armstrong 103 Flute
Gemienhardt Piccolo
Artley Alto Flute
Yamaha Fife
Penny Whistle
8 Assorted Pitch Conch Shells - Which I do use on Gigs
Electric Kalimba
Travel Digeridoo (by Lp)

I think That`s it. Please don`t ask for our Mute collection

[jonathanharker]

Please don`t ask for our Mute collection

Here's me not asking about your mute collection

[Finetales]

Necroing this thread because I finally managed to get a picture of most of my horns! The ones not in the picture (14 of them...) are currently at the shop long-term.



Pictured left to right, back row to front row:

C.F. Zetsche & Söhne G bass trombone (alone in the far back)

Y-Fort YSL-763L
King 1306 Tempo
King 3B
Conn 70H (1932, F/E)
Willson 551TA G/E/D

Conn 36H Eb/C
Olds Recording R-20 C/A
Willson 311TA Bb/G
Willson 411TA Bb/G
Conn 72H F/Gb Yamaha 830 valveset

Kanstul 902-4C tuba
Schiller Elite IV euphonium
Boosey & Co. Solbron Class A alto horn
Jinbao JBBR-1240 baritone horn

Dynasty (Willson) 1220 alto cornet
Holton M602 mellophonium
Conn 16E mellophonium
Blessing M-300 Artist marching baritone
King 1130 flugabone
E.F. Durand WH960B Wagner tuba

Yamaha YCR-2310 cornet
Conn (Willson) 24A flugelhorn
Yamaha YTR-737 Bb trumpet
Selman 17001 C trumpet
Yamaha YMP-204M marching mellophone

Lidl Bb bass trumpet
Bach 351G alto trumpet
Lyon & Healy Silver Piston C flugelhorn
JinYin JYTR-A688S Eb/D trumpet
Mendini MPT-N pocket trumpet
Kanstul KMB-180 G mellophone bugle

J. Melich Eb/D bass trumpet
Selmer Thevet Ascendant double horn
King 2270 Eroica double horn
Alexander 202ST double horn

Cerveny Vienna horn
Hampson Horns/Jackalope Brassworks corno da tirarsi
Cerveny Eb althorn

The 14 horns at the shop having silly things done to them:

King 3BF
King 607 x2
King 605F
Yamaha YSL-456G
Yamaha YSL-3540R
Palatino straight bass thing
Olds O-48 double horn
Yamaha YHR-321 single Bb horn
Yamaha YMP-201 circular mellophone
Olds Ultratone piston/rotor G mellophone bugle
Olds Ultratone piston/rotor G French horn bugle
King K-40 G flugelhorn bugle
Bach CR-310 cornet

[bitbckt]

I continue to be glad I have Tiffany’s posts to refer to when anyone suggests I have a “problem”!

Beautiful collection.

[drnim]

Finetales--how do you wind the G/E/D tuning on the Willson? Easier/harder to use?

[Posaunus]

Necroing this thread because I finally managed to get a picture of most of my horns!

Finetales,

Thanks for introducing me to the term "necroing!"

When you get called to a gig or recording session, do you bring just one horn, or do you tote several "just in case?"

[Kbiggs]

I’m absolutely certain she uses this:

https://mericacargotrailers.com/product ... Ky3NA_nLmB

[Finetales]

Finetales--how do you wind the G/E/D tuning on the Willson? Easier/harder to use?

I wouldn't call it easier or harder, just different. Compared to F/Gb, some things are easier, others are harder. I think it balances out well, and I do like it a lot!

When you get called to a gig or recording session, do you bring just one horn, or do you tote several "just in case?"

Depends on the gig, but usually I'm told what horns I need in advance, so I just bring what I need. Sometimes it's not specified, so I reach out to the leader/contractor and ask as it could be anything.

[Dennis]

1957 King 3B Concert with slide and valve.
1972 Bach 36B
199? Bach 50T3G
Pre-Eastman Shires tenor with TI-5G-XLW bell and TW47G slide. Has both a gooseneck and Shires OG rotary valve prototype.
2023 Shires bass with in-line rotaries, B62 slide, red brass seamed tuning slide, BI-7RGLW bell.
1958 Conn 25I Euphonium

[BrianJohnston]

Alto: 2022 Latzsch SL-710 yellow brass bell and tuning slide paired with a courtois AC131 slide

Tenor: 1960 Mount Vernon Bach 42 with instrument innovations axial. Lightweight Mount Vernon slide. Holle nickel silver f-attach tuning slide. O malley custom VG lead pipe

Bass: (not pictured) Elkhart Bach 50 bell with a 1940 NY50 slide. Moz valves. BrassArk MV50 lead pipe.

[MStarke]

I probably posted here years ago, the current stable includes:

- Conn 35h, Kanstul 450 and Weril altos
- Minick, Conn 100h and Conn 6h .500 bores
- ~1970 Conn 88h, modern 88ht, 88htg .547 bores
- Elkhart Conn 60/rebuilt to be 62h, Conn 112h, Original Greenhoe dependent TIS, Conn 70h basses
- One-off contrabass trombone (partly modelled after Kromat)
- Original Heckel and replica Piering German tenors
- Conn 4B bass trumpet
- Besson International 7065 and Weril euphoniums (both non-compensating)

There are some more instruments that are not really getting played and more or less waiting to be sold whenever I find the time.

Some maybe notable thoughts on these instruments:
Out of the altos the Kanstul is probably easiest to play for me as it has the same bore size as my smallbores and relatively easy intonation. I do not very often play alto in orchestras (+-2 programs per year maybe), but the last times I still chose the Conn as the sound was easier to mix. The Weril is surprisingly good!

The Minick smallbore is obviously the most "special" out of the three and probably the overall best-playing of my smallbores. Still I do sometimes prefer the 100h or 6h for their character.

The Elkhart 62h is - in my view despite its age totally capable to cover as a "modern" bass trombone if you can live with dependent valves (which I totally can). The 112h is surprisingly good with great response, good valve register and an interesing sound. Note that a) I play it with a heavier modern 62h slide and b) the bell section must be a very early example of the 112h. The Greenhoe not surprisingly has the easiest valve register and overall response of these. The 70h is currently the most fun for me.

The German Heckel tenor is a great responding and sounding instrument - apart from being extremely front heavy and the slide being somewhat bad. At some point I might invest a bit in getting it improved.

The Conn bass trumpet is a fantastic travel & practice instrument - and lots of fun overall.

[Briande]

Updated family photo:

[Macbone1]

My opinion only, but I think more than one of each category of trombone is counterproductive. If you're a collector, that's cool and I understand that, but how can you guys possibly play all those trombones?

Most of my favorite brass heros have played on only a few instruments throughout their careers. I'm sure they have pretty big collections, but then again, maybe they don't.

My mind keeps going back to the example of Bill Waltrous. As far as I know, he never bought a Bach trombone from an authorized dealer in his life.
The one he always played was used, and modified for him. Bach used him in advertisements and gave him some horns including a 36, but he only ever used his custom 16M.

[Kbiggs]

My current stable:

IMG_5026.jpeg

Pictured:

Bach 50 with 50G bell (Elkhart), Instrument Innovations valves, M/K nickel slide crook
Bach 42 with yellow bell (Elkhart), Bach gold tuning slide, Instrument Innovations valves, M/K nickel slide crook
Bach 36 (Corporation)
Olds horn in F, nickel
M&M (Jin Bao) bass trumpet
Mack Brass EU1150S euphonium
Hackbut/fakebut/anachronism (Beuscher)
pBone, purple

Not pictured: 50 yellow bell (Corporation), 50 custom lightweight slide, O.E. Thayer axial flow valve for 42, various odds & ends

[BrassSection]

Sunday morning on the ready horns. Trumpet and trombone get the most play time, euph maybe one song a week, rarely two. Some days all trumpet, especially Christmas music time. Occasionally all trombone.
French horn as needed, average one or two songs in a six week period.
Tuba ensemble use only.

C6E10181-081B-4D16-B7AA-EBD48DAE72DA.jpeg

FA465EFE-49DF-4469-A153-B4B24EE15613.jpeg

[MrHCinDE]

Here‘s a list of the ones I‘ve gigged more in the past year:

Conn 36H
Bach 36b (sale pretty much pending)
Bach 42 with W.Rapp valve section and Edwards slide
Olds Opera O-23
Bach 50B3OG
Holton TR-180 (for sale)
Lidl Bass Trumpet
Miraphone Oval Tenorhorn
Cerveny Oval Baritone
Boosey and Hawkes Imperial Euphonium

One I just added and am pretty excited about trying in an ensemble is a very nice Yamaha 682B.

Candidates for adding to the selling list ä as I just don‘t play them enough are:

King 2B Silvertone
King 3B/F

[bigbone1]

Kühnl Bart van Lier .480/88 MKII Bz
Kanstul ZSL 1555
2*Schmelzer Model 1 silver/gold

[Leanit]

I'm all done. Got my three unicorns.

• Bach NY serial number 13 (pre-model prototype) .500 bore, 1930

• Conn 88H from 1963. The very horn that Mark Lawrence rode to fame.

• Williams Model 10 bass, 1962

trombones January 2026 reduced.jpeg

[Burgerbob]

Now that is a quality over quantity collection!

[Burgerbob]

Ok, fine... this took much more effort than it should. Missing all my valve horns of course, as well as a 36B (at work), Olds S24G (rented out), 42T with slot in valve (being built), Getzen 1050 (being re-crooked), 42COG (lent out), and big bass project with O'Malley bell, 45 bell, and 1485 bell (being built). Oh, and slides coming out of my ears.

The whole family:



The tenors, left to right:

Yamaha 852
King 3B/F
78H Special
42 modular
Y-Fort 763G
42GG (Ultra valve, gold bell, G valve- here with the additional F extension)



Basses, left to right:

M&W Bach 50
Shires (Trubores, B, 7YA5)
B&S Meistersinger Sarastro
Yamabach (6130 valve section, Bach 50 TS and gold corp 50 bell)
Holton 185
Conn 70H '55

Laetzsch SL-600 F contrabass

[harrisonreed]

But where are your altos?!?

[Burgerbob]

But where are your altos?!?

as FDR once said, paraphrased:

never alto

[Posaunus]

Ok, fine... this took much more effort than it should. ... Oh, and slides coming out of my ears.

O.K., I'm impressed.

How do you ensure that you can re-mate the proper slide to each bell? Do you tag them, or "just know?"

[harrisonreed]

But where are your altos?!?

as FDR once said, paraphrased:

never alto

[Burgerbob]

Ok, fine... this took much more effort than it should. ... Oh, and slides coming out of my ears.

O.K., I'm impressed.

How do you ensure that you can re-mate the proper slide to each bell? Do you tag them, or "just know?"

Well, these horns all live in cases, so the slide that is "matched" is always with it.

But I do have these as well...

[Digidog]

as FDR once said, paraphrased:

never alto

What are your opinions of the basses you currently have? How would you rate and use them?

I remember from some time ago that you did a comparison between a couple of them and that I favoured how you played and sounded on the B&S without getting the wiser about how you ranked them from your owning and playing view - at least not what I can recall.

[Burgerbob]

What are your opinions of the basses you currently have? How would you rate and use them?

I remember from some time ago that you did a comparison between a couple of them and that I favoured how you played and sounded on the B&S without getting the wiser about how you ranked them from your owning and playing view - at least not what I can recall.

They're all good at different things... or at least have some promise.

My M&W is perhaps my best trombone. Very even, consistent, sounds like a Bach 50, amazing through the valve section. It's what I use for serious orchestral playing, including upcoming auditions. I see it as something like a Porsche 911 Turbo- it's good at everything, but also doesn't have the "fizz" like a more compromised car. I have had to go through a few slides for it- currently I am using an Edwards VDB, the dual bore that comes with the 502.

The Trubore horn I got recently, mainly because I have a Bonezilla slide- with the original B62G the setup is a bit tight for me. Good sounding but a little narrow. With the Bonezilla it's very balanced and sounds great, to everyone's surprise.

The B&S I have waffled on so many times. It's got an AMAZING sound but simply plays differently from all my other horns, and only works with 1 mouthpiece that I own. Despite that I use it every chance I get in smaller legit settings, including all my church gigs and smaller orchestra stuff. I'd only sell it to get something like a Laetzsch or Thein.

The Yamabach I put together as a backup/commercial horn for my M&W- I had a very good sounding but not playing 50BG, and a Yamaha 6130 with a trashed bell. It's very easy to play, even, no quirks, and actually sounds very orchestral on accident. I use it at work because it's lighter and so simple to play. If I didn't have my M&W I would use this for most orchestral stuff, I think.

The 185 I have because one of the only horns I've ever regretted selling was a similar 185. This one is a bit different and I'm not sure where to go with it- it's great as is but dependent F/Eb and not quite usable for me in real life. Still deciding on this one.

I've always wanted a 70H and this one floated up for cheap. It's awesome- just a bell ding from the slide coming out in the case and otherwise in great shape. However, it's not really viable yet for use. The valve is just leaky enough that it's a bummer, it's just barely up to pitch, and of course it's a single and has horrible balance. It's going to get two valves and some other mods at some point, I think.

[Digidog]

Very informative! Thank you!

I remember the B&S sounding so very good in your comparison, and since then I’ve been curious to try one - especially the version with Icon valves.

I’d make an effort to bring my meagre herd together for a photography session, since I actually don’t have any photo documentation of all my horns, and neither any picture of all of them together.

In brands and models they are:

• Shires alto
• Shires Custom 0.500
• Conn 62H prototype
• Yamaha 697
• Yamaha 421 (modded)
• Bach LT16
• King 3B
• King 3BF

[jonathanharker]

Not my best photographic effort but from L-to-R we have:

Music stand, with unpublished contrabass trombone operator's manual
Mandolin c. 1950s, made in Napoli, resting on wife's cello (in its case)
Yamaha guitars
S.E. Shires 1Y bass, 1999 with dependent Greenhoe valves, Rath brace (front)
Couesnon G bass, nickel-silver plate, late 1890s (behind)
Wessex F contrabass, awesome with Noah's leadpipe and Ferguson 2A mouthpiece
3D-printed serpent, late 2024, mouthpiece turned from beech
Červený cimbasso, also awesome
St Baptiste soprano trombone (front)
Bach 42T, bought on a US trip 2003 from Sam Ash NYC
Ewald Meinl bass sackbut, 2020
Banjo ukulele, unknown maker (back) for all those George Formby moments
Shelves of boardgames, mouthpieces, D whistles, Brasso, and other assorted junk
Oh and a really cool darbuka (brass drum) right in the back corner.

Missing (having a birthday at the shop): Henri Selmer Paris Bolero 0.500'' ish tenor, Yamaha student model cornet, Yamaha trumpet.

PXL_20260116_021507504.jpg

[jonathanharker]

What are your opinions of the basses you currently have? How would you rate and use them?

They're all good at different things... or at least have some promise.
...

I know you answered the question precisely, but what about the Lätzch contra, right there in the bottom of the pic?

[Burgerbob]

They're all good at different things... or at least have some promise.
...

I know you answered the question precisely, but what about the Lätzch contra, right there in the bottom of the pic?

One of the best trombones I own, and the best contra available today IMO. Wish I could use it more!