New Butler C8

[DeanSurkin]

Indulge me - I'm going to talk about my new trombone, the Butler Trombones C8. This is a medium-bore, carbon fiber horn with an F-trigger attachment and 8.5" bell.

It is awesomely light compared to the Bach 36B (medium-bore, 8" bell) that I recently sold. Since my spinal fusion surgery back in October 2023, I had been finding it more and more difficult to hold the Bach for extended sessions. I tried using the Ergobone brace, but I was never able to get comfortable with it. Thus, I began looking seriously at the Butler.

I use a Bach 6.5AL mouthpiece that I bought back in 1971 or 1972.

Intonation: Second partial in the trigger range tended to be flat on the Bach. It is significantly better with the Butler. I have no idea why that should be so. Slide positions are slightly different, so I'm retraining my muscle memory. I would expect this when adjusting to any new trombone.

Evenness of timbre across the registers: I had a tendency to sound stuffy in lower register (2nd to 3rd partial) on the Bach, but I'm hearing a more even timbre with the Butler.

Projection: the high range on the Bach had a beautiful sound. In one passage, my conductor had told me to play out, and I found it possible to drown out the rest of the brass section. The sound was definitely "brassy" at that volume. The Butler doesn't give the same feedback to me as a performer, but I've noticed that I can play even louder without the tone breaking up. This may be due in part to the slightly larger bell, or due to the nature of carbon fiber. One of my section mates told me after a concert that the horn was projecting well. This may, of course, have been his subtle way of saying I was playing too loud.

Blending in the section: I have the advantage of playing in an amateur orchestra (Westchester Community Orchestra) which does not have the same requirement of matching timbre that a professional ensemble would. For illustration: second trombone parts are covered on a British-style baritone horn and third trombone covered on a Bach 42. During the summer I will have the opportunity to play trombone with a semi-professional concert band, and I'll be interested in hearing feedback from my section mates, all of whom are more proficient players than I am.

[officermayo]

Still have that Ergobone?

[DeanSurkin]

officermayo:
No, I sold it right here on TromboneChat.