This evening I put four Holton basses up to a test.
It is one 169 with 9 1/2" bell from 1964, two TR185 with 9 1/2" bell from 1968 and one TR183 with 9" bell from 1974.
I put them on four stands and switched repeatedly between them. First one comment about the trigger on the TR183 that has two plastic details in the trigger system. In each end of the brace between the rotor and the trigger it has a plastic device to hold the parts. One has cracked but it works anyway. The older Holtons have slight different details that do the same thing but they are in metal, much better.
The test is basically to play scales and arpeggios and some songs on all bones to see if I could come to some conclusions about the Holton sound - what that is -
and compare this to other basses and also to find differences between the Holton models. The other trombones I used was a couple of Conns (73h, 62h) Yamahas (321,322) a Martin bass and an Olds P24G.
My conclution is there is definitely a feel that unites all the Holtons. All have a broad sound, a sound that can expand more compared to any of the other models. I can feel that the Conns "lock in" to a sound more even though they have lots of colors and can be altered. I felt all Holtons to be "wavy" in the sound. I'm not sure if that term exists and if it can be understood, but what I mean by that is the playing characteristics helps me to broaden and spread the sound, so "wavy" is a positive word in my book
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
. The Yamahas (321, 322) are more close to the Holton sound than to the Conn sound in soft nuances. The Martin is a .535 bass which means it is very tenor like in this test. The Olds P24-G has a full bodied fundamental with lots of high frequency above. In this test I would place the Holton sound between the Conns and the Olds sound I would place the Yamaha very close to the Holtons when played soft, but the sound in the Yamaha changes more when pushed. Not the same with the Holtons. They are full bodied and "wavy" in all nuances.
If I compare the Holtons to each other I find one of the TR185 to be more "mellow" and the other to have more high freq. It could be because one has the lacquer removed. The one without lacquer is the more mellow one The 169 is more close to the one with lacquer but it is a little less "wavy" or more "compact" and distinct if you prefer, but still it has a broad sound. The TR183 has a 9" bell. It is not as broad as the other Holtons. It is "wavy" but not as big in the sound and not as distinct as the 169. All the Holtons have great fake notes and notes in all registers pop out with ease. Easier low register than the Conns. I would say the TR185 and 169 are pretty close and it is only small things in character that diverse. I could due with a TR185 because it is a very good bass with a great sound. The two TR185 I have here are close in my opinion. I need to try both in a big band before I decide what to think.
I don't know if this makes sense to others who have not done similar tests. And they who have might disagree. Maybe you come to other conclusions. We are different so you probably will not agree to my test results, it would be strange if you did. I'm interested to hear your opinion.
/Tom