Innovations in Trombones... (and other brass)

[JohnL]

I think I might get dizzy moving my bell into and out of the plunger while trying to create some of the wah-wah effects often written into big band charts.

As long as the composer/arranger managed to avoid writing plunger parts down into the trigger register, you can just use a normal plunger.

I used a plunger-on-a-stand for a concert last year; the biggest issue I ran into was that the orchestra was kinda crowded so I had to be careful not to bump my slide on something.

[sungfw]

But can you get a true plunger result with this setup? I think I might get dizzy moving my bell into and out of the plunger while trying to create some of the wah-wah effects often written into big band charts.

With practice, you can produce a (semi-)reasonable facsimile by twisting your horn side-to-side.

I'm not sure how classy a full set (4) of these would look on the bandstand at a wedding reception or gala ball!

Beats this:



[Pro tip: spray paint the handle glossy black. People who don't look closely will assume it's a mic boom.]

[Bloo]

Seen the mnozil brass tuba player? he sometimes has a mute that drops in and out of his tuba that he actuates via a lever near his valve section. something similar could work for a bass trombone setup with a plunger on a hinge. It'd be heavy as all hell, though.

I've been thinking of designing a brace for your left or right shoulder allowing you to play trombone with one arm. Good for accessibility and for intense manipulation of the mute.