TromboneChat

I tried a mid 70s 150 last weekend. Almost perfect condition. Excellent horn.

If I didn’t my occasionally play my Shires as a straight horn I might have been interested.

Back in the later 80‘s or beginning of 90‘s, when there was the big hype around Bach, I was targeting to buy Bach as well. Just were not sure whether the the 36 or 42 would be the better choice for my playing in a brass quintett.
By accident, when on music trade fair, I played also a Holton TR160. I immediately fell into love.
I did not buy it because I was fully confused: why I haven‘t heard about Holton so far if it is so damned good - and why are all the students targeting to have a Bach?

2 weeks later, I bought it - and I still have it - and I‘m still happy about it.
It was my main instrument for many years and even you don‘t think about a 9“ bell, it is very flexible.
Later I also bought a used TR170, but it didn‘t work that nice to me and sold it again.
With all the other instruments, I tried and own (Conn 88H and small/med bore Conn, Schmelzer) in meanwhile, the Holton TR 160 is probably the one, I would give away as the very last only.

just my 2cents ..

drbucher wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 12:37 pm The 156 probably compensated for the limitations of Jay's custom 1958 Schilke 51B mouthpiece, made by Mr. Schilke himself when Jay was a student, used by him for 25 years. Perhaps if he had been using a bigger mouthpiece in the early 1970's, the 156 may never have come into existence, or been designed differently.

Great assessments here! I tried a 156 at a trade show in Chicago circa 1977, so the model was either brand new then or still fairly new. I found it heavy, "woofy" and a lot of work to play, all 155 lbs of me, at the time. I imagine I would enjoy one now, with the comfortable wide slide etc. Not in the market but am open to a donation!

If you want to hear a great example of what a Holton 150 can do, listen to Mr. Frank Crisiafulli playing the Ewald
Quintet on you tube with the Chicago Quintet. It is so clean and beautiful.
He sold me one of his Holton 150's in 1968. I now play a Bach 42, but get the Holton out once in a while .
I still think the articluation and attacks are better on the Holton, but the Bach seems easier to play as I get older.
Cheers
Randy

Cromebone yes Jay wrote to me about that Holton don't want his model with F .... really stupid holton