TromboneChat

Will different generations of 36 slides fit with any generation of 36 bell? In other words, will let’s say a New York slide fit a corporation bell, and a MV bell fit a modern slide? If not, are there general rules to which periods are compatible?

I need to know this too! I saw a note on the Hickeys website that said: “Bell receiver joint for late model Bach 36 series trombones. This female section is soldered into the bell assembly and accepts all 36 series slides made since approximately the mid-1980's (earlier slides may not seat all the way in).”

https://www.hickeys.com/search/products/sku119208.php

This makes me think that recent slides won’t fit MV and NY and maybe earlier Corp bell sections.

Anyone know for sure??

Interesting! And if so, are all NY, MV and corporation sections compatible all the way from the thirties until mid eighties, and then there’s a new compatibility from mid eighties onwards?

They *should* fit, but those parts can wear over time. Changing out the slide side part on a Bach is a simple and reversible repair job.

To echo Gabe, they "should" fit. As far as I'm aware, the spec for that part hasn't changed over the history of the brand, but, manufacturing processes certainly have! And even within those processes, there is a degree of variance to be found. On tapers especially, a very small variance can have a very large follow-on effect

Thank you, Gabriel and hornbuilder!
Getting advice from world class experts like the two of you here is amazing!

If you're wanting to try an older slide with a newer bell or vice versa, and one of the parts has worn so there is no friction fit, you can use plumber's tape on the slide side to fill the space and get a good enough friction fit for it to hold together. If you love the combination, you can then get a repair tech to address it more permanently.

There will be some variance between generations.

There is definitely some variance but they tend to fit fine. I use a Mount Vernon slide on a corp bell and an 80s LTG36 on those as well. Everything is secure. My old NY 36B slide fit but not precisely, it wouldn’t thread all the way. Also the NY tuning slide was too wide and wouldn’t fit on other 36 bell sections.