Shires Vintage NY (yellow)

[isaynaynay57]

For those who have played this horn, how does it feel? Does it feel at all like a bass trombone? I'm looking to trade my new york creation AC (gold, cut bell) for this model. I'm a bass major and am looking for something with a more open feel. My horn is also just a bit unbalanced, so how does it feel to play?

[Burgerbob]

Are you referring to the shires bass trombone? Or the tenor model?

[isaynaynay57]

The tenor model. I play a bass shires, with independant rotoes, and im looking for a similar feel to that.

[Burgerbob]

Then no, it won't feel like a bass. Tenors feel like tenors, as they should. It's also not a direction I would recommend going in as a bass trombonist, as someone who doubles- you want your tenor trombone to do tenor trombone things or it's not much use having it, especially if you spend $5000+.

The VNY tenors are very good, and it might be a good horn for you. As a double, though, I'd probably get something cheaper used.

[isaynaynay57]

It actually is used. I have a trade offer and were just working out the details. Do you think I should play test it first? And yes, definitely need it to do tenor things. Just want something more freeblowing i guess. I feel like the thayer should help with that since im coming from a hagmann.

[GabrielRice]

I'm not sure there's a good way to answer your question, but I'll give you my two cents and the options that work for me. I am also primarily a bass trombone player, and I also play a Shires bass with independent rotors. I used to work at Shires in sales and was able to do a lot of experimenting.

I'm not comfortable playing an actual tenor mouthpiece, so when I play tenor I use a hybrid Doug Elliott set-up with the same diameter rim as my bass. I've found that I am also uncomfortable with a .547 slide, so my tenor choice is a LW .562 slide (what I have is nickel, but if I did a lot more tenor playing I might try brass tubes) with the Chicago bell and a rotary valve. The Chicago bell is similar to the VNY bell but in gold brass.

Your mileage may vary, and I think the only way to really answer your question is for you to try it.

[Matt K]

Bigger doesn’t always mean more free blowing nor does smaller mean easier. I have a 562/578 slide bass with a nickel kranz that plays easier than 90% of other basses I’ve played. Id first start with leadpipe and your rim size on tenor, similar to what Gabe was saying. If you do well on a 1.04 or 1.06 and not so much on a 1.01 rim size on tenor, no equipment is going to feel as natural to you.

Similarly, you might actually need to add resistance t your Hagmann. Not to say the other horn might not be a good fit. But I would try a 1 or 1.5 leadpipe before switching horns.

Between the more centered leadpipe and perhaps a more comfortable (to you) rim, you’ll probably make more ground than switching the expensive stuff out.