Reynolds Single Valve Bass

[pipperz]

Hey all,

Anyone have any thoughts or info on this Reynolds Contempora Bass? https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... intage-60s

I’m borrowing it from my local community college and I was a bit confused on what it was at first. I thought it was just one of those oversized large tenors as it was a single valve and I played it with my Schilke 51D. Further research led me to the model name and specs and it is in fact a single valve bass with a .565 bore and 10” bronze bell. So I wanted to see if anyone had experience with this horn or some facts or anything like that. Also, if anyone can give mouthpiece recommendations for this specific horn as I’m realizing a Schilke 51D is not that great for bass.

Thanks!

[greenbean]

Great bass! Sounds great, easy to play, well made, nice to look at...

[BGuttman]

And for a mouthpiece, a Schilke 58 is a good place to start.

[ithinknot]

Of its time, of course, but I always think that wrap is rather elegant. One side for tuning, one side for pull, more or less the maximum potential extension without sticking out too far, and quite sensibly braced.

[Gameboy64]

I think one of my high school buddies actually had one of these! It was super cool and the guy who played it sounded awesome. I got around to playing it a couple times. I liked the sound I got from it, and like said above, definitely a horn from the time it was made. And as primarily a tenor player, the 10 inch bell is a marvel to me still lol.

[Fruitysloth]

I had one for a while and sold it to fund other projects, and it played wonderfully, even with a funky slide tennon/connector. One of the trombone players in the band MarchFourth plays one of these, but in a straight configuration/no valve.

[although]

My Stereophonic (it's the 2-valve version of the contempora line) does not get along well with bigger mouthpieces. I use a 1.5G and it works pretty well. Every bigger MP that I've tried has been a bit woofy and all over the place. The low range will be great, but the mid range won't slot at all. That may just be me. But, I keep coming back to the 1.5G.

[contemporacorner]

Ah, the Contempora "Philharmonic", the middle child of the Reynolds bass trombone family... more info here:

https://contemporacorner.com/trombones/contempora-bass/
https://contemporacorner.com/features/stereophonic/

Hope that helps! And yes, a Schilke 58 or a classic Denis Wick 1Al are great fits for the horn (IMO).

[tubaductilis]

I have a Contempora Stereophonic (same horn with a double valve) from the late 60s which I love playing. I go back and forth between a Yamaha 59GP and 60B on it, mostly the former. Those are fairly big honkers but they balance well for my playing. I also had a Wick 1AL, but got sold it together with my other bass; I didn’t like my sound on it, or how it responded, but worked for the buyer.

The most beautiful bass sound I can remember hearing in person was a trombonist I knew growing up who played a Schilke 60 on his Reynolds. He sang through the instrument, huge warmth, loads of overtones without edginess. I still have that sound in mind when I practice as a goal.

I can’t make a 60 work for the life of me. I sound like I’m playing a dumpster full of cotton balls until the trigger register, at which point it’s woof or blatty chainsaw.

Go figure. YMMV. 1.5G might be fantastic for you, and loads of players swear by them. By the numbers it’s also pretty close to my 59GP, just a hair smaller. But also try different things when you get the chance - including what doesn’t work for others. Might be “The Thing” for you!