Shires bass slides - "long" vs standard

[TomInME]

Does anyone have any experience comparing the two?
I found some notes from a Shires rep in the archive stating that the "long" version (Bach length) tends "to feel a little more locked in to the harmonic series" while the standard length slides "move a little easier through the harmonic series".
My questions:
Is this more of a flexibility thing, or a width-of-slot thing?
Is it similar to the difference between the standard leadpipes and the "S" leadpipes?
Is it barely noticeable, or fairly pronounced?

[GabrielRice]

It's more subtle (for me at least) than the differences between leadpipes of different lengths.

[TomInME]

It's more subtle (for me at least) than the differences between leadpipes of different lengths.

Thanks! That's probably the most important part.

[Johnstad]

What I appreciate about the “Bach Length” slides is the ability to play low C with the F valve. The standard shires slides did not facilitate this for me.

[GabrielRice]

What I appreciate about the “Bach Length” slides is the ability to play low C with the F valve. The standard shires slides did not facilitate this for me.

I don't really have a usable 7th position with a Shires - or Edwards or Yamaha - standard length slide.

[Dennis]

I don't really have a usable 7th position with a Shires - or Edwards or Yamaha - standard length slide.

It's a lot like 7th position on most altos for me...right on the edge of falling off the slide on both of my Shires horns. And forget about C2 on the F-valve alone, unless I pull the tuning slide several inches.

[TomInME]

I never really noticed that, but I checked just now and it's true for me also, even with the "Bach length" Shires slide I currently own - low E is a little bit sharp unless I take some chances. But I never use 7th unless it's the end of a fast chromatic line or part of a gliss. (I'm probably lipping it subconsciously in those cases).

For me, the low C is significantly sharp when F is in a good place, but the only real need I've ever had for that extended 7th position on the valve is Hary Janos, and I think the G may be easier to bully than the low C.

[paysonmcc]

I like longer slides as well. Thein has an interesting way they made their slides longer- longer legs of the slide crook. I’m not sure why they didn’t just use longer slides tubes, but this could be a nice fix for shorter horns like Edwards/ Getzen basses. Newer Edwards V models have longer Bach length slides. Here’s a photo comparing the crooks: