TromboneChat

I've always been very dismissive of slide wear. I assumed it was caused by poorly treated and misaligned slides. I figured if I ever bought a new horn it would not wear through the chrome on the slide because I don't abuse my horns. Well guess what? I've got a ~10 year old slide that has developed wear about 1 inch down from the top of the stocking on the top of the top slide as you play it.

This slide has been kind of variable - sometimes lubing up very nicely and sometimes you can't put enough stuff on it to keep it smooth. It's TIS, but I don't move the mechanism very often or very far when I do move it.

I have a feeling a trip to the Slide Dr is in order. This is well beyond what our local high school band instrument repair person can handle. But what are the possible causes? Would a slide come from the factory misaligned enough to behave like this? It seems like TIS adds a few variables, but I'm kind of hooked on TIS basses for some reason.

IMHO, some TIS slides can be a bit less rigid due to the tubes being unsoldered at the hand brace, and this "could" cause the slide to become mis-aligned and sluggish.
The wear on the stocking is most likely due to either inner or outer tube being slightly warped at that point.

A trip to a slide expert would definitely address the issue!

I’m not a slide tech but I’d suspect slight curves in slide tubes would cause early wear.

On a lot of slides, the lack of straightness probably can’t be detected visually without leveling stones and/or mirrors or looking down the tubes the right way with good lighting.

When the lubrication is just right, a slide with one or more tubes slightly un-straight might be good for a little while then start to feel slow again.

When everything is right with a slide, it works very well for extended periods without cleaning or lubricating. Of course we’re still going to maintain it but it’s nice when a slide is like that.

Could also be simply less-than-adequate chrome plating.

My spare bass is out on loan, so when that comes back, this slide is going to the slide Dr. Is there any one other than the slide dr who specializes in TIS or is especially good with TIS?

hyperbolica wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:13 am My spare bass is out on loan, so when that comes back, this slide is going to the slide Dr. Is there any one other than the slide dr who specializes in TIS or is especially good with TIS?

I would have no qualms about sending it to Eric (Bonearzt) or Benn (Octavposaune). Steve shires worked on my TIS Olds and did a great job, but I don't think he's still in that line.

Good to know names of competent slide people. Thanks BGuttman.

BGuttman wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 11:06 am

hyperbolica wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:13 am My spare bass is out on loan, so when that comes back, this slide is going to the slide Dr. Is there any one other than the slide dr who specializes in TIS or is especially good with TIS?

I would have no qualms about sending it to Eric (Bonearzt) or Benn (Octavposaune). Steve shires worked on my TIS Olds and did a great job, but I don't think he's still in that line.

Thank you Sir!!!