TromboneChat

I remember seeing a custom bass slide in the last few years that was a 578 (small end) and then the large end was 593 or something like that. Does anyone know where that slide is/brand, link to where it was sold? The bass bone in one of the orchestras I play in wants one. Thanks

Shires Bonezilla

Burgerbob wrote: Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:30 pm Shires Bonezilla

Thanks! I’m seeing now that this is a .578/.593 lightweight nickel silver slide.

BrianJohnston wrote: Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:49 pm

Burgerbob wrote: Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:30 pm Shires Bonezilla

Thanks! I’m seeing now that this is a .578/.593 lightweight nickel silver slide.

Think there were some brass ones, too. Also don’t recall if they were all lightweight. They were sold through Newell Sheridan, as I remember.

Cheers,
Andy

Yes, the original Bonezilla slide from Shires was .578-.592 nickel lightweight. There were Bonezilla valve sections too, with opened up rotary valves and larger tubing, and they would usually have 10.5" bells. The Bonezilla was designed for and sold more or less exclusively by Shires dealer Robert Fry, who had Newell in his network.

Later on, Shires also made some .578 single bore slides, and those were often standard weight; I remember at least one with nickel tubes and oversleeves, and a couple with yellow tubes and oversleeves. I played one for a special project, and Matt Guilford of the National Symphony played one for a bit.

If any of you see the dual bore bonezilla out in the wild please let me know. I hope it doesn’t become a meme like with Aidan and the K valve.

I own both a B78-93LW and a B78LYC, what do you want to know? Aidan has played both when visiting the PNW

Benn

BrianJohnston wrote: Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:38 pm The bass bone in one of the orchestras I play in wants one. Thanks

What make of bass trombone does your section-mate play? Specifically, what is the bore of the attachment tubing and valve(s)? If it is 0.594" (15.1 mm) then the larger bore of the dual-bore slide would blend seamlessly into the attachment(s). Intonation, tone-quality and attack response of attachment notes would definitely improve—because the overtones then line up much closer to the natural harmonic series (i.e. multiples of 1x, 2x, 3x, . . . the fundamental). The common practice of using a larger bore in the attachment than in the slide—especially if there is a sharp discontinuity in cross-sectional area inside the slide receiver (causing unwanted reflections)—may lead to well-known problems of attachment notes, such as flat and "stuffy" second harmonic, sharp and uncentered third harmonic, unreliable attack response.

octavposaune wrote: Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:55 am I own both a B78-93LW and a B78LYC, what do you want to know? Aidan has played both when visiting the PNW

Benn

The bass trombonist of one of the orchestras I’m in is potentially interested in buying a B78-93LW

Sesquitone wrote: Thu Nov 13, 2025 3:45 pm What make of bass trombone does your section-mate play? Specifically, what is the bore of the attachment tubing and valve(s)?

He goes back and forth between a Benge & a Bach 50. The Bach 50 has Chuck McAlexander valves/wrap, the benge idk.

BrianJohnston wrote: Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:38 pm He goes back and forth between a Benge & a Bach 50. The Bach 50 has Chuck McAlexander valves/wrap, the benge idk.

The large dual-bore slide would be "oversized" for the standard Bach 50B—not advised. Need to know actual bore of attachment tubing for the McAlexander wrap and the Benge.

Here are my impression of my B78LYC (brass Bach Length tubes) and my B78-94LWN (Bonezilla). B78 plays remarkably easily, they kept the venturi size small so its not as much of an air hog as you would think. I would describe it as stable and even playing, but not efficient.

The Bonezilla is rather huge playing in the basement register. Upper register stops at high Bb. Intonation is weird, the bottom crook is narrow, so Thayers are hard to use. Its fun if you have all below the staff stuff.

There is a reason Bonezillas are uncommon, they are rather one use wonders.

Bach 50 F attachments are usually around .590 to .595" IDs so it's not impossible to use this slide on one, but it sounds like a crutch for Bach's stuffy stock rotors... but the tenon is Shires which generally wont screw onto a bach, and no Bach tenons were bored out this big, it would be a delicate procedure as the metal.would become very thin at the end of the taper.

Benn

pff... learn valves and buy a tuba