TromboneChat

I'm mostly a bass trombone player, but every once in a while I get a call to play tenor. I've had about five tenor gigs in the past week, with another one coming up tomorrow.

I sold my Edwards tenor four or five years ago -- just wasn't playing enough.

But I do own a classic Elkhart Conn 88H I bought several years ago from the brother of a music colleague. He hadn't played it in 35 years, and it had sat in his closet all that time. It's in good shape, probably very good, but it isn't off-the-shelf pristine. A couple of scars, here and there. But it looks pretty good, the slide is terrific, and it makes a good sound. It has the original Remington lead pipe, so I have a couple of mouthpieces with the Remington shank that seem to work well. An old Bach 5G, also a Griego Artist 2B, and a Greg Black 4.5 that's on its way.

The older I get, the less well red brass works with my chops. (The exception to that rule is my old Holton TR180.) But my 88H has a good basic sound and plays real pretty when playing melodic lines (like a Rochut etude). However, playing the old Conn is not effortless.

I'm thinking of acquiring something along the lines of a Getzen 4047ET. Or maybe the original Edwards "Alessi" model. Good used shape would work, or new if I have to buy new. It's been a long, long time since my tenor was used a lot.

If anyone would be so kind, please tell me what other tenor trombones I ought to consider and what you think makes it stand out?

Thanks,

Lee Dise

Those horns are so very different. The 4047ET is the best Bach that Getzen/ Edwards can make. (It’s what I’ve played for sometime.) Maybe a 4147IB would be more similar? It’s very 88H like and I think the best Conn like tenor out there.
Good luck!

If you're the type of player who generally gets along well with an Elkhart 88H there's a solid chance you'll hate the Edwards Alessi. They play very differently.

Are you looking for something that's basically a Super-Conn or a Super-Bach?

Looks like your primary bass trombone is a Bach. I learned to play on a Bach, the Shires combinations I gravitated to over the years ended up pretty Bach-like, and my current Stephens is very Bach-like. When I play tenor I'm most comfortable on a good Bach. I have a not particularly distinguished 42B that somebody did a pretty good open wrap job on. It plays well and doesn't get in my way.

My ears perked up when you mentioned "old Holton TR 180."

GabrielRice wrote: Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:31 am Looks like your primary bass trombone is a Bach. I learned to play on a Bach, the Shires combinations I gravitated to over the years ended up pretty Bach-like, and my current Stephens is very Bach-like. When I play tenor I'm most comfortable on a good Bach. I have a not particularly distinguished 42B that somebody did a pretty good open wrap job on. It plays well and doesn't get in my way.

I don't really have a primary bass trombone, just yet. I already owned a Corporation Bach 50 (with Instrument Innovation valves and wraps made by Scott Sweeney), and omigod, it plays huge! I think it lacks a sort of intimacy when playing, but all hail the power!

The Holton TR180 is a different animal. It's big, but pretty.

The Yamaha 835D is very easy to play and has an interesting sound. I was really hoping to use it as a big band trombone, because the Holton seems too mellow and the Bach is a bit stuffy on the low double-trigger notes. But our bari sax player took me aside and said the Yamaha sounded nice but lacked the punch of the Bach.

So I bought a Griego .1 bass trombone mouthpiece, and it utterly eliminated the stuffiness. But I only use it for big band.

Still don't know when I'll use the Yamaha. I have a Christmas gig with a local concert band coming up and that might give me better insight.

I'll confess, I never liked Bach tenors. But I'm not welded to the idea of playing a Conn-like horn. I already have one of those. That's why the Getzen or the Edwards "Alessi" model are still in the discussion. I seem to sound better when I'm playing a yellow brass trombone. Easier to stay focused.

I appreciate your feeback, thanks!

WGWTR180 wrote: Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:51 am My ears perked up when you mentioned "old Holton TR 180."

It plays real smooth but has some wonder-working power when you need it!