Page 1 of 1
Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:31 am
by tbdana
I have a vintage straight Bach 36. The slide is toast, and I'm having it entirely rebuilt as a nickel lightweight slide.
The problem is that Bach doesn't have the parts in stock and can't say when they will. Could be never for all I know. But Shires can give me the parts made/cut to Bach 36 size right now.
Is there any difference between Bach and Shires slide tubes, inner and (lightweight) outer? They're both made in China from what I understand. They're the same bore size. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using Shires tubes on this slide rebuild?
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:33 am
by Posaunus
tbdana wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:31 am
Is there any difference between Bach and Shires slide tubes, inner and (lightweight) outer? They're both made in China from what I understand. They're the same bore size. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using Shires tubes on this slide rebuild?
Of course there's a difference! Shires tubes are not sprinkled with Bach's magic fairy dust.
[Not to mention that there's a 100% tariff on parts from Bach competitors.]
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:54 am
by bassbone1993
tbdana wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:31 am
I have a vintage straight Bach 36. The slide is toast, and I'm having it entirely rebuilt as a nickel lightweight slide.
The problem is that Bach doesn't have the parts in stock and can't say when they will. Could be never for all I know. But Shires can give me the parts made/cut to Bach 36 size right now.
Is there any difference between Bach and Shires slide tubes, inner and (lightweight) outer? They're both made in China from what I understand. They're the same bore size. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using Shires tubes on this slide rebuild?
A bit off topic, but have you looked at M/K Drawing? It looks like they have Nickel .525 outers in stock now (4).
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:55 pm
by jjenkins
https://www.mkdrawing.com/product/tromb ... ickel-raw/
They have 4 nickel lightweight outers, but the inners are out of stock. But you might want to call them to be sure in case the online inventory isn't up-to-date.
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:47 pm
by Rrova
Yes, M/K Drawing. When the time comes to replace my corporation Bach 50 slide, I'll get inners and outers from M/K.
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:58 pm
by harrisonreed
Also off topic but I would send to Scott Sweeney to have the slide rebuilt. He rebuilt my 3B slide to be better than new and make the leadpipe into a press fit system. Saved the original pipe and everything. I didn't worry about where the tubes came from -- it was perfect.
Or perhaps O'Malley Brass.
Melanie Ditter is also able to do this:
https://www.rogue-repair.com/about
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 2:26 pm
by JustinCooper
M/K is great, but I've been using O'Malley Brass replacement tubes for Bach slide rebuilds for the past few months and I've been really impressed with the tubes they make!
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:19 pm
by BrianJohnston
O malley for replacement parts. Also their trombones and parts have a very vintage Bach like quality to them.
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 8:57 pm
by dukesboneman
I`d check with Brad Close at The Brass medic
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 6:45 am
by WGWTR180
I just ordered my 2nd set of slide tubes from O’Malley. Excellent quality and wonderful to work with.
Re: Shires parts to rebuild my Bach???
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 11:22 am
by Blabberbucket
tbdana wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:31 am
Is there any difference between Bach and Shires slide tubes, inner and (lightweight) outer? They're both made in China from what I understand. They're the same bore size. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using Shires tubes on this slide rebuild?
Bach slide tubes for the pro line instruments are still made in Elkhart.
The Shires tubes should be fine. Shires slides are typically slightly shorter than Bach slides, so be sure to order untrimmed tubes if you go that route.
I believe all of our .525 inner tubes are currently spoken for, but you should reach out to
[email protected] to confirm that.
Whatever choice you make, get all 4 tubes from* the same supplier.
Edit:typo*