TromboneChat

Just watching an old Alan Raph video on YouTube. I noticed that he had a counterweight on his Duo Gravis. I've been playing a Duo Gravis regularly and wondered if a counterweight would balance it better. Or did Alan just haveone on his because it was a Siversonic, which are notoriously nose heavy? Has anyone else tried adding one? Particularly on a brass bell Duo Gravis?

Thanks for the feedback.

I've got a brass one and haven't found the need for a cw. The left hand ergo is so bad, I'm not sure how you'd determine you need a cw.

When I play (generally quartet tunes) that have a lot of moving around from low D to low B the fingers of the left hand get a severe workout. I don't even notice the balance situation.

It might also depend on if you have the D slide or just an E.

If you want a standard King cw with the decals I've got one I can sell you.

Really only necessary with an SS, they are front heavy monsters.

Burgerbob wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 10:13 pm Really only necessary with an SS, they are front heavy monsters.

Thank you.

I have the smaller of the two generic ones offerred by Hickey's attached to mine, with triggers split. It makes the left hand more comfortable, similar to what's on my 4BF. For me at least, a little bit of heaviness towards the valves and tuning slide seems to make things easier. It keeps the slide feeling light.

heldenbone wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 4:56 pm I have the smaller of the two generic ones offerred by Hickey's attached to mine, with triggers split. It makes the left hand more comfortable, similar to what's on my 4BF. For me at least, a little bit of heaviness towards the valves and tuning slide seems to make things easier. It keeps the slide feeling light.

Thanks. Curious who did your cut bell? Also did you use the counter weight before you had it cut too?

Briande wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:46 pm Thanks. Curious who did your cut bell? Also did you use the counter weight before you had it cut too?

George Schlub cut it for me. Gary Dafler did my bass (endorses George on website). Both did very clean work. They are located in Miamisburg and Centerville Ohio, near Dayton.

Yes, I was using the counterweight pre-cut bell. The change in balance just felt better, and I convinced myself that the extra weight tamed the 4BF some at higher volume.

https://www.schlubbrass.com/

https://www.hauermusic.com/

Briande wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 9:16 pm Just watching an old Alan Raph video on YouTube. I noticed that he had a counterweight on his Duo Gravis. I've been playing a Duo Gravis regularly and wondered if a counterweight would balance it better. Or did Alan just haveone on his because it was a Siversonic, which are notoriously nose heavy? Has anyone else tried adding one? Particularly on a brass bell Duo Gravis?

Thanks for the feedback.

Alan had preferences driven by his day job, which was playing around the NYC scene.
From what I could see (in videos) he had NO fear of long positions.
Seventh on the DG is a little short, especially for an F-rotor C.

He also LIKED the side-by-side paddles... he CHOSE those over other options McCracken tried.
Those paddles make a counterweight more helpful.

I tried the King two-piece (McCracken also developed that ) for a while. Didn't find it helped once George split the triggers.