Shires LA bass

[bassbone1993]

Anybody seen the little clip of the LA bass? Looks to be inspired by the Williams 10, but I am interested in an independent setup.

[Burgerbob]

Finetales has tried it, you can see on her blog. https://tiffanyjohns.com/blog/namm-2026

It seems pretty useless, to be honest. It looks like a Williams but doesn't have any the tapers that a Williams would have.

[HawaiiTromboneGuy]

I’m curious as to what inspiration went into the making of this horn? From the brief clip I saw of Matt/Quinn playing it, I don’t really see any kind of resemblance to the 10, besides it being a single valve. Aidan is right in that I highly doubt any of the tapers are close to Williams spec. Besides tapers, I think a lot of what makes a Williams is the long/large J bend, like those on the old Conn 60/70 series with TIS. Here’s a bone stock model 10 bell section on the right.

[Finetales]

As mentioned above, I played it at NAMM.

Incredibly front heavy (no counterweight or braces on a single valve horn will do that), sounds/plays nothing like a Williams, and doesn't sound/play that well in its own right to me either. I spoke with a few other LA pros who also tried it at NAMM and they had the same impression. It's very puzzling.

I also feel the same way about the Vintage LA small tenor, for what it's worth. Supposedly meant to be like a Williams 6, but it's just...not. I feel like their "Vintage [x]" trombones have been all misses so far. At last year's NAMM I tried the Vintage Elkhart bass, intended to be like a 62H. It was like a 62H in exactly zero ways. Greenhoe is doing the "old Conn but modern" thing much better.

[RJMason]

Also tried both vintage LA models at NAMM. I never owned a 10, but I did own a 7 at one point (small bore with F valve). Neither felt or sounded at all like a Williams the Marshall Gilkes horn played more like a Williams to me!!!! The bass was so front heavy and dull…get a 72H. Agree with finetales: I tried the vintage Elkhart bass last year expecting to loooveee it and I also found it kind of dull. Both swing and misses IMO

[bassbone1993]

Oof, makes me nervous to even look at the vny bass

[Burgerbob]

The VNY models are very standard horns with the more Bach-like setups, like 5 series bells. I have to say I have not been impressed with them... there's a reason everyone plays 7 series bells.

[Rrova]

As mentioned above, I played it at NAMM.

Incredibly front heavy (no counterweight or braces on a single valve horn will do that), sounds/plays nothing like a Williams, and doesn't sound/play that well in its own right to me either. I spoke with a few other LA pros who also tried it at NAMM and they had the same impression. It's very puzzling.

I also feel the same way about the Vintage LA small tenor, for what it's worth. Supposedly meant to be like a Williams 6, but it's just...not. I feel like their "Vintage [x]" trombones have been all misses so far. At last year's NAMM I tried the Vintage Elkhart bass, intended to be like a 62H. It was like a 62H in exactly zero ways. Greenhoe is doing the "old Conn but modern" thing much better.

In regards to the 88HNV, they "were as okay as ever" is so spot on! At the American Trombone Workshop I too was so impressed by the Greenhoe basses. For you do the GC5s play more open than the GB5s? I know that there are other differences (slide and bell material/construction) but I would think they would play similar through the valve.

Also, love your NAMM reports! Can't get over how you feel at home at all the different brass instruments.