Who Plays Small-Bore Silversonics?

[JTeagarden]

I have owned a couple Silvertones over the years, and one was great, and the other a complete turkey, but I eventually went back to a yellow-brass horn, as I could never quite get the Silvertone to do what a yellow-brass horn can, and my limited experience with 2B Silversonics is the same: a short infatuation followed by returning to yellow brass.

Have there been any noted players of 2B and 3B Silversonics over the years? I don't know that I've ever seen a pro play one, but I assume there were some.

Any come to mind?

[Burgerbob]

There are 4-5 of them at my workplace at the moment. 3 on 2BSS and another couple on 3BSS. Very popular here.

[Posaunus]

I really enjoyed playing a 3BSS for a few years, but no longer have it.
I just acquired a very nice yellow brass 3B from the same era (late 1970s) - I think I preferred the 3BSS, but can't do an A-B comparison.
I'd be happy to receive another 3BSS as a gift!

[hyperbolica]

I had one for a short time and got rid of it. Not due to the sound, just due to weight and ergo issues.

[Finetales]

Gary Valente plays a Silversonic, I think 2B. The perfect horn for his trombone prayers.

LOTS of salsa players play Silversonics. Here in LA I see them way more than any other horn on salsa gigs. They do war crime volumes very well. One bandleader here sings and plays timbales, but also has his 3BSS on a stand nearby and picks it up to play a solo or two. After not playing a note on the horn beforehand, he picks it up during a song and plays so loud it feels like the building is going to fall down. The amplified percussion doesn't even compete. I've never heard anything like it.

Biggest downside to Silversonics is that they are heavy. A friend's 2BSS is nearly as heavy as my double valve bass trombone. I'll stick with my yellow Kings!

[harrisonreed]

I play a 1969 3B Silversonic. I love it.

It is huge in the salsa and Latin scene, but there is a trend for Latin groups to be on large bores now too.

I forget what group it was, but there was some big band in the 70's that had everyone on Silversonics.

[Finetales]

It is huge in the salsa and Latin scene, but there is a trend for Latin groups to be on large bores now too.

It's both a new trend and returning to the old ways. Barry Rogers played a large bore with F for a long time. I'd say he's the salsa equivalent of Fred Wesley...and funnily enough, Fred also plays a Yamaha large bore.

[officermayo]

I love my '62 3B.

It can play buttery mellow and yet scream when needed.

[tbonesullivan]

I STILL kick myself for not buying a 2B Silversonic that I really fancied at Dillon music years ago. It played great, was in really nice shape, ticked all the boxes. I just was being "fiscally responsible". I should have bought it so I could bring out the Dorsey every few months.

[flyingcow]

I love my late 1940's era Silvertone. Not gonna lie, it definitely took more effort to figure out than a yellow brass 2B, but once I got it, I couldn't give up that sound. Don't play small bore much now, but I won't sell it.

[EriKon]

Albert Mangelsdorff played his whole career on a 3B Silversonic.

[Fruitysloth]

I mean, I currently play a 3BFSS with a 2B+ slide and it ROCKS. I want a Straight 3BSS bell to switch around if I want and I’m currently trying to lock down a 2BSS. For actual professionals, I know Mike Boschen plays one a ton on broadway stuff in NYC and he sounds GREAT.

[DaveAshley]

JJ Johnson played a Silver Sonic bell for a good while. Look closely at the engraving on his bell in the black-and-white photos and the cover of the album “Pinnacles.”
I had one Silver Sonic 2B bell that must’ve been a lightweight custom order. It was noticeably lighter than other Silver Sonics, and it played just like my brass 2B bell.
I’m sure it’s out there somewhere. Everything but the flare itself is gold plated. It was up for sale at The Brass Exchange a couple of years back…

[Posaunus]

I really enjoyed playing a 3BSS for a few years, but no longer have it.
I just acquired a very nice yellow brass 3B from the same era (1978-79) - I think I preferred the 3BSS, but can't do an A-B comparison.
The 3BSS presented no "ergo issues" for me - felt great to hold.
I'd be happy to receive another 3BSS as a gift!

[RJMason]

Alan Ferber has played a 2B silvertone for practically his whole career. So good.

Ozzie Melendez (Blood Sweat and Tears, Marc Anthony, Willie Colon, now Bruce Springsteen) plays a 3BSS. Enough said !

[tkelley216]

A lot of videos of the Buddy Rich orchestra show his section on silversonics. Michael Davis and James Pankow used them for many years. I like my 3bSS and have come to prefer it over brass most of the time, but it took an adjustment period until it started working for me.

[DaveAshley]

A lot of videos of the Buddy Rich orchestra show his section on silversonics.

Off the top of my head, Buddy Rich trombonists who were on SilverSonic / SilverTone during their tenure:
Dale Kirkland (late 70's)
Tony Lada (entire career on SS3B! Incredible bop player, Berklee prof...Look up "Boss Bones" on YouTube)
Michael Davis (played SS2B for at least 25-30 years before XO, then Shires)
Dave Panichi

And yes, Jimmy Pankow switched from a 48H Connstellation to a Silver Sonic 3B in about 1971/2 and played it til he moved on to a Yamaha 691 in the 80's.

[jacobgarchik]

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Brian Drye in Hadestown

[Leanit]

I have owned a couple Silvertones over the years, and one was great, and the other a complete turkey, but I eventually went back to a yellow-brass horn, as I could never quite get the Silvertone to do what a yellow-brass horn can, and my limited experience with 2B Silversonics is the same: a short infatuation followed by returning to yellow brass.

Precisely my experience too.
Tommy Dorsey could have King build him whatever he wanted. He wanted brass.

[wayne88ny]

I've seen lots of players playing a 3B Silversonic. I don't often see the 2B Silversonic. My first trombone teacher, who freelanced quite a bit in the Detroit area played a 2B Silversonic, and I have a friend who also plays one. I used to play with him in a big band where we split the lead book. I had no problem blending with him with my (totally unique) Conn 6H.