TromboneChat

Hello forum,

I've been on a bit of a journey trying to find my setup using the non-modular route, with a local tech here in Montréal.

I'm close and I feel like I'm potentially at the end of mod and test cycle. Would love any advice on what I'm trying to do.

My bell section is a Elkhart 88h with Hagmann from a Bach. I have the matching 88h slide and the 42LT slide and for some reason, even when I friction fit (sticking out by an inch) the LT slide with this bell section, I much prefer how it sounds and feels than the original fit Conn slide. In fact, this is the best setup I've tried from any combo I've had the chance to test, other than the fact that it's 30 cents flat due to the tenon-reciever mismatch and possibly other issues I don't understand.

I had the tech swap out the slide receiver on the bell section with the Bach receiver expecting it to be good but it was much worse, did not slot well and higher range was not there. So I reversed that, and don't really want to mess with the Conn 88 receiver.

Now I'm considering putting a Getzen tenon (from Allied) on the 42 slide cause apparently those are compatible with Conns. But the slide is of the newish generation where the tenon is not its own piece, so I imagine the tech will need to chop and graft the new tenon, not the easiest, unless anyone here has experience with that.

Alternatively, I guess the tech could sand down the diameter of the Bach tenon so it'll friction fit deeper onto the Conn bell section disregarding the lock nut. I don't mind friction fit if it's relatively reliable.

Besides how it good it sounds, i.e. thin rose bell with lightweight slide that basically makes a more responsive and zippy vintage 88h, the ergonomics of the wider slide makes the Hagmann more comfortable, and there's a side benefit of the tenon mismatch in that the bell is closer to my face. That won't be the case when I fix this tenon issue so I'm considering moving the bell closer if anyone has experience with that.

Help!!!

That's definitely a lot of work any way you do it. The Conn taper is totally different (and a different length and threads of course), so it's some work machining the Bach to fit... which you can't do because it's not removable from the slide assembly anyway.

Honestly not sure what the best course of action would be.

Remove the lower slide tube, cut off the tenon part of the Bach cork barrel assembly, reinstall the slide tube, and solder on the Conn (or Getzen) tenon. Shouldn't be too difficult. I wouldn't mess around with trying to change the taper of the Bach tenon; just get rid of it. But definitely test fit the Getzen tenon in the bell section before you start cutting anything.

Thanks for the feedback Aidan and Brad. I'll bring it to the tech tomorrow to order the part / chop.

After I do that, I will see if it's worth bringing the bell closer to the face - is that something folks do, and how is that best done?

I really like the closer bell position even if it was only an inch - more immediacy in feedback, better ergonomics since I'm not using a counterweight and it moves the center of gravity back, and facilitates slightly quicker and more comfortable mute work for my short arms.

Pics for reference:

Showing how my tech mounted the Hagmann on the Conn: Tenon comparison Conn 88h and Bach 42: Amount sticking out Bach 42 slide on a Conn 88h bell.