TromboneChat

Hello fellow tromboners,

I'm looking for a decent brass tech in Canada to do some custom work on one of my horns; specifically my Benge 290 bass. The horn itself has a very nice sound but I feel like the response could be lots better. I've been recommended by Todd Clontz that maybe changing the leadpipe and rebracing the horn would help with that? Also some menial work like relacquering the Gb extension and converting the 1st trigger to a more modern over-the-thumb setup rather than the under-the-thumb design from these old Benges, Kings and Conns.

I have dealt with Todd and with Brian Hinkley in the past but both are very busy and, honestly, I want to look on the maple syrup, poutine and ketchup flavoured chips side of the border.

Any recommandations ?

Is Michel Bathalon still in Montreal?

JMR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2026 10:44 am Hello fellow tromboners,

I'm looking for a decent brass tech in Canada to do some custom work on one of my horns; specifically my Benge 290 bass.

Any recommendations ?

How about just south of the border? Chuck Ward was intimately involved in the design of the Benge trombones. I'm pretty sure he'd be delighted to help get your 290 in great shape. Shoot him an email:

[email protected]


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Bach50b3 wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 1:33 pm Is Michel Bathalon still in Montreal?

I learned that he now works in a music shop on the south shore so I'll pay him a visit!

Sesquitone wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 2:47 pm

JMR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2026 10:44 am Hello fellow tromboners,

I'm looking for a decent brass tech in Canada to do some custom work on one of my horns; specifically my Benge 290 bass.

Any recommendations ?

How about just south of the border? Chuck Ward was intimately involved in the design of the Benge trombones. I'm pretty sure he'd be delighted to help get your 290 in great shape. Shoot him an email:

[email protected]


.

I'm afraid the shipping and customs prices will be through the roof, I'd be delighted to work with Chuck as he pretty much fathered the Benge trombone line!

JMR wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 3:08 pm I learned that he now works in a music shop on the south shore so I'll pay him a visit!

Hi Jean-Mathieu, could you share the name of the shop he's at now? I'm thinking about getting some work done myself

drnim wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 6:47 pm

JMR wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2026 3:08 pm I learned that he now works in a music shop on the south shore so I'll pay him a visit!

Hi Jean-Mathieu, could you share the name of the shop he's at now? I'm thinking about getting some work done myself

L'Atelier du Musicien Sébastien Tassé in Longueuil

I used to take my Benge trombones to Chuck Ward in the 90s. The man was and is a living legend, he built basically every single screw-bell for Conn 8D french horns.

I took my horn to Michel Bathalon in the 2010s.

Both are fantastic techs.

As far as the 290 sounding less responsive... the horn sort of has that baked in. The 10" bell geometry is going to be less focused (and thus better for concert halls like Severance Hall in Cleveland...)

Go to Michel, I've taken a few of my horns, project horns to maintenance jobs, they do a bang up job and are patient and all ears.

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