TromboneChat

Is anyone currently making a .485 bore straight, professional level tenor?

Shires and Rath. Everyone else of f the top of my head are dual bore or start larger.

I think Rath has a .481/.491 dual bore but no .485 straight bore. So as far as I know, it looks like Shires is it.

Well darn, I'm playing lead on a 1950's vintage 20H which is .485 and would like to get a more modern axe. Guess I'll just have to keep playing it until it's absolutely worn out!

You might want to consider a dual bore option. The Yamahas are usually a good price point, for example, and play very similarly to other single bore horns in that size range. You might be surprised to discover you might not be able to tell a difference, if you have the option to try one. You can also pick up 6xx series Yamahas (I believe the 691(?)) is the older version of their ~485ish bore. (Or perhaps the 697... I can't recall). They're like, 484/491 or something. If you can really tell the difference between that and a 485/485 you're more aware of such a change than I am! Some of the small bore Yamahas also offer interchangeable leadpipes if you thought the blow was still too 'big' for what it was. There aren't too many pipes available, though I"ve souped up a number of horns with Shires pipes with good result.

i have a Bach LT 6. Its a real nice small bore. Unfortunately it will not be built anymore

Go vintage. Bach 6, Conn 44h "Vocabell", Conn 24h, Conn 4h, Martin "Commitee" to name a few.

/Tom

Thanks for the suggestion Tom, but I already am playing on a modified early '50's 20H. I was hoping to update to a current manufacture axe without the inherent problems usually found in 60-70 year old horns. Rotten parts, worn out slide stockings, and bad repair jobs over the years are getting tiresome to deal with.

As of a few years ago, Shires made a slide for a TIS Conn from the 20s for a friend of mine.Not sure if they'd do it now, but you don't have to get a totally new horn if slide parts are your primary concern.