Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post Reply
User avatar
Bloo
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2018 5:53 pm

Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Bloo »

I've been using Slid-o-mix since I've been playing trombone. It's always served me well. However, it started getting expensive to oil all 3 of my horns with it weekly.
Finally got the Yamaha Liquid slide oil a month ago, and the difference is night and day. Not only do I have to oil far less often, but the action is so much smoother. It's so much easier to apply and the response is instant.
I could never go back.
My Eastman slide went from decent to one of the best slides I've had in my hand.
I could gush about how nice it feels for hours.
I'm partial to vintage Conn horns, and new Getzens.
Doubler
Posts: 368
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:56 pm

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Doubler »

Thanks for the recommendation. When my Slide-o-Mix gets used up, I'll give it a try.
Current instruments:
Olds Studio trombone, 3 trumpets, 1 flugelhorn, 1 cornet, 1 shofar, 1 keyboard

Previous trombones:
Selmer Bundy, Marceau
HeyMan
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 7:45 pm

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by HeyMan »

Yamaha Trombone Slide Lubricant (YAC-1021P). This, with a spritz of water, works amazingly well! It's recommended by some guy named Andy Martin, whoever he is. /S
Yamaha YSL-651
"Hey, Man!" was "The Chief's" customary greeting. Emory B. Remington - Dec. 22, 1892 - Dec. 19, 1971
Amconk
Posts: 233
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:30 am
Location: 97524

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Amconk »

I just made this upgrade today. Fully cleaned my shires slide first, then did just the Yamaha lube and a few spritzes of water. I could not believe the difference. Amazingly fast and quiet.
Michael Conkey
Southern Oregon Trombonist

-Besson Be944 Sovereign with Hagmann
-Holton TR-140 “monster” valve
-Modified Schiller 7B clone
-King 4B with custom bell
-Jin Bao Alto
JLivi
Posts: 661
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 4:24 pm
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by JLivi »

Yamaha is far superior to slide o mix. I love using the Yamaha slide oil.

If you’re looking for something to not use that often I love trombotine too. And t lasts forever! But Yamaha is definitely the way to go.
King 2b+
King 3b
King 3b(f)
Conn 79h
Kanstul 1585
Olds O-21 Marching Trombone (Flugabone)
tbonesullivan
Posts: 1461
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:06 am
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by tbonesullivan »

Were you guys using the Two part slide O-mix, or the rapid comfort?
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, B&H Eb Tuba, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
bbocaner
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:14 pm
Location: Fairfax Station, VA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by bbocaner »

My big problem with Yamaha is that on slides that don't get used every day it tends to dry out and turn into this extremely hard residue on the stockings that I have trouble removing. Ideally I should be wiping off my slides after I use them but once in a while after a gig something that isn't my main instrument sits in the case for a while and when I do get it back out I've got a huge problem on my hands. It never happens on my main trombone because I use it often enough, but on small bore, bass, alto, etc. it's a huge problem.
afugate
Posts: 644
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 5:47 am
Location: Oklahoma City

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by afugate »

bbocaner wrote: Mon Dec 30, 2019 9:50 am My big problem with Yamaha is that on slides that don't get used every day it tends to dry out and turn into this extremely hard residue on the stockings that I have trouble removing. Ideally I should be wiping off my slides after I use them but once in a while after a gig something that isn't my main instrument sits in the case for a while and when I do get it back out I've got a huge problem on my hands. It never happens on my main trombone because I use it often enough, but on small bore, bass, alto, etc. it's a huge problem.
And I've got to believe the same happens to the insides of the outers, unless I swab down the slide before I put it away.

FWIW, I don't seem to have as much residue with Ultra Pure's slide lube. Nevertheless, I think Yamaha's lube is a better overall lubricant.

--Andy in OKC
Mikebmiller
Posts: 871
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 9:13 am
Location: Spartanburg, SC

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Mikebmiller »

I went the other way, from Yamaha to SOM Rapid comfort. They both work great, but I like the SOM a bit more.
PaulT
Posts: 372
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:55 pm
Location: North Dakota

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by PaulT »

I just checked the slides of two trombones I use Yamaha slide lubricant on but haven't played for about nine months. Each had a couple small patches of dried residue on the stockings. But, the residue wasn't hard (the slides moved smoothly and quietly). The residue came off easily and completely when wiped with a moistened cloth.
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 4530
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Burgerbob »

I've used Yamaha only for probably 5 or 6 years now. No water. I don't have any residue that won't come off, even on the horns that sit for longer.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
User avatar
Doug Elliott
Posts: 2950
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:12 pm
Location: Maryand

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Doug Elliott »

Some of my horns sit for weeks or months between use. It dries up some but still works.
"I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two."
Pre59
Posts: 370
Joined: Sat May 12, 2018 2:51 am
Location: Devon UK

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Pre59 »

I used to have an issue with a residue building up on the slide. I fixed it by putting some ball bearings in the bottle and now I just give it a good shake before each application, works a treat.
Cmillar
Posts: 243
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:39 am

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Cmillar »

Whatever works, right?

I've gone to Slide-O-Mix classic from Yamaha. I thought Yamaha was the greatest thing since slice bread, but I have a '70s vintage Bach and the SOM seems to last much longer with the same great action as the Yamaha used to give me.

Also....I would think that everyone is different depending on the amount of excess saliva or gunk you happen to blow into the horn as you play.

So that would require the right slide lube depending on the individual.

All that stuff is pretty cheap....experiment!
User avatar
Briande
Posts: 103
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:20 pm
Location: Mid-Michigan

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Briande »

I grew kind of depends on the horn. I think old school
Ponds cold cream works best on my ‘50s 2B. Seems like it’s just thick enough to stick in and smooth out the imperfections.
I’m not a collector, I just have too many trombones….
King 2B. King 3B. King 3B+ w/F attachment and gold brass bell. King Duo Gravis. Getzen 1047FR. Conn 6H. Conn 48H.
tbonesullivan
Posts: 1461
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:06 am
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by tbonesullivan »

It seems sometimes like every side is different. My Bach 42T loves classic Slide O mix. My King 3b most certainly does not. Rapid comfort works best on my Kanstul horns, while I use super slick cream for my Yamaha bass, and Yama-snot for my Tenor.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, B&H Eb Tuba, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
bbocaner
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:14 pm
Location: Fairfax Station, VA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by bbocaner »

huh... it's EXTREMELY hard when it dries up for me. I end up having to do a combination of chipping it off with my fingernail and then wrapping the slide tubes in vinegar-soaked paper towels to soften the last little bit off enough so that it will wipe off. Maybe a combination of the ingredients of the lubrication with my body chemistry?
CharlieB
Posts: 328
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 7:51 pm
Location: Maryland

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by CharlieB »

bbocaner wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:26 am huh... it's EXTREMELY hard when it dries up for me. I end up having to do a combination of chipping it off with my fingernail and then wrapping the slide tubes in vinegar-soaked paper towels to soften the last little bit off enough so that it will wipe off. Maybe a combination of the ingredients of the lubrication with my body chemistry?
Bottom line; it isn't working for you.
Something to try........
I have abandoned all the cream lubes. I now use "Superslick Plus Professional Slide Treatment" on all my horns, old and new. It's a silicone oil. I use one drop to lube both inners.The Superslick needs to be reapplied more frequently than the creams, and it does need to be spritzed with water, but it makes my slides super fast and it leaves no gummy residue.
bbocaner
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:14 pm
Location: Fairfax Station, VA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by bbocaner »

silicone oil seems to be the problem for me, whether it's as a component in Yamaha or the superslick oil or slide-o-mix. I've started using the Berp Bio-Lube which is more of a cream but it's based on beeswax and I haven't had any problems since. Not quite as slick as the yamaha stuff, but it works well.
HGrobot
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon May 27, 2019 10:57 am
Location: Tacoma, Washington

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by HGrobot »

Briande wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:30 am I grew kind of depends on the horn. I think old school
Ponds cold cream works best on my ‘50s 2B. Seems like it’s just thick enough to stick in and smooth out the imperfections.
I have by and large run into the same sort of thing. On my old Getzen it always worked best with Trombotine. I tried Slide O Mix and Superslick on it and neither worked nearly as well. My 3B on the other hand felt like it had maple syrup on it when I tried Trombotine. Slide O Mix works dramatically better on that one.
User avatar
bkessler
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:43 pm
Location: Ann Arbor area, MI

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by bkessler »

After seeing so many people rave about the Yamaha stuff, I finally got some. I've used Slide-O-Mix (both rapid comfort and the 2-bottle one) for years, and it works well by and large, but does tend to build up if I'm not really on top of maintenance, so I figured the Yamaha stuff was worth a shot. I wasn't immediately blown away, but I got a tip from a great player in the area that has made it fantastic. I haven't used water on my slides in years, but he suggested I not only do that, but put some Hetman Hydro-slide in with the water. The combination of that plus the Yamaha lubricant is pretty incredible. I may be a convert.
Crazy4Tbone86
Posts: 1353
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:52 am

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Crazy4Tbone86 »

I'm wondering if CharlieB realizes that the SuperSlick Plus Professional Slide Treatment is silicone that is supposed to be added to the SuperSlick slide cream. It was never intended to be used alone. I'm not saying it is wrong, I'm just wondering how that would work. If it does work, I'll be buying some industrial silicone in a spray can the next time I shop at a home improvement or auto parts store!

For me the bottled Yamaha bottled Trombone Slide Lubricant got crusty after about 7 or 8 days, even when I used the trombone daily. I wasn't thrilled with it because I was able to get a couple more days of use from the different Slide-O-Mix varieties and good old slide cream. Although.....the Yamaha Trombone Slide Lubricant did have a nice smell!
Brian D. Hinkley - Player, Teacher, Technician and Trombone Enthusiast
User avatar
BGuttman
Posts: 5897
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:19 am
Location: Cow Hampshire

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by BGuttman »

SuperSlick Plus can be used with a lot of different slide creams. I started using it with Trombotine on the advice of a colleague, and also used it with plain cold cream (old Pond's).
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
User avatar
WilliamLang
Posts: 406
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2019 6:12 pm

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by WilliamLang »

i like the yamaha trombone slide lubricant, but i also spray my slide with water and gently wipe it down with a cheesecloth between each application, so i've never had the hardening issue.

any lubricant will work well if you regularly service your slide with a good technician and gently clean with water and a cheesecloth like once a week.
William Lang
Interim Instructor, the University of Oklahoma
Stephens Horns Artist
Long Island Brass Artist
faculty, the Longy School of Music
founding member of loadbang
www.williamlang.org
modelerdc
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu May 03, 2018 9:34 pm

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by modelerdc »

I find that any of the standard slide lubes can give good results when used on a good clean slide. But the Yamaha slide oil, as they call it, gives me results as good as any, with the least build up of old stuff on the slide. So it's my favorite.
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 4491
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by harrisonreed »

The new PHAT bottle of yamaha seems to be even better than the one with the weird disk applicator.
User avatar
Garoissimo
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2023 2:16 pm
Location: Grover Beach, CA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Garoissimo »

Ok, so... meanwhile, years later... (on the Garo Show)

So, ok - I bought the Yamaha Trombone Slide Lubricant (YAC-1021P), (well, either that or a new Air Force attack fighter-drone, judging from the number), and a couple bottles of Hetman Hydro-slide to mix with my water (it's in the Plants and Garden section, of course :) )

In a few days, when they arrive, there shall be much extremely slick sliding in my apt...

"We look for things... things that make us go. This can make us go. We are not dumb. We are smart..."
User avatar
Garoissimo
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2023 2:16 pm
Location: Grover Beach, CA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by Garoissimo »

Wow - So, for my 1970 88H the combination (as described by 'bkessler' above) of the Yamaha YAC-1021P, plus the little atomizer/spray bottle with clean water (and several drops of the Hetman Hydro-Slide lubricant mixed-in) on top of it, is totally amazing.

Compared to carefully (properly?) applied Trombotine, I would say it has increased the smoothness of this slide by at least a couple of whole numbers, to what feels close to 9-9.5. For a 23 year old, narrow old school Conn slide, this is... amazing.

Thanks bkessler! Really grateful for the tip!
BrassSection
Posts: 123
Joined: Wed May 11, 2022 3:22 pm
Location: Central PA

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by BrassSection »

After using Blue Juice as a one bottle for everything oil, with good results on my trombone, I decided to try the Yamaha after reading all the positive comments. Week 1…Wiped down slides inside and out good and switched, not really impressed. Week 2…rewiped slides and put on fresh Yamaha…seemed even more sluggish. Week 3, no wipe, just a light application, slight improvement, ready to give my lube to my tuba player buddy to give to his trombone playing brother. Week 4…got horn out and slide felt as good as juiced slide with nothing wiped or no new lube, used and enjoyed playing the horn again. Week 5, light drop of Yammy lube on each slide and the slide felt great. Today, pulled out of case and enjoyed smooth slide without doing anything. Not sure why it took so long to work, but as of now I’m keeping the tube of Yamaha! Still using Blue Juice in all the valved horns, lasts at least a month in trumpet, and at least 3 weeks in the euph. Tuba typically only comes out around Christmas time, otherwise all tuning slides and the valves are removed, cleaned, and stored for no-worry about anything being stuck. They get fresh grease/oil when tuba is reassembled.
whitbey
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:44 am
Location: Rochester Michigan North of Detroit.
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by whitbey »

I use Yamasnott on my slides.

And because I am a little allergic to the oil and I hate the smell, I use the mixed slideomix on my rotary valves. There is a powdery buildup that seems to be helpful to the valves.
Edwards Sterling bell 525/547
Edwards brass bell 547/562
Edwards Jazz w/ Ab valve 500"/.508"
Markus Leuchter Alto Trombone
Bass Bach 50 Bb/F/C dependent.
Cerveny oval euphonium
Full list in profile
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 4491
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by harrisonreed »

BrassSection wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 4:49 pm After using Blue Juice as a one bottle for everything oil, with good results on my trombone, I decided to try the Yamaha after reading all the positive comments. Week 1…Wiped down slides inside and out good and switched, not really impressed. Week 2…rewiped slides and put on fresh Yamaha…seemed even more sluggish. Week 3, no wipe, just a light application, slight improvement, ready to give my lube to my tuba player buddy to give to his trombone playing brother. Week 4…got horn out and slide felt as good as juiced slide with nothing wiped or no new lube, used and enjoyed playing the horn again. Week 5, light drop of Yammy lube on each slide and the slide felt great. Today, pulled out of case and enjoyed smooth slide without doing anything. Not sure why it took so long to work, but as of now I’m keeping the tube of Yamaha! Still using Blue Juice in all the valved horns, lasts at least a month in trumpet, and at least 3 weeks in the euph. Tuba typically only comes out around Christmas time, otherwise all tuning slides and the valves are removed, cleaned, and stored for no-worry about anything being stuck. They get fresh grease/oil when tuba is reassembled.
It probably took a long time for the valve oil to get completely flushed out of the hand slide. I can't imagine that the Yamasnot reacted well to blue juice.
whitbey wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:43 pm And because I am a little allergic to the oil and I hate the smell, I use the mixed slideomix on my rotary valves. There is a powdery buildup that seems to be helpful to the valves.
:eek:
whitbey
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:44 am
Location: Rochester Michigan North of Detroit.
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by whitbey »

harrisonreed wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 6:36 pm
BrassSection wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 4:49 pm After using Blue Juice as a one bottle for everything oil, with good results on my trombone, I decided to try the Yamaha after reading all the positive comments. Week 1…Wiped down slides inside and out good and switched, not really impressed. Week 2…rewiped slides and put on fresh Yamaha…seemed even more sluggish. Week 3, no wipe, just a light application, slight improvement, ready to give my lube to my tuba player buddy to give to his trombone playing brother. Week 4…got horn out and slide felt as good as juiced slide with nothing wiped or no new lube, used and enjoyed playing the horn again. Week 5, light drop of Yammy lube on each slide and the slide felt great. Today, pulled out of case and enjoyed smooth slide without doing anything. Not sure why it took so long to work, but as of now I’m keeping the tube of Yamaha! Still using Blue Juice in all the valved horns, lasts at least a month in trumpet, and at least 3 weeks in the euph. Tuba typically only comes out around Christmas time, otherwise all tuning slides and the valves are removed, cleaned, and stored for no-worry about anything being stuck. They get fresh grease/oil when tuba is reassembled.
It probably took a long time for the valve oil to get completely flushed out of the hand slide. I can't imagine that the Yamasnot reacted well to blue juice.
whitbey wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:43 pm And because I am a little allergic to the oil and I hate the smell, I use the mixed slideomix on my rotary valves. There is a powdery buildup that seems to be helpful to the valves.
:eek:

Never used oil on a hand slide since middle school. And used the silicone/ Teflon lube on valves since the 1990's.
In the early 90's I had a Besson euph that I used a filtered white wine for a valve oil. Then switched to the Cerveny.
Edwards Sterling bell 525/547
Edwards brass bell 547/562
Edwards Jazz w/ Ab valve 500"/.508"
Markus Leuchter Alto Trombone
Bass Bach 50 Bb/F/C dependent.
Cerveny oval euphonium
Full list in profile
User avatar
ghmerrill
Posts: 494
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:41 pm
Location: Central North Carolina

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by ghmerrill »

French wine in a British euph? That just doesn't sound right.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb tuba
Mack Brass Compensating Euph
Amati Oval Euph
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone
DE LB K/K10/112 Lexan, M&K GR Nickel leadpipe
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Bach 12c)
User avatar
bitbckt
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:41 am
Location: Maine

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by bitbckt »

There’s nothing more British than French envy.
User avatar
ghmerrill
Posts: 494
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:41 pm
Location: Central North Carolina

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by ghmerrill »

Well, I suppose it's better than British wine in a French euphonium.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb tuba
Mack Brass Compensating Euph
Amati Oval Euph
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone
DE LB K/K10/112 Lexan, M&K GR Nickel leadpipe
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Bach 12c)
OneTon
Posts: 402
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:44 am

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by OneTon »

The Czech instrument valve specifies Mad Dog 20/20. It is too expensive to import so silicon is substituted.
Richard Smith
Wichita, Kansas
whitbey
Posts: 607
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:44 am
Location: Rochester Michigan North of Detroit.
Contact:

Re: Finally upgraded my Slide lube.

Post by whitbey »

No French wine here.
The cheep stuff in a box at the grocery store. Less stuff to filter out. I used coffee filters back then.

Yes the Czech horn was a good price. But it is a solid horn. I put a lever on the tuning slide and had the receiver changed to hold a bass shank. Had the horn 30 years now and still love the way it plays.
Edwards Sterling bell 525/547
Edwards brass bell 547/562
Edwards Jazz w/ Ab valve 500"/.508"
Markus Leuchter Alto Trombone
Bass Bach 50 Bb/F/C dependent.
Cerveny oval euphonium
Full list in profile
Post Reply

Return to “Maintenance”