XO 1634 thoughts?

[Vegasbound]

Having tried the Fedchock model and was impressed, has anyone trialed or own the .508 version the 1634?

[slipperyjoe]

I'd be interested to read your impressions of the 1632.

[Vegasbound]

I'd be interested to read your impressions of the 1632.

I was surprised at how well it blew, responsive nimble, well made and just a very good .500 bore horn

I had no idea what it was when I picked it off the stand, I had been trying a The 508 Yamaha z but wasn't impressed nor with the 3b or the 2b all new instruments and yes the MD shires are the stand out small bore horns but at less than half the price the Fedchock was not far behind, as I play a 2b plus with gold bell one that is really beaten up but plays great the Fedchock is one I would buy as a replacement, but I am wondering if the 508 version may be a more all round option

[slipperyjoe]

Thanks! Do you recall whether or not the specimen you played had the counterweight attached? If not, was the horn front-heavy? I know that it's super lightweight, but I'm curious about weight distribution.

[Vegasbound]

Thanks! Do you recall whether or not the specimen you played had the counterweight attached? If not, was the horn front-heavy? I know that it's super lightweight, but I'm curious about weight distribution.

No counterweight designed to be played without one like the 2b plus....wasn't front heavy, very comfortable to play and unlike other light weight horns it could take loud volumes....as for the 1634 I don't think there is one currently in the UK

[slipperyjoe]

Thanks again!

[Andre1966tr]

I tried and liked the 1634 but I bought the Fedchock two years ago being a big Fechock since I heard him playing forty years ago.
I like the 1634 much more, the 1632 Fedchock is very light, like the Jiggs variation of the 2B.
It sounds very nice playing with a microphone, not too bright and response is fast.
BUT: you can´t play loud, there is no meat or body....so I have to say I liked the 1634 better, not that easy (but easier than a 2B, 3B, 6H, Yammie) with a beautiful big sound, more mass and more projection.
A wonderful trombone!
Sold the 1632 without regrets...

[Vegasbound]

I tried and liked the 1634 but I bought the Fedchock two years ago being a big Fechock since I heard him playing forty years ago.
I like the 1634 much more, the 1632 Fedchock is very light, like the Jiggs variation of the 2B.
It sounds very nice playing with a microphone, not too bright and response is fast.
BUT: you can´t play loud, there is no meat or body....so I have to say I liked the 1634 better, not that easy (but easier than a 2B, 3B, 6H, Yammie) with a beautiful big sound, more mass and more projection.
A wonderful trombone!
Sold the 1632 without regrets...

Thanks for the input, wondered if that was the case although I did find the 1632 much better all round than the Jiggs

[dukesboneman]

I tried the .500 Fedchock about a year ago. I really liked it.
Light weight , very quick response, very even to to bottom
Nice upper range.
I picked it up at the conference not wanting to like it. and I was really impressed.
Now I did only play it for about 5 minutes in a noisy conference ballroom with hundreds of college kids blasting their
favorite excerpt or exercise. I`d like to try one on a gig to see if my reaction is the same

[dukesboneman]

"Thanks for the input, wondered if that was the case although I did find the 1632 much better all round than the Jiggs"
I have three friends that have Jiggs Kings. All three don`t like the horn.
I`ve tried them all and have the same reaction.
It`s really tight and has a ton of resistance. I find them very hard to play.

[Andre1966tr]

Yes, the XO may be a little easier to blow than a Jiggs! and it is a great horn in its league.
But it is a gear for a "microphone piano to mf" player. In an acoustic situation you have to fight to get through. It´s more a gentle ballad horn for Watrous or Fontana style.
If you are a little on the wild side, let´s say Rosolino, or looking for a big sound like Jay Jay, go for the 1634.
I played a lot of 2B, 2B Silver Sonics, 2B+ and 2B Jiggs for several years (made between 1937 and 1990) and really liked the 2B+.

[Vegasbound]

Yes, the XO may be a little easier to blow than a Jiggs! and it is a great horn in its league.
But it is a gear for a "microphone piano to mf" player. In an acoustic situation you have to fight to get through. It´s more a gentle ballad horn for Watrous or Fontana style.
If you are a little on the wild side, let´s say Rosolino, or looking for a big sound like Jay Jay, go for the 1634.
I played a lot of 2B, 2B Silver Sonics, 2B+ and 2B Jiggs for several years (made between 1937 and 1990) and really liked the 2B+.

As I said at present I don't think there is a 1634 in the UK to be able to try it, but it does seem like a totally different creature to the .500 version

[BillO]

Thanks! Do you recall whether or not the specimen you played had the counterweight attached? If not, was the horn front-heavy? I know that it's super lightweight, but I'm curious about weight distribution.

I've owned a 1632 for almost 3 years now (well, a good part of that was rental). The balance weight is minimal. I do use it, mostly to make sure I don't lose it but the instrument is not overly front heavy without it. Mind you, my daily driver is a very weighty double valve bass so my hand and wrist tend to be well worked out.

It's a great horn. Wonderful tone, responsive and an easy range. Nice looking too. Really well put together.

[slipperyjoe]

I've owned a 1632 for almost 3 years now (well, a good part of that was rental). The balance weight is minimal. I do use it, mostly to make sure I don't lose it but the instrument is not overly front heavy without it. Mind you, my daily driver is a very weighty double valve bass so my hand and wrist tend to be well worked out.

It's a great horn. Wonderful tone, responsive and an easy range. Nice looking too. Really well put together.

Thanks for your evaluation, Bill. The 1632 is on my very short list for when I'm ready to spring for a real trombone.

[diminishedSeventh]

Tried one in gold brass bell 1634 and there was a lot more density and weight to every note than its little brother... really nice if you want a horn with a lot of core... MD+ish vibes with even more roundness to the sound, haven't tried the yellow brass one but the gold brass is VERY nice and am still tempted to buy one...

[Rusty]

Tried one in gold brass bell 1634 and there was a lot more density and weight to every note than its little brother... really nice if you want a horn with a lot of core... MD+ish vibes with even more roundness to the sound, haven't tried the yellow brass one but the gold brass is VERY nice and am still tempted to buy one...

Interesting! Could you expand on the comparison to the MD+? Does it play as big and open?

[diminishedSeventh]

Sure, I actually thought that the "stock" MD+ could've been more open, if I'm being honest. I tried it when I visited a friend, first with the stock leadpipe and then with his 2.5 leadpipe. The 2.5 was the combination that ended up giving me that warm, open sound. The MD+ as compared to the 1634 had a little bit more edge to the sound as I pushed the dynamics, still not to the point of breaking up or sounding too bright. The 1634 sounded darker and seemed to keep a solid dense sound all the way through the dynamic range. It's everything I'd thought a 16M would sound like. After trying some 12s and eventually getting a Rath (R100) in the same .500 size, I've been looking for a "bach-ish" sound on a slightly bigger horn and the 1634 is as close as I've heard from a .508 horn after being disappointed with the few 16Ms I'd tried.

[ssking2b]

I have to disagree about the XO 1632. I have been playing the 1632RGL-LT (rose brass bell) sing 2016 under every possible playing condition...loud music, soft music, mic jazz, trad jazz, you name it. The horn is superb under any situation, and as far as I am concerned, the best .500 bore horn on the market. I've tried the Yamaha, the MD horns, Courtois, and King. The XO 1632RGL-LT plays better than any of them. That's why I have been and endorser
of their products since 2016! I own a King silversonic 2B that was a total custom horn for Kai Winding from 1967. Granted he didn't like the weight of the horn, but I can tell you it was my go top jazz tenor for over 20 years in the New York scene show and jazz scene - the XO is so great I retired it.