King 3B Silver Sonic compared to non-SS 3B

[Bard]

For those of you that have played both 3B Silver Sonic's and "lacquered" 3B's, what are in your experience the main differences between a SS and a non-SS?

I am here especially thinking of:
- playability - ease of playing
- tone - colors, overtones, brilliance, core etc

I am currently mostly using a "lacquered" 3B from ca 1975 and love the sound of that one but wonder how a 3B SS would be. (And - it is not practical for me to buy 3B SS just to test this...) I have owned a King 2B SS but I found it more difficult to play than the 3B so it was the 3B that was mostly used. It had a lot of "core" and characteristic and solid sound but I felt it had not the same "spark" and "brightness" that my 3B had.

I have also a 6H and a Yamaha 697Z but although they are easier to play than the 3B (for instance with respect to slotting), I prefer the sound and character of the 3B.

Another way of phrasing the question is: can you say that in general Silver Sonics are more difficult to play than non-Silver Sonics?

[hyperbolica]

SS is typically heavier, along with all that that brings such as typically darker sound, better projection, more stability at volume, etc. I found the lacquer versions to be more nimble, and personally just couldn't get past the weight of the SS. They look great, and a lot of people love the sound. So it's really a personal thing, and how well you can make it fit your situation.

[harrisonreed]

Brass version is snappier. The SS just keeps going no matter how much you push it.

[tbonesullivan]

The King Silversonic trombones are really the "Mel Tormé" of the King trombone line. His smooth voice was known as "the Velvet Fog", and that is the effect I feel the Sterling Silver bell has on the sound. It's just so smooth, velvety, and mellow compared to the "regular" King trombones. It's not to say that you can't get a brass bell 3b or 2b to sound smooth, but it's on a whole different level.

[MrHCinDE]

I had a 3BSS for a while, sold it and now have a yellow brass 3BF which I personally find easier to play for the playing I do on a 3B(F). Both horns were of a similar vintage and played with the same mouthpieces.

The main factor which I believe makes it easier for me is the greater amount of player feedback I get with the brass one, I’m a player who likes a lot of feedback.

Don’t get me wrong, in a big rehearsal space with a nice acoustic I liked what I heard of myself on the 3BSS and as others have said it can really take a lot of air. They do also look gorgeous. For the right player in the right band, they are awesome, just not for me.

I find it easier to play lighter and livelier on the brass one and have no need to play at massive volume, e.g. playing outdoor or non-mic’d with a loud band.

[Burgerbob]

I love the silversonic sound- I've owned two straight 3Bs with silver bells and loved both. They play a little differently, but I don't think it's necessarily in a worse or better way, just the bell responding a bit differently to input.

I ended up on a yellow 3B/F because it's balanced, lighter (even with F attachment), blends with other tenors better, does all the dynamics a bit more evenly (the low dynamics are better IMO), is cheaper, and I get more feedback. I also don't feel bad about taking it to any random gig.

Perhaps if I had a choice, I would just have the whole section on Silversonics every time...

[Posaunus]

I'm a big fan of King SilverSonic trombones. Loved the 3B SS that I had on loan for a few years - miss it.

I'm also happy with my brass 3B-F - but it's not that velvet-smooth SS sound that I loved.

[HermanGerman]

Depends on which music you are playing and the level of your playing. The SS means more work and good chops.
It is not as flexible and colorful, it does not respond that fast, it does not blend that good.
Nice horn for solo work.
IMO

[octavposaune]

I have an over arching opinion on sterling bells versus brass. Sterling bells are NOT darker than brass bells. I believe them to be more efficient decibel to air input and often have fuller spectrum etc... etc but they are not darker than an equivalent brass bell. The thing with KINGS and other UMI made sheet sterling made bells is that the guage sterling they used for Silver Sonics is rather thick. Thick bells give the player less feedback and sound different, perhaps duller ar low volume levels. Many other makers of sterling bells have thin guage sterling and they sound very different than Kings, not just the design aspects. I own a few silver bells, a Shires Bass., a 1485 Symphony and an early production Sterling plus (heavier than later production). The Bach style Shires bell is very thin and what I would call big and hot even for a 10" bell. The Symphony is very dark, its an extra large tenor with a 9" flair and made of quite thick sheet sterling, and my early Sterling plus is heavy enough it sounds amazing when paired with exactly the correct parts.

These arent the only sterling horns I have owned and I have been blessed to try many as a tech. My 4B SS I used to own was one or the prettiest soloistic instruments I have ever owned but right at FF it became an angry beast. My prior UMI made 62H sterling 10" bell was very thick and I had to play a dynamic down on everything as it was so loud.out front but I couldnt hear it. It made tuning annoying and balance hard as my section mates also couldn't hear it. Sterling bells are special and can blend with brass belled sections, its been done. I think the key thing here is: are you getting a sterling bell to be cool, or does it serve your musical.purpose? I have used my Shires sterling bell ONCE for a paid gig. SCHERAZADE, it was the right tool. Every low triple tongued note spoke clearly.. That was a year ago, I have no other uses for for the concerts I am playing this season.

And to reiterate the common advice of: test play each horn. They are all different. Some 3BSS are amazing, some ring on weird notes, so are worthy of lamps....

Benn

[Bard]

Thank you everyone for good and insightful comments. Much appreciated. It concurs with my own experience (3B vs 2B SS). I will stick with my 3B for now and postpone a possible exploration of a 3B SS until I have more time to practice than I have now. (As I said, the 2B SS I had was a great horn but I felt it was a bit demanding to play and I never spent enough time on it to really get to know it.)