Edwards T396-A technical specifications

[LarryPrestonRoberson]

The purpose of this post is to collect information about the Edwards T396-A “Alessi model” trombone. Although one may already exist, I edited the post to be about the T396-A. There is general information on Edwards’ site. But what I’m after, the more technical specifications.

In particular, I’m currently researching the slide. Does it have a tenor or bass crook?

Information about the other components would be interesting. A comparison to Edwards other large/medium tenor components would be useful for some. For instance, what is the closet equivalent bell? Opinions and reviews are welcome as well.

Also, a few months ago I heard from a reliable—and to remain unnamed—source that Edwards is moving away from the Rotax sourced rotor. Can anyone confirm this?


P.S. I'm also curious about the earlier versions of the the Alessi model. For instance, the hand-slide looks visually different; At least at the mouthpiece receiver does. I wonder what other spec differences there are.

[castrubone]

No bass crook. Can't really review the slide by itself without reviewing the entire instrument. I don't like Edwards/Getzen, but they're the flavor of the month in certain circles. I'd suggest trying it out yourself, but I would advise against swapping the slide to different bell sections and vice versa. That slide was designed to match perfectly with the rest of T396A.

[Matt K]

Well, a Bach 50 slide was designed to match a bass bell section but that doesn't stop it from working quite well on a 42 bell for some people! That said, there may be some voodoo they use but they're pretty straightforward about what it is:

Minor changes in the leadpipe and mouthpiece can have a major impact on playing. Mr. Alessi worked through myriad options before picking a sterling silver custom leadpipe with numerous proprietary elements. The leadpipe is fixed into the slide.

The final result includes a slide with nickel oversleeves, specially-treated rose brass outer tubes, a yellow brass end crook and Mr. Alessi's Signature Silver Leadpipe

I don't recall where I saw it but I'm about 99% sure the end crook is just 'wide', not bass bore, as his previous configuration was. Depending on what they mean by minor, you can expect a fairly Bach like leadpipe (closer to the 1 than the 3 but not quite a 2), in sterling. They don't specify a length, but normally those pipes are pretty long compared to regular brass ones.

Having played somewhat similar slides before, if I were buying something like that, I'd expect it to work better on a bell that was more articulate than broad (such as having soldered bell bead, maybe a lighter flare, and possibly a rotor over other valves); (note that the 396 has an unsoldered bell bead and I have no idea how the weight is distributed so take that suggestion with a large grain of salt).

[ZacharyThornton]

No bass crook. Can't really review the slide by itself without reviewing the entire instrument. I don't like Edwards/Getzen, but they're the flavor of the month in certain circles. I'd suggest trying it out yourself, but I would advise against swapping the slide to different bell sections and vice versa. That slide was designed to match perfectly with the rest of T396A.

Flavor of the month huh?

[harrisonreed]

I think its a bass crook, or at least bass shaped. The tenor standard crook is single radius, and the one on the 396 looks like it is dual radius. It's a copy of some Bach end crook that Joe used to play. Yellow crook. Rose tubes. I believe they silver-solder the leadpipe into the slide OVER where the threads seal. In other words, they start with a removable threaded leadpipe and then make it non-removeable. Slightly frustrating, but probably for the best. Love my 396, but it would be cool to try it with, say, a standard edwards "2" pipe.

[LarryPrestonRoberson]

I believe they silver-solder the leadpipe into the slide OVER where the threads seal. In other words, they start with a removable threaded leadpipe and then make it non-removeable. Slightly frustrating, but probably for the best. Love my 396, but it would be cool to try it with, say, a standard edwards "2" pipe.

I have wondered about this. From the pictures, that is what it appears to be. I'm also curious about the earlier versions of the the Alessi model. I have an opportunity to buy an early-make slide. The mouthpiece receiver seems to lack the feature we are discussing. I wonder what other spec differences there are.

[castrubone]

It's not a bass crook. They have made subtle changes over the years to the slide construction. These are proprietary secrets I've been told...so who knows? I owned one of the early ones made in 2010 with the yellow tuning slide before they turned it to rose brass. Some of the bracing around the bell section has changed as well. From my perspective, the newer ones do play different than the older ones, but it's VERY subtle.

[BurckhardtS]

I play on an early (2009) version of the Alessi model. I don't have raised stockings on the inner slides. It's not a bass crook, but the slide is gold/rose brass, with a yellow crook. The gooseneck is gold brass, and so is the tuning slide. F wrap tubing is yellow brass, and so is the bell. I'm actually moving onto a Shires soon here, but I loved every second of playing it for my undergrad.

[castrubone]

I play on an early (2009) version of the Alessi model. I don't have raised stockings on the inner slides. It's not a bass crook, but the slide is gold/rose brass, with a yellow crook. The gooseneck is gold brass, and so is the tuning slide. F wrap tubing is yellow brass, and so is the bell. I'm actually moving onto a Shires soon here, but I loved every second of playing it for my undergrad.

Very interesting! I got mine in early 2010 so it must've been built around then or late 2009 and it had a yellow brass tuning slide with gold brass on the wrap tubing. I thought they changed it later on, but it must've been earlier than I thought.