TromboneChat

I've never had a chance to try a tuning in slide horn.

It makes sense that the continued smooth increase in bore by moving the tuning slide allows for a more conical horn rather than cylindrical. I suspect that would make it play with q more mellow sound and maybe rounder.



What do the folks who play them think of the sound and blow of the tuning in slide horns?

I have 2 TIS horns. The sound differences are subtle but I think there's an element of velvet sound with the TIS. The blow is not appreciably different from other horns. Slides vary from a little bit heavier to a lot heavier. My horns are Kanstul 1662i and Olds S-20. Different ends of the weight spectrum, different types of sound. So not all TIS horns fit into a narrow groove, there's definitely a range.

The Kanstul is relatively light weight and dark sound. The Olds is just the opposite. There's not a really obvious link between them. People who have heard me play invariably prefer the Kanstul.

There's a lot of other variables that have more effect than TIS vs. non-TIS as far as how a trombone plays and sounds. Hyperbolica's example of the Olds S-20 vs. the Kanstul 1662i illustrates this really well; they're the products of two very different design concepts, both of which just happen to include having the tuning mechanism in the handslide.

He's probably not going to get into the this discussion, but if you back through Chris Stearn's posts on the subject (you'll find the more recent ones under FOSSIL, earlier ones under blast - don't forget to search the TTF archive, too), he's probably in the best position to comment on the differences, as he's actually converted instruments from bell-tuning to slide-tuning.

The most common TIS horns nowadays are bass trombones, but I have several TIS tenors. Older TIS horns tend to have heavy mechanisms on the slide. Often this makes the horn play "bigger". The sound I get on my Conn 40H almost feels like a Medium Bore (it's 0.500", 12.7 mm). Heavy slides are also slower. Could be a problem if you want to play fast passages or "notey" solos. A counterweight is a must. All my TIS tenors are from 1930 and older.

Yes....overall design... some of the best bass trombones ever made were TIS.... others weren't.
More mass earlier allows less mass later in the horn and a good TIS design uses that . On basses the extra weight can be hardly noticeable. Some love them, others don't. Part taste, part slide technique. Try before you buy.

Chris

I have six TIS horns and they are always my go to. The tuning slide is right where it needs to be- on the tuning slide! Weight it relative to the action of the slide. This also allows minimal acoustic interference on the bell. I prefer the added "weight" right where it needs to be- you may be surprised as to the added fundamental of sound. Great players played these horns long before us. Get one and find out the secret! There's a reason why shires and greenhoe have replicated the past!