Hey, single bass trombonists...

[BrianAn]

(As in players of single bass trombones, not bass trombonists who are single, haha. Although it may be likely that both apply...)

Before 2020 I was reading up about the Kanstul 1670 George Roberts bass trombone, and how it had a mechanism to allow for a quick E pull right up to the mark without the tuning slide falling out. Well, I did my own little DIY project, and had this since around December:



String attached to the F tuning slide, you can pull it right out to around E. Has worked pretty good, you can tune down much faster than have to pull it out the normal way. The one thing is if it's not lubed up, it'll still be a little slow to pull out; if it is lubed it'll sink in a little if held upright, as you can see in the picture. The string is sagging a little, so it'll end up a little sharper than if the string was fully extended. Then again some people like their 1st position a little sharp, and either way there's no hope for an in tune low B. You still get a nice low C in flat 6th. Maybe if you yank the crap out of the F slide as hard and fast as possible, there could also be some alignment issues or something in the long run? Either way, it has served me well so far. If you have a single bass trombone, try this!

[mrdeacon]

That's not a bad idea... lol

I used to think the E pull stoppers were a great idea until I played a horn with one installed... they can be finicky and resonate weird if they aren't installed right. The string mitigates all of that and it doesn't add any weight... hmmm...

At this point I've got muscle memory when it comes to doing a quick E pull but the security of not having your slide come out is always nice!

[BGuttman]

I had an associate who did that to the first valve slide of his tuba (that's the one most tuba players keep adjusting for intonation). Very handy to not keep pulling the thing out of the socket.

[bigbandbone]

Interesting idea! When tuned to F does the string hand down and get caught on stuff?
Is that a 72H? I can get a great low B on mine.

[BrianAn]

I've been to a couple rehearsals before COVID and I don't recall catching the string on anything, nor in my home studio. It creates very little inconvenience, if any at all. The horn in the pic is a YBL-321 (Yamaha).

[bigbandbone]

I've been to a couple rehearsals before COVID and I don't recall catching the string on anything, nor in my home studio. It creates very little inconvenience, if any at all. The horn in the pic is a YBL-321 (Yamaha).

Great, I'll give it a try.

[imsevimse]

I don't returne for a B. The slide is still not long enough.

I do retune sometimes to get the low C at the end of the slide if it is a sustained note or a very emphasised note. If there is a short B I fake it on T3. The B is actually easier to fake than the C on T2. If it is a long sustained B in forte then I know I need the double.

/Tom

[elmsandr]

*coughs nervously*


All the single basses,(all the single basses)
All the single basses, (all the single basses)

'Cause if you like then you shoulda put a string on it,
If you like then you shoulda put a string on it,
Don't be mad when you see that he dropped his slide
Uh uh oh, oh oh oh, uh uh oh, oh oh oh.

I'll show myself out now.

Cheers,
Andy

[Finetales]

(As in players of single bass trombones, not bass trombonists who are single, haha. Although it may be likely that both apply...)

I feel attacked.

(I don't play a just a single anymore, but still...)

[Basbasun]

I don't returne for a B. The slide is still not long enough.

I do retune sometimes to get the low C at the end of the slide if it is a sustained note or a very emphasised note. If there is a short B I fake it on T3. The B is actually easier to fake than the C on T2. If it is a long sustained B in forte then I know I need the double.

/Tom

Hi Tom, try low C on open 7 position, it might be easier the T2. Tell us how it works.

[imsevimse]

I don't returne for a B. The slide is still not long enough.

I do retune sometimes to get the low C at the end of the slide if it is a sustained note or a very emphasised note. If there is a short B I fake it on T3. The B is actually easier to fake than the C on T2. If it is a long sustained B in forte then I know I need the double.

/Tom

Hi Tom, try low C on open 7 position, it might be easier the T2. Tell us how it works.

Yes, I think it might be a little easier to fake that C on 7th. In fact I think I can play the C a bit louder on 7th. Is it the same for you?

/Tom

[Basbasun]

Yes Tom. The lenght of tubing is the same, but the bore size is different. But I use V2 more often but for a singel loud C I sometimes use 7th.

[Savio]

I never got the fake notes to work properly in ensembles. So I pull the trigger slide out. Or just use a double trigger. That's better and easier. I think it's good to practice all kind of fake notes and lip bends.


Leif

[imsevimse]

I never got the fake notes to work properly in ensembles. So I pull the trigger slide out. Or just use a double trigger. That's better and easier. I think it's good to practice all kind of fake notes and lip bends.


Leif

Hi Leif!

Yes, I can understand this. For security reasons I have also chosen the double. I have done this for long time. I would do that in any new situation. I need to know the part well to choose a single and relay on my fake notes in a public situation. I do it in a concert with a big band when I have had a chance to study the parts and try the situations where fake notes are needed.

Even though they are very handy if accessible not many trombone player I meet can really use them. I had never been stubborn enough to bother to learn them if it was not for Sven. I have heard him play those notes in a way no one could ever know it was fake notes. Nobody I've heard on youTube has ever come close to this, not even the best tromboneplayers in the world. They may be the best in the world when it comes to other aspects of the horn but when they show their skills on the fake notes it is not very impressive.
I do believe professional sackbut players use them professionally and then they probably are fine but I have not found any videos where they demonstrate this. The fake notes are easier on a sackbut. That's what I've heard.

Anyway Sven has always been such an inspiration to me, and since he knew them inside out I decided to not give up.

My fake notes are now usable except in certain situations and that is when they are sustained. I can hold them longer on two valve compared to what I can do with them as fake notes. That's the difference I have been experiencing.

I can hold a C for about 5 seconds in a forte on a double but the last second fades away in a diminuendo as I'm out of breath. If I do a C as a fake note on T2 it is a second less and the unfortunate diminuendo is not as nice.

As Sven suggested I tried the C as a fake note on 7th and then the difference is gone. I can hold it the same and ending of the note is as good as with two valves.

You do what you have to, but the fake notes are handy if you can master them.

/Tom