TromboneChat

I recently got an early 70s Bach 36. I also have an early 80s Bach 36. On the latter, and all other Bachs I've seen, the slide lock catch is on the underside of the slide. On the former it's strangely on the side of the slide tube? The slide lock, when all the way open, doesn't clear the catch. So I have to turn it one rotation and then it doesn't stay still when open.
Why was this done? Factory mess up? Did somebody rotate the tube to fix slide operation and not bother to address this? The slide seems otherwise normal, although with a different spit valve and missing the serial number at the top of the outer tube. There doesn't appear to be any marks which would indicate moving the catch or rotating the outer tube.

70s slide 80s slide

I'll bet it wasn't positioned correctly to begin with...

I would say just take it in and have it "corrected". It's definitely not right.

Easy enough for a tech to move the catch.

Bonearzt wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 5:19 pm I'll bet it wasn't positioned correctly to begin with...

Work gets sloppy late on a Friday afternoon...

greenbean wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:36 pm

Bonearzt wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 5:19 pm I'll bet it wasn't positioned correctly to begin with...

Work gets sloppy late on a Friday afternoon...

Or Monday morning

Some players (and obviously some folks that work at the factories) could care less where the catch is and/or where the slide lock hook is located when fully tightened. Heck…..Conn cranked out tens of thousands of Director horns in which the slide lock hook lined up exactly with the slide brace when fully tightened. I always thought that was horrible!

I am very uptight about this. I believe that both things (fully tightened position for the lock ring and the position of the catch) should be on the top side of the slide. For this reason, I custom set the slide locks and catches on all of my horns. How is this done? It depends on the brand.

For many Conn and Edwards models, the cork barrel can be rotated to an exact location. For Bach, the cork barrel must be removed and the threaded end must be cut on a lathe to achieve the exact location. For King, the slide lock ring can be sanded or filed to customize the location. I can’t remember how to adjust Shires horns because it has been several years since I have done one.

Adjusting the catch is the same on all horns…….just resolder it exactly where you want it. If you don’t like the position of your slide lock components, have a conversation with your tech about fixing it!

Upon further inspection something was done to the longer sleeve. It’s missing the little ring at the top and the little ring at the bottom. You can see it in the first picture. Almost like it was replaced by a stock tube which didn’t match the shorter one. Very odd. The horn has some stories I guess.
Also came with what I think is a 3 piece brasslab counterweight, about 8 oz. My stock Bach counterweight is under 5 oz.

jacobgarchik wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 2:17 pm It’s missing the little ring at the top and the little ring at the bottom.

Don't get chomped by that coming back into 1st!

Agreed about avoid getting chomped!

The missing trim ring I would suspect is probably just missing. Often they have very uneven solder (or little solder at all) and become partially loose, slowly failing the rest of the way around until they are completely off.

Does the ring protect you from getting chomped? Can’t you still get chomped by the ring?
Why would both top and bottom be missing?

Your slide seems to have a "history." Post-factory.

jacobgarchik wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:10 pm Does the ring protect you from getting chomped? Can’t you still get chomped by the ring?
Why would both top and bottom be missing?

Just makes the chomps less sharp.