Anyone know what this is?

[MartyNeilan]

This popped up on the trombone forum, and besides a lot of questionable comments nothing much factual was discussed.

[Chuck Jackson]

The old bass trombone player with Cleveland (Ed Anderson?) had an instrument with a custom valve that produced a low c in combo with the other. The tubing wrapped down the bell like this horn, but not to that extent. The size of this instrument leads me to think that it is a contrabass, or the arms race just got a lot bigger for bass trombonists. Looks like a hybrid tuba mouthpiece. With all the wraps on the valves I'm guessing a contrabass in F with triggers lowering it a 4th and 5th. It sure looks like the guys chiropractor is going to making some money off of him.

Chuck'who's conjecture meter has been pegged"Jackson

[ThomasP]

I believe the guy in the picture is Don Strand a freelance tuba player and what not in the Atlanta area. About 4 years ago I was speaking to him about attending Columbus State University (where he used to teach). He mentioned in one of our conversations about him getting someone to make a contrabass trombone for him.

So my guess as to what is in the picture is a custom job that was made by someone in Alabama, I think that's where he mentioned the guy was. That could explain some of the obscurity in the design. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Doug@GT]

No clue on the horn, but I can confirm that the dude in the suit is in fact Don Strand. Don organized and conducts the Atlanta TubaChristmas every year, and is a very fine musician to boot. In other words, he apparently does a lot of stuff much more important than TubaChristmas, as well.

The horn is clearly something that wants to be a trombone but has too much self-respct actually to try.

[RyanSchultz]

My guess would be a BBb contra bass trombone with two valves. . .

[LoyalTubist]

That's right. That's what it is.