BBb Contrabass Trombone

[Untersatz]

Has anyone seen, heard or played the new BBb contrabass trombone yet?

[burningchrome]

http://youtu.be/EGBB0HBPf0A" target="_blank

Found this on the tube. There's just a touch of edge to the sound.

[Untersatz]

Thanks Rob, I have seen this one already & I think the that guy was purposely playing
with a blatty sound to see how far he could push the horn. I was interested in a more
"affordable" brand NOT made in Germany

[Bob Kolada]

I believe Ian has. You should get it, join the BAT(uba) and BAT(rombone) club. I think there's only like three guys in that one.

[tubamlb]

Jim Berman , Fl has the M&M Bb Contra , He can fill you in on the Trombone

[Sam Gnagey]

I had a Wessex BBb for the bass trombonist in my orchestra to try. He loved it but during our recent contract negotiations wasn't willing to shell out for it. Personally I believe all of the available BBb contra bass trombones need larger bore.

[Untersatz]

Personally I believe all of the available BBb contra bass trombones need larger bore.

Thanks Sam, I was thinking the exact same thing after looking at the specs.

[Lingon]

Has anyone seen, heard or played the new BBb contrabass trombone yet?

If you think of one of those that some on the board not like that we talk about then yes, I own one

I really like the instrument I have bought, which I do not know if I am allowed to tell you the name of (it starts with W...) because of the risk to get the thread deleted

However, for those that are interested the sound is great, very flexible depending on the mouthpiece you use. It takes tuba shank mouthpieces and like many German trombones it comes without lead pipe. You can however put in an adapter for using standard bass trombone shank mouthpieces or a large bore tenor pipe to allow further variation in how it plays. So you can use from large tuba mouthpieces to small tenor trombone pieces via old English Boosey pieces if you like and I think that it is really possible to have it sound from like a large member of the trombone family to a slide tuba. The hand slide works fine, finish is fine, all tuning slides fit perfectly.

And one essential detail, it is easy to hold and play because the balance is good. I think it is possible to play longer passages without getting hands and arms numb than with some F contras. (The Fs should be said to be contras because they use approx the same bell that a BBb uses only everything shorter. Likewise Bb bass trombones that could be said to be large tenors are mentioned as bass trombones because they uses approx a size which would be good for a real F bass if lengthened etc.)

Some details could be considered to experiment with. For example the mentioned larger bore for the hand slide, where I am not so sure that larger bore would be better. I am more thinking of the possibility to use a single bore slide instead of the quasi conical version that it comes with. So for example a .562 or .578 single bore would be interesting to experiment with. And it would also be interesting experiment a little more with different lead pipes.

I am however very satisfied with the horn as it is. Now if there were only more than 24 hours a day to play with all those nice instruments

So without saying too much I think it is clearly worth to check up for those interested in very large trombones. Btw, I got mine from one member of the tubenet in the UK

[eupher61]

You got the Wessex? Great. Proclaim it proudly. Jonathan has built an amazingly strong company in a very short time. Now that Andy is in the picture, too, the brand should grow quickly.

[NickScott]

I love the idea of these monster trombones and would love to have one but… I suspect various musical directors would not want such an abomination in their ensembles. For what role or purpose would you use one? Composers just don't write with these beasts in mind

Nick "I'm new here" Scott

[Bob Kolada]

John, does it have a solid 7th position?

[Wyvern]

It takes tuba shank mouthpieces and like many German trombones it comes without lead pipe. You can however put in an adapter for using standard bass trombone shank mouthpieces or a large bore tenor pipe to allow further variation in how it plays.

Just to clarify, we are now getting these made with shank adaptor included and supplying with both tuba mouthpiece and trombone shank mouthpiece (like supplied with F contrabass)

[Wyvern]

A removable leadpipe may be possible with bass trombone shank mouthpiece. I just need to agree with production.

Don't know what effect it would have to how it plays. I would guess more focused sound

[tbn.al]

Depends on the ensemble. A friend of mine started bringing one to trombone choir and it really adds to the overall resonance of the group. Believe me, playing the bottom part on a Bb bass trombone is a real challenge, even when I'm using my Eb tuba mouthpiece. I suspect that anytime an unbiased conductor has the bass line constantly below the staff, expecting it to be solid on a bass, he would appreciate the improvement a contra would bring. Maybe the exception would be jazz band.
bass trombone = crack!
contra = crunch!
tuba = crump!

[Bob Kolada]

Unless it goes really low. I'd rather play a bass trombone than a single valve Bb contra bouncing around low low C's and Db's!

[Lingon]

...You got the Wessex?...

Yes

...Composers just don't write with these beasts in mind...

If there would be people playing the instrument well then I think composers would compose for it too. I remember when Michael Lind got his position in the Stockholm Philharmonic. Back then in the 70s there were no composers, at least in Sweden, writing pieces with a solistic tuba part. But when Michael started to show up demonstrating that it was really possible to play the tuba in a way like other solo instruments, then music written originally for tuba started to get composed. So in that case all that was needed was one very talented and enthusiastic musician to make things happen. Maybe if there would be one or more such BBb cb trbn player/s showing up now, then things could be different in the future? Just think of it, the cimbasso was not very well known a couple of decades ago, now there is even a whole cimbasso orchestra

John, does it have a solid 7th position?

Yes. So for example the Bartok glissando could be played with full sound the whole way if wanted. However, the slide could be an in. or so longer for safety because when playing the B it is on the edge even if the sound is fine.

...Does this mean there might be a removable leadpipe in the future?...

...A removable leadpipe may be possible with bass trombone shank mouthpiece...
...Don't know what effect it would have to how it plays. I would guess more focused sound...

Just for the sake of testing, try a standard removable Bach 42 pipe or something like it. Things happen with the horn's sound and responsiveness. And yes it become more focused which could of course also have something to do with the mouth piece choosen.

...Depends on the ensemble...

Haha, the new trbn section format, 1st, 2nd and 3rd cb trbns. For a long time the trends has been directed to larger and larger equipment I think. The standard for some time now seems to be 1st and 2nd bass trombones (as they were a couple of decades ago) and bass trbn the size of earlier cb trbns...

...I'd rather play a bass trombone than a single valve Bb contra bouncing around low low C's and Db's!...

While it is of course possible to play bass trbn that low, there is clearly another timbre with the cb trbn. So if there were 2valves on the cb trbn, maybe an addin valve like on the old Holtons so you can take it off when not needed

[Bob Kolada]

"Bob Kolada wrote:John, does it have a solid 7th position?
Yes. So for example the Bartok glissando could be played with full sound the whole way if wanted. However, the slide could be an in. or so longer for safety because when playing the B it is on the edge even if the sound is fine."

So, no low/valved C but maybe a solid low Db?



Bob"writing on his phone"Kolada

[Lingon]

...So, no low/valved C but maybe a solid low Db?...

Db is solid and C could also work fine if you pull the F tuning slide a bit, unfortunately it is not long enough to get the low BB though. It works like a single valve bass trombone. Most of them has good Dbs but not Cs with the valve. However it is always possible to use fake tones on a bass trombone. C and BB works excellent as fake tones on this contra too. So practically it may be sort of compared to a BBb tuba with 4 valves, but not sonically.

[eupher61]

I love the idea of these monster trombones and would love to have one but… I suspect various musical directors would not want such an abomination in their ensembles. For what role or purpose would you use one? Composers just don't write with these beasts in mind

Nick "I'm new here" Scott

Wagner.

[Untersatz]

For what role or purpose would you use one? Composers just don't write with these beasts in mind

A Bass Trombone on Steroids!!!