Heckel bass trombone

[bort]

I cane across a cool looking old (1900s) bass trombone at a local music store today. It is a Heckel (Dresden) bass trombone, with a very large taper to the bell section, and in silver with a large bell garland with a lot of engraving. Single rotor, operated by an old leather thumb loop. Definitely a German style trombone, with a long slide and a short fat valve section. I have a photo and will upload it tomorrow...

Does anyone know anything about these? I know it is unique, but is it unique and cool (and functional), or just unique and quirky. It is inexpensive, so I'm trying to decide if its worth buying or even a good deal, or if I should pass. It looks very cool though!

Any thoughts?

[menroth]

I did a google search in German, and found some interesting stuff. Heckel seems to be really respected horns, well made stuff!

Here's a link to a clip from some antique show on TV where they estimate the value of this horn between 1500 - 2500 euros. http://www.br.de/fernsehen/bayerisches- ... ne100.html" target="_blank

If i were you, even without seeing it, I would be interested

Regards,
Martin

[bort]

Thanks!

Here's a photo. (Don't look at the $3,xxx price tag, that's for the horn next to it.)

rsz_wp_20141019_17_53_31_pro.jpg

[PMeuph]

This was on ebay for several weeks before it sold:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Antique-German-T ... 19f28fd4fc" target="_blank

Honestly, with trombone that old, the biggest concern is the slide. If the inners need replacing, getting a right part might not be easy. Try the "45 degree test." (ie. clean the slide first then hold the slide out at a 45 degree angle let go the slide and see if it falls.) If the slide falls only slowly or hangs in the process, you will need slide work.

[bort]

Cool, thanks everyone! I may go back and check it out more closely. Most intriguing of all was that the taper of the bell seemed very wide. Good point about the slide, I didn't get a chance to try it out... the rotor moves fine, but the slide is definitely an unknown.

[menroth]

Good luck! That's a nice store. I've only been once in NYC (in 2007) but actually ended up buying a bass trombone from this particular store. I recently sold it for an older but better Holton. // Martin

[tusabtuba]

In the spring of 1966, when the Chicago Symphony was on tour in New York, the late Bud Herseth bought a Heckel trumpet that was part of the Vincent Bach collection. He had Karl Geyer put it in playing condition and used it whenever rotary-valve trumpets were appropriate. He told me it was the model for the Yamaha rotary trumpets. So Heckel has a good reputation.

Tusabtuba

[J.c. Sherman]

Chances are, that slide was never plated. The action and the response would be the two things most important to check. If it has no leadpipe, you'll need a proper mouthpiece suited to this style ax.

J.c.S. (former owner of a Kruspe...)

[bort]

I finally got a chance to try this out today. I am not much of a trombone player, but after 5 or 10 minutes of remembering how to play, it came back to me. I liked the sound and it was easy to play. The slide was okay, not really sure what to look for, but it moves freely and would fall out if I wasn't careful. Slide positions seem a bit different, as expected. It is in silver, almost no dents, and no evidence of major repair. The valve is good, too.

Overall, I want it, just not sure about the price. Anyone want to venture a guess of how much would be an okay deal?