Question for those bass trombone players

[tuba_hacker]

My playing time on 10.5 inch bells is very limited, but all other things being equal, I would pick a 9.5 over a 10.5 bell. Both my Getzen and Holton trombones have a 9.5 inch bell.

I tried a Weril with 10.5 bell once and thought the sound to be woofy and uncentered.

I won't say how long ago, but once back in the twentieth century, I got to play a Holton TR169 with 10.5 inch bell. That was one marvelous trombone and I wouldn't hesitate to play it again. If only I had owned it (sighs). But...I digress.

I used to have a Holton TR183 that had a 9 inch bell. Wonderfully centered sound that could have punched through metal. I'd have been reticent to have taken it to symphony rehearsal, but it was great for big band work.

Finally, I think a 9.5 inch bell is prevalent, and that you'd almost have to actively seek a different size bell if you were buying a used bass trombone.

[Chadtuba]

My Jupiter has the 10.5" bell and I love it. The sound on this horn is very centered and just punches through the big band. Understand though that this is my only experience playing a bass bone for any length of time (had this horn for over a year and played about 2 dozen gigs on it). I like the bigger bell and it serves my purposes very well.

[mTaUrBkA]

If many people believe that a 10.5 inch bell is unfocused, why are they produced? What benefits do they serve? There must be a reason...just a reason that I am not aware of.

[tuba_hacker]

It all goes to the composition and physical shape of the bell. The actual physics of it are beyond me. Maybe there's a resident genius around.

I admit it's a gross generalization, but from my humble (and limited) view of the world, it just is.