Brass
For a guitar player there could only be one wind instrument to play and that's the trombone. It's the only wind instrument that has the flexibility of pitch and vibrato like the guitar. In fact when I solo on the 'bone I think "guitar" bending notes and vibrato.
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| Bach 36. It's called a "medium-large" bore horn. Bore size doesn't affect me - see below. It's got a bit of an edge (being gold brass). The notes are very centered and the large bore makes it harder to "clam" believe it or not. The note "pockets" are much more forgiving than say a King 2B or 3B. |
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| English Besson Full Compensating Euphonium from early 70's (I've owned since then). I have never seen another like this one; bell-front with removable bell You need b**ls (whether you're male or female) to play this gas pipe. But if you have been trained in the proper way to blow (which is to say the proper way to breathe) the big horn like this can sound oh so sweet and mellifluous. By the way for you 'bone players out there, don't think this is an easy double. You have to study valves as a separate instrument (preferably before you start slide - like I did), because valves are harder to get perfect. That's right! Harder than perfecting the slide. I love concert music (band and orchestra), but I lean toward concert band. I've played this horn on all the biggies: The Planets, Light Cavalry, 1812, Strauss, Wagner and Sousa, to name a few. My teacher was a student of Simone Mantia (if you play low brass you should know this name), for you rockers, well go look him up on google. (Hint: Mantia was the Yngwie Malmstein of Euphonium). |
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| Conn 88H circa 1971, red brass bell, large bore. I've always preferred this horn and it's non-F attachment brother the 8H over any others for all uses - pop, jazz and classical. For me bore size is not an issue. After playing the Besson euphonium for so many years (large bore, 12" bell and twice the tubing) trombone bores are just not intimidating. Now this is officially my son's horn, but I'm allowed to borrow it if the task requires (and he's not using it somewhere). |