I think if I pulled that (especially ON THE INTERNET) I would fake my own death and never show my fave in society again. And I CERTAINLY wouldn’t put the video of myself KILLING such a horn ON TH-cam!
I have had the opportunity to play a G bass trombone - more years ago than I care to admit. It belonged to a fellow jazz trombonist who had it as a rather large toy. I don't know how old it was and don't remember if it had any counterweights but, by the sake token, it was quite comfortable to hold. I do remember that it played well although the use of the handle on the slide was a little disconcerting for a B flat tenor player like me.
I’m the owner of very fine 1929 King Liberty trumpet. Coming up on a 100 yrs. It was played and passed thru my mothers hands and three brothers. Me being the most accomplished, was given stewardship of it to keep and safe guard. It is displayed in a prominent place in my living room.
I started my brass band career in Greenock Citadel SA Band (Scotland) in the 1950's and we had a fabulous G trombone player in a man called Bobby Hoey. I will never forget the sound of Bobby in full flight. I retired from banding in 2023. Thanks for the video, brought back many good memories.
My Dad played one of these(n=made by SA) complete with case in Chelmsford SA band Thro from about 1939 -1962 his dexterity with the handle sometimes amazed me transferring from hand held to stick held .Quaver runs such as in Eric Balls 'King of Kings 'was good. But I believe the bottom range was not as low as the modern triggered bass trom. I must say he taught my brother & myself to play trombone & we played trombone trios in the band. I am now 77 & dad & Douglas are no longer here but I feel privileged to learned my music from this fine musician. I wish could have added a photo to show you the three of us in 1960 with the peanut shooter troms
These are what we're played in brass bands by bass trombonist before triggers where a thing. The slide was longer to get the lower notes hence the handle. My uncle played one and called it a "Kiddie Shifter"
Hi Trent. It may interest you to know that I use a G bass trombone regularly in my brass band (Liskeard Silver Band in Cornwall UK). The one I'm using currently is a very late model (1970s) B&H Imperial G bass with a D trigger to give it the same range as a modern bass trombone. I have been playing it non-stop for about 18 months now, before which I used an old 1938 model G bass that is fairly similar to yours. I'd say I can just about play it to the same standard as I can Bb trombone and have even used it in my University orchestra for certain works where it is authentic. The more modern example has a medium bore with a European (Euphonium) shank mouthpiece so it is easier to play in a modern setting, but it still has that characteristic G bass "punch" which is impossible to get with a modern large bore instrument. It also works superbly for the older brass band and Salvation army literature, less so for some of the more "boring" modern repertoire where there are lots of sustained notes. I'll have to post some videos or audio clips of me using it as I've never seen a video demonstrating the G/D bass trombone on youtube. Thank you very much for your videos as seeing your first one on this instrument was what originally encouraged me to try it out, and it's been a hell of a lot of fun!
Friend tells me to hold her bone Me: is the slide locked? Her: idk Me: so you just carried a 5k dollar dollar across the entire building hoping the slide was locked? Her: pretty much yeah
I have a very strange rotary cornet that has European feel to it and looks very aged. It's very well made and the brass technician I talked to called it a piece of art, but it has no serial # no logo no marking whatsoever. Haven't found anyone who could identify it yet :/ so it could be my oldest but my oldest instrument I know the date of is a 93 year old Martin handcraft c melody sax.
I own and play an 1874 Courtois G bass trombone that I bought in the UK for 40 pounds. A friend of mine brought it with him to the US packed in a small chemical barrel! It had no case but was in excellent condition; I adapted a traveller's golf bag to act as a case, and after some minor refurbishment it plays very well. The instrument itself is lovely; when combined with narrow-bore tenors or in an alto-tenor-bass setup it has a very incisive sound and "fills" very easily. If you listen to early British orchestral recordings - really, all the way through the 1940s - you'll hear a very characteristic trombone section sound using G basses that blends well with the narrow-bore trumpets used then (as well as the lighter piston-valve French horns used until the 1950s). Sheer volume is somewhat restricted, but boy, they can really cut through thick textures when needed!
My oldest instrument was a Ditson Victory Boston, it was from the 1830's, thing was only worth $40 so i used it to create my duel belled trumpet, my oldest (surviving) instrument though is a Frank Holton Chicago Mellophone from 1906
I have my Grandfathers euphonium from the 1920s. Heand his identical twin played in the pit band. Its not in as good condition as this it leaks all over but still I love it.
Besson....YES!! I have a Besson Meha Bb trpt that was manufactured in France in 1952. I bought it off a guy that was selling it for his dad back in 1988 (only paid $500). His dad even had it silver plated. Has a monster sound, great projection, and brilliant tone for lead playing, slotted well high C to above double C, and had extremely fast valve action. The only problem was the bore size. It is .471 with the lead pipe being .363 to .463. Needless to say, after a 4 hour gig it felt like I climbed Mt Everest!! However, IT'S A KEEPER!!
Hey Mate, I've played a G Trombone before. It was a Salvation Army branded one. It was sitting in the instrument room at my corps. I thought it was great fun seeing as I've only played a Bb/F/Db
I started playing in Brass bands in around 1970 (I was 12 or 13) and the G Bass Trombone was still very much in use. I recall a Contest I attended and pretty much all the Bass trombones were G basses with the "bog handle". However, the Bass trombone player in the band I was in (Chertsey and Addlestone) got himself a Yamaha Bb/F instrument a year or two later and the G bones seemed to be disappearing. I was still at secondary school at that time and I noticed the picture of a Bass Trombone in a new text book was of a "modern" Bb/F instrument. I seem to recall the Tuning slide of the F side was long enough that you could pull it out and drop to G, but I could be wrong.
Wow, that looks exactly like the one I tried to play back in 1963, bandmaster tried me out on that and a few instruments after moving up from the YP band also played 2nd trombone for a few years, baritone, then ended up on the 1st cornet for a while.
+Trent Hamilton I know I'm a little late to the party here but I was lucky enough to pick one of these up off ebay recently! It's a Boosey & Co class A, serial no 81110, which a cursory googling tells me puts it at roughly the same age as yours. I too feel the wobble, particularly out in the nether positions. Here's a demo if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/CaYyL9RGxys/w-d-xo.html
I love music and trombones especially (for obvious reasons, like Trent would say.) But I also have a huge passion for cars. When I saw the handle using a universal joint I was like whattttt.
I actually like the sound of this instrument. It might not fit into the modern concert band or wind ensemble that well, but I think it's an interesting color. Plus, the fact that it's in G would be a cool thing to learn!
Played G Trombone with a few Brass bands back in the late 70's Loved it the Echo off the buildings on Parades let everyone know you had a G in the band was a big hit a concerts when playing the Beatles Hit When I'm 64 LOL
Been playing a GBass for, hellfire, 48 years now, the one I have now is 100 years old this year 2019 Still sounds cool and rasps wonderfully when I want it to. A 'bones a bone when all said. :) Right mouthpiece and a bit of practice
I have a Besson and Co Prototype "Class A" Baritone horn but I can't locate the serial number to date it. I believe the person I bought it off said it was from 1910
I bought one once. Like your Sousa phone shaped object of Indian manufacture you reviewed, it was an inexact copy of an old Benson. A complete failure as a musical instrument but it's role was to add some bling to a wedding band and any notes played were a bonus. I did find someone to buy it in spite of its short comings. I still see "too good to be true horns" on sale online. It's no fault of that Indian band tradition but those who buy low and sell them as real instruments are bound for some lower regions of the nether world.
Yes I use one regularly for the Salvation Army here in the UK. March with it too. - Class A Besson & Co "Prototype" 198 Euston Road LONDON. No. 6236. Looks almost identical to yours except there is I assume an aftermarket counterweight on the tuning slide. It does flex a lot, you have to really know the music you are playing because the book moves so much you can't focus properly on those runs of quavers. Really enjoy playing it though and like you said the slide is effortless. Kind of cool to know you are possibly the only person in the world at that moment playing G Trombone.
Thanks for your message. That's absolutely fascinating, which corps do you play with? My grandfather played G bass trombone for 40 years and I'm a 6th generation SA bandsman.
Well I'm between corps currently. I was Bandmaster in Pontypool in South Wales until recently, we don't live in the town and with a young family had to make the decision to move to a closer corps. Cwmbran we are at, at the moment. I shall be out with them tomorrow for our Remembrance march. I enjoy your videos, keep them up. The G trombone was nicknamed "Kidinippers" (I think that's the word) in the north of England because if over zealous young teens were getting too close to the band, the slides length would catch them unaware and clip them generally across the head. What corps do you attend and what part do you play?
My marching band went to a football game and the other band was out marching on the field. One of the other band's trombone players was swinging a g nass trombone around like it was nothing
I got to play one of these a few years ago as our band room happened to have one, felt very ill the next day so I checked and inside the slide was coated in thick green gunk 💀. Fun to use the handle mechanism nonetheless 😁
Although I do not have a G bass trombone, I do have a tenor trombone from a very similar date as this. Its bell is very small, and the mouthpiece it is intended to be used with, as with yours, is very shallow. Further, like yours, it has no screw connecting the bell segment and the slide segment, and must thereby be held together while playing. Unlike yours, however, it has two metal spikes at the far end of the slide pointing towards the hands. The slide hardly functions anymore due to its age and prolonged lack of use, but I'm hoping to get it fixed up soon.
It's called a Mellophonium, nooblets. Honestly, it's not really that interesting of an instrument. It looks amazing and it's really fun to play if you know how to bully it. That's about it, though. The tone quality is average and if you can't blow-to-pitch, don't even bother. The pitch center is a mile wide. Great for playing that old fashioned sloppy jazz. Bad for noobs that have never even played a Flugelhorn.
normal B flat. Its nothing too old. Around 1980s or something. There is only bracing that connects the bell to the lead pipe and valves and a small one on the third tuning slide. That's about it! ( a total of 3). Its silver with smaller finger buttons but its a pretty heavy weight trumpet! I am currently using it for marching band as well.
Cool historical piece! But it would be tricky to play, I imagine, because it is so fragile, it could come apart on you while you play. It's amazing how good shape it's in, considering it's been around for over a century. And considering the case is crap! Thanks for sharing this cool thing with us.
i found a really old dirty trombone is my grandpas poll barn i can't really read everything super clear on it but it says master model de luxe Charles f triebert paris i looked up the name and all i could find is a metal clarinet and a a trombone for sale on ebay but i couldn't find anything else and the only number on it is 82 where the serial number would be but could someone please help me find out what it's worth and more info about the guy that made it i can send pictures if you want.
I've played on a G baritone before for a bit. Really messed with my head, not realizing it was a G horn and coupled with the fact that I was transposing the music I was playing.
Trent, I played a G trombone for a short while (maybe a year or two) just over 40yrs ago. Back then it was fun to be the only player in the band on one instrument, and still is to some extent when I get to play Bass Trom. What I have noticed recently is the difference in the written music; Any time we play marches written for a G, the music sits very high on the stave whereas more recent music is written much lower, often down to the pedal notes. Just take a Bass Trombone "Favourites" book from your music cupboard and you'll see what I mean. Also I'm looking for some advice so will PM you tomorrow on Facebook. - Ashley ( - PNSAband)
Hi Ashley, thanks for your message. My granddad played G trom for around 40 years, although I've never taken the time to work on memorising the positions. Will you be coming down to the Brass on Fire in September? Perhaps I'll see you there - if I haven't mis-interpreted the PNSA acronym.
Yes. Was hoping to talk to you then, but I don't want to wait that long. Been meaning to contact you for a while so I'll get onto it tomorrow if I can. I'll PM you, as I said and we can go from there. I'm also playing B/T in Seniors - we're in Levin this Sunday.
Trent Hamilton I literally have no clue how to play trombone, but I want to learn how to play all of the brass instruments, I play trumpet currently, arent tuba, baritone, main French Horn, and trumpet fingerings all the same?
Hi Trent; Sorry we didn't get a chance to catch up at Brass On Fire. Re. the case for this G Trombone; That type of case was fairly common for those early trombones as fro many brass instruments (try getting an old BBb bass out of a similar case!). But my 1906 Conn tenor has a conventional "modern" case - two halves, hinged and lockable with each side fixed in place (or would have been when new - those swivel toggles usually become loose over the years).
Trent- How long is each section of that trombone? My favorite (which is in the shop getting new inner slides) trombone has a longer slide and shorter bell section than normal trombones, which makes the positions different too. It’s an H. N. White from the early 30’s. I couldn’t find a case for it so I redid one for it.
I am very surprised you think a G bass trombone is such a strange instrument. My Uncle played one in the Newton Abbot Salvation Army Band, UK, at least until the 1970s, possibly 1980s. In the 1970s I was a member of HM Welsh Guards on a Holton TR181 Bflat-F-Eflat double trigger bass trombone. (Although not strictly bass trombones, but wide bore tenor trombones, triggers were common well before then.) However, my colleague in the Irish Guards played a single trigger G-D bass trombone, not sure of the make. My Uncle also had custody of my Grandfather's Boosey Eflat bass trombone, at a guess the same age as your G, BUT it had no triggers, instead a unique experimental system of cords, springs and pulleys, which sent a slide out behind you when you played the usual forward slide. The idea being that it would shorten slide positions - clearly it never caught on, and only a few were made. It is now in the Salvation Army Museum in London. When I was about 10 or 12 years old he got it out for me to play(I have a photo somewhere). Also Douglas Yeo, Boston Symphony Orchestra, rtd, wrote an extensive article on it for the British Trombone Society. I bet you'd love to try that one!
Hi Steve, it’s a strange instrument these days, but it once was standard. My grandad played G trombone for 40 years, and my earliest experiences with brass bands is sitting next to him whilst he played.
Steve: Would he by chance be playing the G Bass with the D Valve in this movie: left to right 3rd trombone player: th-cam.com/video/jtv4iN_ttmM/w-d-xo.html
I've got an old J Higham G Bass; its in terrible condition. It doesn't feature the sophisticated connection from the handle to the slide that this Besson does.
I have boought a trombone made in 1880, though it is just tenor. The case is nearly identical to the one you have presented in this video as well. I just have one question: would you happen to know where to purchase trombone a mouthpeices with a bore of a standard trumpet bore, but with a tenor trombone cup? The trombone has a extremely small bore size, even dwarfing my 1920s jazz trombone. I cannot seem to find such an unusual mouthpeice anywhere.
My next to oldest slide trombone is a 1878 G Maj. Courtois, of beautiful museum quality. Bought it out of curiosity; What a narrow bored & original raw brass slide not enjoyable to play. Did play it once or twice around 2002, otherwise it resides in a display case because it is a visual work of art.
Also have a Courtois trombone from circ. 1890 of museum quality with interchangeable tuning slides that change it from G to B flat, also with a raw brass slide. Not enjoyable to play due to the antiquated slide and also another pea shooter.
Are eb tuba mouthpieces smaller than Bb tuba mouthpieces. I have a besson 17sb tuba mouthpiece that doesn't fit in a standard Bb tuba but it kind of fits in a sousaphone.
Bassoonist9 occasionally, an Eb or F tuba mouthpiece will be smaller than its larger BBb or CC counterparts. However, the question is the size of the mouthpiece receiver on the horn. There are generally 3 sizes (more do exist, but I don't recall all of them at this time); British, American, and Euro. These receivers can range anywhere from .490 in. to .580 in size. There is a more detailed post on tubenet here: forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?t=10390 basically, use calipers or have someone measure the size of the receiver for you, and find a mouthpiece with that size that has a similar bowl and rim to what you are currently using. Goodluck!!!
I have a 90 year old Elkhart Trumpet but it's so badly tarnished I wouldn't play it. It's missing a valve top (I'm not a trumpet player so I don't know what certain things are called). Also valves won't budge and the thing where spit comes out is broken (it won't connect) and the mouthpiece won't stay on for some reason.
very nice, today's horns are well balanced and durable where these old beauties were compromised and nothing about them is secured haha! even the cases. but hey, you probably could have bought this in 1912 for just a few pounds new
hi Trent, just wonder if brass instrument will suffer from so call "metal fatigue"? like this 100+ yrs old trombone, is the tone getting worse as time goes by?
The metal doesn't have to change form (there's no repeated bending or stretching of the actual metal) so metal fatigue isn't an issue on old instruments.
I just have a question what is your job you have 7 instruments behind you and a 110 year old trombone if thats the money a musician makes if you are i’m totally gonna work this like i already planned
I have an 1874 Antoine Courtois G bass that seals up rather better than this Besson - brass inner slides and nickel-plate stockings. Trying to get the right mouthpiece for it is difficult, though; the tone in the low range should be able to support the trombone/trumpet choir yet "cut" as well. It's a tricky match.
Te Awamutu had a long term G trombonist until he passed away a couple of years ago. I think his was a b&h imperial. He was a clever and funny person. Can anybody tell us why the music for it is in the bass cleff? I don't know of any other brass music like that?
The music for all bass instruments is written in bass clef - trombone, euphonium, tuba, cello, string bass, bassoon, contrabassoon - at sounding pitch. It's up to the player to adjust fingerings/slide positions when playing instruments in different keys. On this G bass trombone, 1st position produces the overtone series of G (GG-G-d-g-b-d-f(flat)-g etc.). On a modern bass trombone pitched in Bb, 1st position gives the Bb overtone series, adding the F valve, 1st position generates the F series, etc. Brass bands traditionally have all their parts written in treble clef, transposed. I understand this is because a long time ago everyone started on cornet (Bb treble clef) and when they transitioned to other instruments it was thought to be too difficult for them to have to learn to read the appropriate clef (bass) for the lower instruments.
I'm not sure that is entirely correct. My father played a euphonium and that was in the treble cliff. I remember playing some of it. I had the idea that the G trombone was the only brass instrument with bass cleft music. I have no knowledge of orchestral instruments. Of course the woodwinds are in a go up of odds and ends that don't Ft with any others. It has been poited out before that they only jet qualify as instruments and 'music' is a bit of a foreign language to them, aye Trent?
James Parlane The brass band writes for music all in treble clef, which makes it easier for players to switch between horns without relearning how to read music differently. I believe that there is not a single brass instrument in brass band that reads bass clef, including Eb and BBb tubas, but there may be an exception for bass trombone. The other person to reply is also correct, because traditional notation for bass istruments is in bass clef, with the tones heard being written. I'm needs band, Eb and BBb tuba players would have to read transposed parts to play in unison, but when written in bass clef, tubas of all keys read the same sheet to play in unison
I've recently purchased this G Trombone off the Te Awamutu Brass Band (I'm one of their occasional bass trombonists), it's a 1966 Boosey & Hawkes Imperial. Yes, Bass Trombone is the only brass band instrument reading in C in bass clef, that's how I get away with it.
Great, now lets not drop this one.
idiocy gxx plastic trombone would be fine if you drop it.
I think if I pulled that (especially ON THE INTERNET) I would fake my own death and never show my fave in society again. And I CERTAINLY wouldn’t put the video of myself KILLING such a horn ON TH-cam!
@@kenzieford3612 your a man horn lol get it saching
And this is cleaner then the 20 year old trombone in my school band....
I played an Olds (That's the name)trombone..It was rusty and even stinky but had a gorgeous tone that l could never duplicate..
The sleeve of pealed cow I laughed so hard at that
Yes they are very fun but hard I tried one a year ago
Nicholas' Trombone il
Lel
@@arabellagaskins1603 The "LETCH" is broken?
I have had the opportunity to play a G bass trombone - more years ago than I care to admit. It belonged to a fellow jazz trombonist who had it as a rather large toy. I don't know how old it was and don't remember if it had any counterweights but, by the sake token, it was quite comfortable to hold. I do remember that it played well although the use of the handle on the slide was a little disconcerting for a B flat tenor player like me.
6:20 you're welcome
Not all heros wear capes
@@liammartin9222 they wear masks 😉😂
I’m the owner of very fine 1929 King Liberty trumpet. Coming up on a 100 yrs. It was played and passed thru my mothers hands and three brothers. Me being the most accomplished, was given stewardship of it to keep and safe guard. It is displayed in a prominent place in my living room.
I feel sorry for anyone who ever had to play one of these
I started my brass band career in Greenock Citadel SA Band (Scotland) in the 1950's and we had a fabulous G trombone player in a man called Bobby Hoey. I will never forget the sound of Bobby in full flight. I retired from banding in 2023. Thanks for the video, brought back many good memories.
My Dad played one of these(n=made by SA) complete with case in Chelmsford SA band Thro from about 1939 -1962 his dexterity with the handle sometimes amazed me transferring from hand held to stick held .Quaver runs such as in Eric Balls 'King of Kings 'was good. But I believe the bottom range was not as low as the modern triggered bass trom.
I must say he taught my brother & myself to play trombone & we played trombone trios in the band. I am now 77 & dad & Douglas are no longer here but I feel privileged to learned my music from this fine musician. I wish could have added a photo to show you the three of us in 1960 with the peanut shooter troms
Never seen one outside of your videos. Seems like a cool trombone though.
10/10 case too.
These are what we're played in brass bands by bass trombonist before triggers where a thing. The slide was longer to get the lower notes hence the handle. My uncle played one and called it a "Kiddie Shifter"
Used to have one borrowed from the Brunswick city band. Blew well and had locks. Made my hands smell so brassy afterwards.
Hi Trent. It may interest you to know that I use a G bass trombone regularly in my brass band (Liskeard Silver Band in Cornwall UK). The one I'm using currently is a very late model (1970s) B&H Imperial G bass with a D trigger to give it the same range as a modern bass trombone. I have been playing it non-stop for about 18 months now, before which I used an old 1938 model G bass that is fairly similar to yours. I'd say I can just about play it to the same standard as I can Bb trombone and have even used it in my University orchestra for certain works where it is authentic. The more modern example has a medium bore with a European (Euphonium) shank mouthpiece so it is easier to play in a modern setting, but it still has that characteristic G bass "punch" which is impossible to get with a modern large bore instrument. It also works superbly for the older brass band and Salvation army literature, less so for some of the more "boring" modern repertoire where there are lots of sustained notes. I'll have to post some videos or audio clips of me using it as I've never seen a video demonstrating the G/D bass trombone on youtube. Thank you very much for your videos as seeing your first one on this instrument was what originally encouraged me to try it out, and it's been a hell of a lot of fun!
Are we getting the video?
Friend tells me to hold her bone
Me: is the slide locked?
Her: idk
Me: so you just carried a 5k dollar dollar across the entire building hoping the slide was locked?
Her: pretty much yeah
Thatoneguy Mccool omfg me and my friend
That slide handle is attached to the slide via a U joint. Same joint used in automotive steering technology. Really cool..
I have a very strange rotary cornet that has European feel to it and looks very aged. It's very well made and the brass technician I talked to called it a piece of art, but it has no serial # no logo no marking whatsoever. Haven't found anyone who could identify it yet :/ so it could be my oldest but my oldest instrument I know the date of is a 93 year old Martin handcraft c melody sax.
Wow, that's the same year my 1924 Buescher True Tone alto is from.
Get in touch with him over his email
If you're interested in sending it to him for a video or something else, email him at TrentHamiltonNZ@gmail.com.
Does it look like this: th-cam.com/video/Xp-lhRkLVlE/w-d-xo.html ?
I own and play an 1874 Courtois G bass trombone that I bought in the UK for 40 pounds. A friend of mine brought it with him to the US packed in a small chemical barrel! It had no case but was in excellent condition; I adapted a traveller's golf bag to act as a case, and after some minor refurbishment it plays very well. The instrument itself is lovely; when combined with narrow-bore tenors or in an alto-tenor-bass setup it has a very incisive sound and "fills" very easily. If you listen to early British orchestral recordings - really, all the way through the 1940s - you'll hear a very characteristic trombone section sound using G basses that blends well with the narrow-bore trumpets used then (as well as the lighter piston-valve French horns used until the 1950s). Sheer volume is somewhat restricted, but boy, they can really cut through thick textures when needed!
Every problem you listed were characteristic of old trombones.
My oldest instrument was a Ditson Victory Boston, it was from the 1830's, thing was only worth $40 so i used it to create my duel belled trumpet, my oldest (surviving) instrument though is a Frank Holton Chicago Mellophone from 1906
Man, thanks for making these videos. I truly enjoy.
We had a player in our community band that had a Quad Slide Contra bass trombone. Four tubes on the hand slide rather than two.
Very neat that you caught the camera vibrating during the pedal tone. Thanks for the vids. Very interesting stuff.
I have my Grandfathers euphonium from the 1920s. Heand his identical twin played in the pit band. Its not in as good condition as this it leaks all over but still I love it.
Besson....YES!! I have a Besson Meha Bb trpt that was manufactured in France in 1952. I bought it off a guy that was selling it for his dad back in 1988 (only paid $500). His dad even had it silver plated. Has a monster sound, great projection, and brilliant tone for lead playing, slotted well high C to above double C, and had extremely fast valve action. The only problem was the bore size. It is .471 with the lead pipe being .363 to .463. Needless to say, after a 4 hour gig it felt like I climbed Mt Everest!! However, IT'S A KEEPER!!
Hey Mate, I've played a G Trombone before. It was a Salvation Army branded one. It was sitting in the instrument room at my corps. I thought it was great fun seeing as I've only played a Bb/F/Db
Oooh, a Salvation Army branded G trombone? Any interest in sending/selling it to me?
I started playing in Brass bands in around 1970 (I was 12 or 13) and the G Bass Trombone was still very much in use. I recall a Contest I attended and pretty much all the Bass trombones were G basses with the "bog handle". However, the Bass trombone player in the band I was in (Chertsey and Addlestone) got himself a Yamaha Bb/F instrument a year or two later and the G bones seemed to be disappearing. I was still at secondary school at that time and I noticed the picture of a Bass Trombone in a new text book was of a "modern" Bb/F instrument. I seem to recall the Tuning slide of the F side was long enough that you could pull it out and drop to G, but I could be wrong.
Wow, that looks exactly like the one I tried to play back in 1963, bandmaster tried me out on that and a few instruments after moving up from the YP band also played 2nd trombone for a few years, baritone, then ended up on the 1st cornet for a while.
First time I ever saw a G Bass Trombone was in a Brass Band from Australia. The slide handle kicker didn't have the rotating feature on it.
+Trent Hamilton I know I'm a little late to the party here but I was lucky enough to pick one of these up off ebay recently! It's a Boosey & Co class A, serial no 81110, which a cursory googling tells me puts it at roughly the same age as yours. I too feel the wobble, particularly out in the nether positions. Here's a demo if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/CaYyL9RGxys/w-d-xo.html
Nice videos btw. trying to get a G bass trombone discussion group going here: facebook.com/groups/323871645279752
I have a 1917 German tenor trombone that also has a poor main slide seal. I think it is an iconic feature of many old trombones!
Knowledge Base It is, actually! To think, Sackbuts were much worse!
Knowledge Base around the time the Germans were "doing there thing"
Loose and/or saggy is an iconic feature of many old things...
I love music and trombones especially (for obvious reasons, like Trent would say.) But I also have a huge passion for cars. When I saw the handle using a universal joint I was like whattttt.
I actually like the sound of this instrument. It might not fit into the modern concert band or wind ensemble that well, but I think it's an interesting color. Plus, the fact that it's in G would be a cool thing to learn!
I've played a boosey and hawkes imperial G/D bass trombone, great fun.
I actually have a Besson Oboe that is very very old. It's over 100 years old, as indicated by the fact that it is Triebert's système 3 style
Looks very interesting this old piece
Never played any other than tenor trombones
I used to play one in the 1960s. Progressed to a modern instrument on going to the Northern College of music in Manchester.
Played G Trombone with a few Brass bands back in the late 70's Loved it the Echo off the buildings on Parades let everyone know you had a G in the band was a big hit a concerts when playing the Beatles Hit When I'm 64 LOL
Been playing a GBass for, hellfire, 48 years now, the one I have now is 100 years old this year 2019 Still sounds cool and rasps wonderfully when I want it to. A 'bones a bone when all said. :) Right mouthpiece and a bit of practice
I released a video recently where I played a trombone quartet with 100+ year old trombones, including a G bass trombone :)
jeez with such a small bore I wonder how they expected anyone to get petal tones out
I have a Besson and Co Prototype "Class A" Baritone horn but I can't locate the serial number to date it. I believe the person I bought it off said it was from 1910
Jonathan Titterton check the second valve casing.
That's awesome :)
I actually have a Bb cornet that was owned by my Great Great Grandfather from around the late 1800s.
luv this. great video!
I have never seen one outside of your videos. It's pretty cool
I have a G bass trombone from Boosey&Hawkes. Silver plated with engraving and embossing. From the sn I recon it was made in 1937-38.
Definitely would play better if the slide was restored. That's like leaking valves when the platings worn off
I bought one once. Like your Sousa phone shaped object of Indian manufacture you reviewed, it was an inexact copy of an old Benson. A complete failure as a musical instrument but it's role was to add some bling to a wedding band and any notes played were a bonus. I did find someone to buy it in spite of its short comings. I still see "too good to be true horns" on sale online. It's no fault of that Indian band tradition but those who buy low and sell them as real instruments are bound for some lower regions of the nether world.
Great video and no I didn't even know it existed
Yes I use one regularly for the Salvation Army here in the UK. March with it too. - Class A Besson & Co "Prototype" 198 Euston Road LONDON. No. 6236. Looks almost identical to yours except there is I assume an aftermarket counterweight on the tuning slide. It does flex a lot, you have to really know the music you are playing because the book moves so much you can't focus properly on those runs of quavers. Really enjoy playing it though and like you said the slide is effortless. Kind of cool to know you are possibly the only person in the world at that moment playing G Trombone.
Thanks for your message. That's absolutely fascinating, which corps do you play with? My grandfather played G bass trombone for 40 years and I'm a 6th generation SA bandsman.
Well I'm between corps currently. I was Bandmaster in Pontypool in South Wales until recently, we don't live in the town and with a young family had to make the decision to move to a closer corps. Cwmbran we are at, at the moment. I shall be out with them tomorrow for our Remembrance march. I enjoy your videos, keep them up. The G trombone was nicknamed "Kidinippers" (I think that's the word) in the north of England because if over zealous young teens were getting too close to the band, the slides length would catch them unaware and clip them generally across the head. What corps do you attend and what part do you play?
My marching band went to a football game and the other band was out marching on the field. One of the other band's trombone players was swinging a g nass trombone around like it was nothing
I got to play one of these a few years ago as our band room happened to have one, felt very ill the next day so I checked and inside the slide was coated in thick green gunk 💀. Fun to use the handle mechanism nonetheless 😁
I just realized that this horn isn't the usual G bass you show us!
That 110-year-old Trombone is in better condition then my 5-year-old Trombone.
When I first joined a band in the 1980s we had a G trombone player.
I played a bass Sackbutt. It had the extender handle. Interesting to play but it was a solid piece.
very entertaining and fun thanks !
Although I do not have a G bass trombone, I do have a tenor trombone from a very similar date as this. Its bell is very small, and the mouthpiece it is intended to be used with, as with yours, is very shallow. Further, like yours, it has no screw connecting the bell segment and the slide segment, and must thereby be held together while playing. Unlike yours, however, it has two metal spikes at the far end of the slide pointing towards the hands. The slide hardly functions anymore due to its age and prolonged lack of use, but I'm hoping to get it fixed up soon.
Could you do a review of the large bore plastic trombone that have an f attachment?
It is plastic it is not good
Oh yeah I forgot I watched that video they are decent enough
One thing is for sure, they are FAR better than the metal ones for the same price.
I was more interested in the French horn trumpet thingy you had behind you on the right
Its a fumpet
Mellophone maybe?
It's called a Mellophonium, nooblets. Honestly, it's not really that interesting of an instrument. It looks amazing and it's really fun to play if you know how to bully it. That's about it, though. The tone quality is average and if you can't blow-to-pitch, don't even bother. The pitch center is a mile wide. Great for playing that old fashioned sloppy jazz. Bad for noobs that have never even played a Flugelhorn.
oh I thought it was a tenor Cor?
No wonder trombones are the oddballs of the wind instruments. That is why I wanted to play one
I recently got my uncles ytr 4320st. Its not super old, but it has little to no bracing. It also has a trigger.
chickafila. thechicken Interesting! What key is it in again?
normal B flat. Its nothing too old. Around 1980s or something. There is only bracing that connects the bell to the lead pipe and valves and a small one on the third tuning slide. That's about it! ( a total of 3). Its silver with smaller finger buttons but its a pretty heavy weight trumpet! I am currently using it for marching band as well.
Wow. This trumbone is 118 years old and it looks better than my bandmate isaac's trumbone
Cool historical piece! But it would be tricky to play, I imagine, because it is so fragile, it could come apart on you while you play. It's amazing how good shape it's in, considering it's been around for over a century. And considering the case is crap! Thanks for sharing this cool thing with us.
My great uncle had a friend who has a bass in g trombone
Cool find!
i found a really old dirty trombone is my grandpas poll barn i can't really read everything super clear on it but it says master model de luxe Charles f triebert paris i looked up the name and all i could find is a metal clarinet and a a trombone for sale on ebay but i couldn't find anything else and the only number on it is 82 where the serial number would be but could someone please help me find out what it's worth and more info about the guy that made it i can send pictures if you want.
The Roaring Rayquaza Please contact me. I know a lot about this manufacturer.
I've played on a G baritone before for a bit. Really messed with my head, not realizing it was a G horn and coupled with the fact that I was transposing the music I was playing.
Drum corps? The old G bugles are a fascinating bunch, some of my favourite instruments ever made.
Trent, I played a G trombone for a short while (maybe a year or two) just over 40yrs ago.
Back then it was fun to be the only player in the band on one instrument, and still is to some extent when I get to play Bass Trom.
What I have noticed recently is the difference in the written music; Any time we play marches written for a G, the music sits very high on the stave whereas more recent music is written much lower, often down to the pedal notes.
Just take a Bass Trombone "Favourites" book from your music cupboard and you'll see what I mean.
Also I'm looking for some advice so will PM you tomorrow on Facebook.
- Ashley
( - PNSAband)
Hi Ashley, thanks for your message. My granddad played G trom for around 40 years, although I've never taken the time to work on memorising the positions.
Will you be coming down to the Brass on Fire in September? Perhaps I'll see you there - if I haven't mis-interpreted the PNSA acronym.
Yes. Was hoping to talk to you then, but I don't want to wait that long. Been meaning to contact you for a while so I'll get onto it tomorrow if I can. I'll PM you, as I said and we can go from there.
I'm also playing B/T in Seniors - we're in Levin this Sunday.
Trent Hamilton I literally have no clue how to play trombone, but I want to learn how to play all of the brass instruments, I play trumpet currently, arent tuba, baritone, main French Horn, and trumpet fingerings all the same?
Andrew Walker French horn fingerings aren't, but everything else you listed is.
Hi Trent; Sorry we didn't get a chance to catch up at Brass On Fire.
Re. the case for this G Trombone; That type of case was fairly common for those early trombones as fro many brass instruments (try getting an old BBb bass out of a similar case!).
But my 1906 Conn tenor has a conventional "modern" case - two halves, hinged and lockable with each side fixed in place (or would have been when new - those swivel toggles usually become loose over the years).
Two of my trombones were made without any locks. I don’t have a problem with it but it makes other people nervous.
Trent- How long is each section of that trombone? My favorite (which is in the shop getting new inner slides) trombone has a longer slide and shorter bell section than normal trombones, which makes the positions different too. It’s an H. N. White from the early 30’s. I couldn’t find a case for it so I redid one for it.
But can you throw it on the floor like the plastic ones?
I am very surprised you think a G bass trombone is such a strange instrument. My Uncle played one in the Newton Abbot Salvation Army Band, UK, at least until the 1970s, possibly 1980s. In the 1970s I was a member of HM Welsh Guards on a Holton TR181 Bflat-F-Eflat double trigger bass trombone. (Although not strictly bass trombones, but wide bore tenor trombones, triggers were common well before then.) However, my colleague in the Irish Guards played a single trigger G-D bass trombone, not sure of the make. My Uncle also had custody of my Grandfather's Boosey Eflat bass trombone, at a guess the same age as your G, BUT it had no triggers, instead a unique experimental system of cords, springs and pulleys, which sent a slide out behind you when you played the usual forward slide. The idea being that it would shorten slide positions - clearly it never caught on, and only a few were made. It is now in the Salvation Army Museum in London. When I was about 10 or 12 years old he got it out for me to play(I have a photo somewhere). Also Douglas Yeo, Boston Symphony Orchestra, rtd, wrote an extensive article on it for the British Trombone Society. I bet you'd love to try that one!
Hi Steve, it’s a strange instrument these days, but it once was standard. My grandad played G trombone for 40 years, and my earliest experiences with brass bands is sitting next to him whilst he played.
Steve: Would he by chance be playing the G Bass with the D Valve in this movie: left to right 3rd trombone player: th-cam.com/video/jtv4iN_ttmM/w-d-xo.html
Ur my favorite tuber
Can you review the Cecilio trumpet
I've got an old J Higham G Bass; its in terrible condition. It doesn't feature the sophisticated connection from the handle to the slide that this Besson does.
Hey Trent! I just had a quick question. Can you give me a little bit of information about your denis wick trumpet mouthpiece. Do you recommend it?
I have boought a trombone made in 1880, though it is just tenor. The case is nearly identical to the one you have presented in this video as well. I just have one question: would you happen to know where to purchase trombone a mouthpeices with a bore of a standard trumpet bore, but with a tenor trombone cup? The trombone has a extremely small bore size, even dwarfing my 1920s jazz trombone. I cannot seem to find such an unusual mouthpeice anywhere.
My next to oldest slide trombone is a 1878 G Maj. Courtois, of beautiful museum quality. Bought it out of curiosity; What a narrow bored & original raw brass slide not enjoyable to play. Did play it once or twice around 2002, otherwise it resides in a display case because it is a visual work of art.
Also have a Courtois trombone from circ. 1890 of museum quality with interchangeable tuning slides that change it from G to B flat, also with a raw brass slide. Not enjoyable to play due to the antiquated slide and also another pea shooter.
"My Heart Will Go In" on Trombone
Fun fact: that funny little mechanism on the slide handle called a lovejoy.
still in better condition than a high school band trombone
When are you going to do a trombone mutes video
the sound of this old trombone is not so bad.
What was the piece at the end of the video? Absolutely beautiful!
Wow!!!
If I took a shot for every time the letter “s” was said in any word, I’d die twice.
Are eb tuba mouthpieces smaller than Bb tuba mouthpieces. I have a besson 17sb tuba mouthpiece that doesn't fit in a standard Bb tuba but it kind of fits in a sousaphone.
Bassoonist9 occasionally, an Eb or F tuba mouthpiece will be smaller than its larger BBb or CC counterparts. However, the question is the size of the mouthpiece receiver on the horn. There are generally 3 sizes (more do exist, but I don't recall all of them at this time); British, American, and Euro. These receivers can range anywhere from .490 in. to .580 in size. There is a more detailed post on tubenet here: forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?t=10390 basically, use calipers or have someone measure the size of the receiver for you, and find a mouthpiece with that size that has a similar bowl and rim to what you are currently using. Goodluck!!!
I have a 90 year old Elkhart Trumpet but it's so badly tarnished I wouldn't play it. It's missing a valve top (I'm not a trumpet player so I don't know what certain things are called). Also valves won't budge and the thing where spit comes out is broken (it won't connect) and the mouthpiece won't stay on for some reason.
Did you ever get that tuning slide unstuck?
very nice, today's horns are well balanced and durable where these old beauties were compromised and nothing about them is secured haha! even the cases. but hey, you probably could have bought this in 1912 for just a few pounds new
I'm in band and I use a G trumbone, if I could show you a picture for proof, I gladly would
hi Trent, just wonder if brass instrument will suffer from so call "metal fatigue"? like this 100+ yrs old trombone, is the tone getting worse as time goes by?
The metal doesn't have to change form (there's no repeated bending or stretching of the actual metal) so metal fatigue isn't an issue on old instruments.
@@TrentHamilton that helps a lot, many thanks.
I just have a question what is your job you have 7 instruments behind you and a 110 year old trombone if thats the money a musician makes if you are i’m totally gonna work this like i already planned
Ahhhh... No. I work in Telecommunications.
Hmm... it's certainly showed its age. Still, pretty damn cool!
I have an 1874 Antoine Courtois G bass that seals up rather better than this Besson - brass inner slides and nickel-plate stockings. Trying to get the right mouthpiece for it is difficult, though; the tone in the low range should be able to support the trombone/trumpet choir yet "cut" as well. It's a tricky match.
i have trumpet 50 years old from west germany (huttl)
Why do you play the spider man pizza theme
I've never seen a trombone play a Mozart horn concerto...
That moment when you play horn music on a trombone...
Te Awamutu had a long term G trombonist until he passed away a couple of years ago. I think his was a b&h imperial. He was a clever and funny person. Can anybody tell us why the music for it is in the bass cleff? I don't know of any other brass music like that?
The music for all bass instruments is written in bass clef - trombone, euphonium, tuba, cello, string bass, bassoon, contrabassoon - at sounding pitch. It's up to the player to adjust fingerings/slide positions when playing instruments in different keys. On this G bass trombone, 1st position produces the overtone series of G (GG-G-d-g-b-d-f(flat)-g etc.). On a modern bass trombone pitched in Bb, 1st position gives the Bb overtone series, adding the F valve, 1st position generates the F series, etc. Brass bands traditionally have all their parts written in treble clef, transposed. I understand this is because a long time ago everyone started on cornet (Bb treble clef) and when they transitioned to other instruments it was thought to be too difficult for them to have to learn to read the appropriate clef (bass) for the lower instruments.
I'm not sure that is entirely correct. My father played a euphonium and that was in the treble cliff. I remember playing some of it. I had the idea that the G trombone was the only brass instrument with bass cleft music. I have no knowledge of orchestral instruments. Of course the woodwinds are in a go up of odds and ends that don't Ft with any others. It has been poited out before that they only jet qualify as instruments and 'music' is a bit of a foreign language to them, aye Trent?
James Parlane The brass band writes for music all in treble clef, which makes it easier for players to switch between horns without relearning how to read music differently. I believe that there is not a single brass instrument in brass band that reads bass clef, including Eb and BBb tubas, but there may be an exception for bass trombone. The other person to reply is also correct, because traditional notation for bass istruments is in bass clef, with the tones heard being written. I'm needs band, Eb and BBb tuba players would have to read transposed parts to play in unison, but when written in bass clef, tubas of all keys read the same sheet to play in unison
I've recently purchased this G Trombone off the Te Awamutu Brass Band (I'm one of their occasional bass trombonists), it's a 1966 Boosey & Hawkes Imperial. Yes, Bass Trombone is the only brass band instrument reading in C in bass clef, that's how I get away with it.
Didn't he make a video on this trombone already?
Chase YB This is a different one, it has no obvious counterweights.
Matt Whalen yeah I didn't watch the whole video when I posted this,
Me either