Handslides control the initial feel of the instrument. Handslide bore size, width, crook size, alloys and weights are contributing factors for handslides.
Single Bore Slides
Clear sound, can be more articulate than dual bore. Examples include:
- T85 .485 bore alto slide
- T85/95 .485/.495 bore alto slide
- T95 .495 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T00 .500 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T08 .508 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T25 .525 bore medium-bore tenor slide
- TW25 .525 bore medium-bore tenor slide with wider crook
- TW25/47 .525/.547 medium/large bore tenor slide
- T47 .547 bore tenor slide with tenor crook. Centered sound and feel.
- TW47 .547 large bore tenor slide with wider cork. Wider sound and open feel. TB47 .547 large bore tenor side with bass crook. Wider sound and more open feel. B62 .562 bore bass trombone slide
- B62/78 .562/.578 bore bass slide
Dual Bore Slides
Open sound and feel, require more air, and produce a larger sound compared to the upper leg's single-bore equivalent. The first number indicates the bore of the upper leg of the slide; the second number the lower leg. Examples include:
- B62•78: .562-.578 bore bass handslide
- TB47•62: .547-.562 bore tenor or small bass handslide
- T25•47: .525-.547 bore tenor handslide
- TW25•47: .525-.547 bore tenor handslide with wide crook
- T08•25: .508-.525 bore tenor handslide
- T00•08: .500-.508 bore tenor handslide
- T85•95: .485-.495 bore tenor handslide
- A85•95: .485-.495 bore alto handslide with tuning in crook
Handslide Material
Slides with no additional markings are standard weight, with yellow-brass tubes, nickel silver sleeves, and a nickel silver crook. Other options are available:
- [unmarked]: Standard weight — Nickel overtures over slide tubes. Add stability and channels energy forward to bell.
- LW: Lightweight — Removes overtubes only. Slightly larger feel and more timbrel flexibility, less crisp.
- Y: Yellow brass outer tubes — Standard for large bore and basses. Provides excellent blend of clarity and tone.
- N: Nickel silver outer tubes — Brilliant and articulate sound. Nickel is the least flexible of materials so it is generally only recommended in lightweight options. Appropriate for players prioritizing response of articulation. Often paired with gold brass bells.
- G: Gold brass outer tubes — Gold brass tubes provide a warmer sound and more rounded quality to the articulation. Appropriate for players needing more warmth or players who have overly aggressive articulations.
Handslide Width
Width controls the sound, density, timbre, and timbral flexibility.
- Narrow slides tend to be darker, more dense, rounder articulations with less flexibility.
- Wide slides tend to have brighter sound, wider tone, more diffuse, crisper articulation.
Crook Options
Crook options typically control the flexibility and size of sound.
- Tenor crook: Generally has a more forward projecting sound.
- Bass crook: For players desiring a larger feel or wider tonal quality. Can also allow naturally dark players to push to a more brilliant articulation without changing the core timbre.
- YC: Yellow Crook: warmer rounder sound and articulations
TB47NLW denotes a Tenor handslide with Bass (nickel silver) crook, .547-inch bore, and outer tubes made of Nickel silver with no sleeves (i.e., LightWeight).
Popular Slides
T95MD
.495 bore, lightweight nickel silver, custom MD cork barrels and narrow right-hand slide brace, single- radius (round) yellow-brass crook.
Incredibly nimble, quick, and easy to play great for anyone who has ever loved a King 2B.
T08MD
.508 bore, lightweight nickel silver, custom MD cork barrels and narrow right-hand slide brace, single- radius (round) yellow-brass crook.
Incredibly nimble, quick, and easy to play great for anyone who has ever loved a King 3B.
TW47
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outer sleeves and wide nickel crook
Our most popular orchestral model. Powerful, broad sound with excellent clarity and projection. Combines the best attributes of Bach and Conn handslides.
TB47
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outersleeves, wide .562 nickel crook
Bach 42 style. Big feel and sound. Available with a yellow brass crook for the ultimate Bach 42 style.
T47YC
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outersleeves, narrow yellow brass crook
Narrower style has a more compact, focused feel with .547 sound. Yellow crook adds warmth and core. Great for Conn 88H and Yamaha players.
TB47NLW
.547 bore, lightweight nickel silver, wide .562 nickel crook
Bach 42 style with quicker action and a more brilliant sound paired with clearer articulations.
T25/47
.525/547-inch dual bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Similar playing characteristics to a T47 (straight .547-bore handslide), but more efficient. Compare to Conn 88H handslide. Can accept both large- and small-shank mouthpieces.
B62
.562 bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Fantastic all-around bass handslide.
B62/78
.562/.578 bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Fantastic all-around bass handslide. Dual bore slide.
Handslides control the initial feel of the instrument. Handslide bore size, width, crook size, alloys and weights are contributing factors for handslides.
Single Bore Slides
Clear sound, can be more articulate than dual bore. Examples include:
- T85 .485 bore alto slide
- T85/95 .485/.495 bore alto slide
- T95 .495 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T00 .500 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T08 .508 bore small-bore tenor slide
- T25 .525 bore medium-bore tenor slide
- TW25 .525 bore medium-bore tenor slide with wider crook
- TW25/47 .525/.547 medium/large bore tenor slide
- T47 .547 bore tenor slide with tenor crook. Centered sound and feel.
- TW47 .547 large bore tenor slide with wider cork. Wider sound and open feel. TB47 .547 large bore tenor side with bass crook. Wider sound and more open feel. B62 .562 bore bass trombone slide
- B62/78 .562/.578 bore bass slide
Dual Bore Slides
Open sound and feel, require more air, and produce a larger sound compared to the upper leg's single-bore equivalent. The first number indicates the bore of the upper leg of the slide; the second number the lower leg. Examples include:
- B62•78: .562-.578 bore bass handslide
- TB47•62: .547-.562 bore tenor or small bass handslide
- T25•47: .525-.547 bore tenor handslide
- TW25•47: .525-.547 bore tenor handslide with wide crook
- T08•25: .508-.525 bore tenor handslide
- T00•08: .500-.508 bore tenor handslide
- T85•95: .485-.495 bore tenor handslide
- A85•95: .485-.495 bore alto handslide with tuning in crook
Handslide Material
Slides with no additional markings are standard weight, with yellow-brass tubes, nickel silver sleeves, and a nickel silver crook. Other options are available:
- [unmarked]: Standard weight — Nickel overtures over slide tubes. Add stability and channels energy forward to bell.
- LW: Lightweight — Removes overtubes only. Slightly larger feel and more timbrel flexibility, less crisp.
- Y: Yellow brass outer tubes — Standard for large bore and basses. Provides excellent blend of clarity and tone.
- N: Nickel silver outer tubes — Brilliant and articulate sound. Nickel is the least flexible of materials so it is generally only recommended in lightweight options. Appropriate for players prioritizing response of articulation. Often paired with gold brass bells.
- G: Gold brass outer tubes — Gold brass tubes provide a warmer sound and more rounded quality to the articulation. Appropriate for players needing more warmth or players who have overly aggressive articulations.
Handslide Width
Width controls the sound, density, timbre, and timbral flexibility.
- Narrow slides tend to be darker, more dense, rounder articulations with less flexibility.
- Wide slides tend to have brighter sound, wider tone, more diffuse, crisper articulation.
Crook Options
Crook options typically control the flexibility and size of sound.
- Tenor crook: Generally has a more forward projecting sound.
- Bass crook: For players desiring a larger feel or wider tonal quality. Can also allow naturally dark players to push to a more brilliant articulation without changing the core timbre.
- YC: Yellow Crook: warmer rounder sound and articulations
TB47NLW denotes a Tenor handslide with Bass (nickel silver) crook, .547-inch bore, and outer tubes made of Nickel silver with no sleeves (i.e., LightWeight).
Popular Slides
T95MD
.495 bore, lightweight nickel silver, custom MD cork barrels and narrow right-hand slide brace, single- radius (round) yellow-brass crook.
Incredibly nimble, quick, and easy to play great for anyone who has ever loved a King 2B.
T08MD
.508 bore, lightweight nickel silver, custom MD cork barrels and narrow right-hand slide brace, single- radius (round) yellow-brass crook.
Incredibly nimble, quick, and easy to play great for anyone who has ever loved a King 3B.
TW47
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outer sleeves and wide nickel crook
Our most popular orchestral model. Powerful, broad sound with excellent clarity and projection. Combines the best attributes of Bach and Conn handslides.
TB47
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outersleeves, wide .562 nickel crook
Bach 42 style. Big feel and sound. Available with a yellow brass crook for the ultimate Bach 42 style.
T47YC
.547 bore, yellow brass with nickel outersleeves, narrow yellow brass crook
Narrower style has a more compact, focused feel with .547 sound. Yellow crook adds warmth and core. Great for Conn 88H and Yamaha players.
TB47NLW
.547 bore, lightweight nickel silver, wide .562 nickel crook
Bach 42 style with quicker action and a more brilliant sound paired with clearer articulations.
T25/47
.525/547-inch dual bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Similar playing characteristics to a T47 (straight .547-bore handslide), but more efficient. Compare to Conn 88H handslide. Can accept both large- and small-shank mouthpieces.
B62
.562 bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Fantastic all-around bass handslide.
B62/78
.562/.578 bore, standard-weight yellow brass, nickel-silver crook
Fantastic all-around bass handslide. Dual bore slide.