Build Your Own S.E. Shires Custom Tenor Trombone

Because an airtight valve is essential to quick response and centered feel in all registers -- and many valve options on the market do not meet their pressure-test standards -- S.E. Shires chooses to produce all of their valves in house. They thoroughly test for tight fit and perfect action at every stage of manufacture.

Large- and medium-bore tenor valve sections can be made with a choice of five different valves: the S.E. Shires rotary valve, the S.E. Shires twin valve, the S.E. Shires axial-flow valve, the S.E. Shires dual-bore valve, or the S.E. Shires Tru-Bore™ valve (U.S. Patent 7112735).

A gooseneck, interchangeable with the valve section, can be ordered to convert any orchestral tenor or bass trombone to a straight instrument.

The slide tubing of S.E. Shires handslides is drawn in house, to precise tolerances. Their slides are then carefully assembled, aligned, and stress relieved to assure the smooth, trouble-free action that has become the hallmark of S.E. Shires trombones. Handslide models are specified by letters indicating instrument type (A = alto, T = tenor, B = bass) and crook width (no indication for standard, W = wide, B = bass crook), followed by bore size in inches (second two digits only), then tube material, weight, and crook material, if non-standard.

Shires is in the process of transitioning to Shires-branded Marcus Bonna cases throughout 2021. The case you receive may be different from the one pictured here. Please contact us if you have a case preference.

Trombone tuning slides can effect resistance, response, and color of the instrument.

S.E. Shires trombone tuning slides are engineered with a unique, smooth, double-radius design. They combine the best characteristics of single- and double-radius tuning slides in terms of timbre, response, and intonation. Tuning slide models are specified by letters indicating instrument type, material, taper, and whether the slide crook is seamed or unsealed.