"Dependent Vs. Independent" (A Bass Trombone Discussion)

[@musicofnote1]

My first bass trombone was a Bach 50OG (open wrap, gold brass bell) independent. It was horribly stuffing in the low paddle and double paddle register. I kept it for almost 20 years, cursing every day I "had" to play it. Having to continually adjust my airstream to accommodate this various stuffiness. If it had been uniformly stuffy, that would have one thing, but it was like trying to hit a moving target with your eyes closed. I sold it to the trombone professor at the local conservatory, who thought it was a terrific horn, even for a Bach. Go figure. I then bought a Yamaha Xeno YBL-822G dependent bass, the horn Doug Yeo developed for Yamaha. I've been playing it since 2016. It's served me well for orchestral work, concert band, brass band, big band and trombone quartet. The only "thing" I don't like is the receiver swallows mouthpieces - meaning all non-Yamaha mouthpieces insert about .75 inches further than with other horns. Very disconcerting. But when the mouthpiece does insert this far, no stuffiness at all and the notes from pedal f up to high c slot very nicely. I'm taking it in the beginning of May for normal cleaning/servicing and intend to spend some time trying the new in-line Yamaha 835GD (gold brass with screw-bell) as well as the in-line yellow brass Shires Q-series with rotors. Not that I -need- to replace the 822g, but ... who knows. Maybe these two will not be as stuffy as my old in-line Bach 50.

[@davidconway3891]

Good information for those who want to know how the single rotor and double rotor horns evolved, as well as the difference between dependent & independent rotors. Great reference to Doug Yeo's article. I've read that article. First thing I noticed in your video, right out of the gate, you were holding my horn...hahaha. Holton Tr180, complete with Minnick D slide and independent thumb & finger triggers. I bought mine brand new in 1973, had Larry Minnick switch out the E slide (tubing length of the 2nd rotor) to D, and set up the independent triggers. I then took it to Burt Herrick and had him put in his commercial leadpipe. I've been playing this horn for 47 years. Never played anything that made me want to switch. You'd probably cry if I told you how much I paid for my brand new TR180 in 1973. You're right, there's not too many of these around. Thanks for putting a smile on my face! And I hope you got over those cold sores.

[@bassbonen8122]

Nice! Thanks for the great comment. Larry worked on my horn aswell, but it was owned by someone else at the time and then handed down to me. Greatest bass trombones in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by!