TromboneChat

Is it possible to fit a Bach 42 bell on a Shires bell/valve section? How complicated/expensive?

Has anyone done this? Results?

Its very easy if you have a bell mounting kit from Shires. Shires tenor and bass trombone seem to have been based closely on Bach 42 and 50 trombones so its easy to mount bach bell fllairs to their hardware.

Benn

I’ve done this. But it was like 10 years ago. Was about $100 in parts and $50 in labor iirc

Do the tuning slide leg and the tuning slide receiver on the bell have to be changed?

Op was asking about just the bell as far as I can tell. The tuning slide and valves are not compatible without modification.

Yep. Just the flare. I’d like to use it on my Shires set-up. I am interested in hearing about the experience of anyone who did that.

But it does raise the question of the compatibility of a Shires tuning slide.

Plays like a really good Bach. I did it for a 42 and 36 bells but I no longer have either of them. I have a 2RVET7 and a 7YLW8. The Shires X tuning slide is even more Bach like. The “kit” Shires sells is compatible with their tuning slides only.

Matt K wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 7:21 am The “kit” Shires sells is compatible with their tuning slides only.

Hey Matt, so the kit includes a pair of bell connectors and the tuning slide receiver, right?

Yes, it's possible and something we do often enough that the bell conversion kit is available. I did it with my Elkhart 88H. The kit comes with a bell top, diamond flange, and 2 threaded sleeves. A good tech should be able to have it done in only a few hours.

I don’t think they technically have a “kit” anymore officially but you can buy just about any part on a Shires and they have the schematics publicly available so you can order the parts.

I bought a 42 bell that already had Shires connectors. I had to get a tech to slightly increase the inner diameter of the bell’s tuning slide receiver. I don’t think that step cost much but I did have to listen to some grumbling about how much harder it is to widen the receiver than to narrow the tuning slide.

Matt K wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 7:14 pm I don’t think they technically have a “kit” anymore officially but you can buy just about any part on a Shires and they have the schematics publicly available so you can order the parts.

Yes we do. Inquire about the Tenor Bell Mounting Kit.

Ah! I stand corrected!

And, pro tip, parts DO ship quicker than components.