TromboneChat

After looking forever for a solution for transporting my two Ullmann tenor slides (two of the three Ullmann’s in my Romantic Trombone set which I lend out for concerts) I decided to make my own solution.

The problem as everyone that plays traditional German trombones will know, the slides do not fit in any modern case as they are too long. The longest of the two slides I have is 94cm from end to end and the other one is 92cm. Luckly the Ullmann Bass slide is 90cm and just squeezes into the MB Bass case.

After reading a previous discussion about using arrow cases for storing slides, I thought that would be a good place to start, but the arrow cases are also too short, so the next closest thing was a fishing rod case or a rifle case.

In the end I picked up a rifle case from Decathlon on discount (though new it is not expensive) and then found a company that makes 100% polyethylene foam that you can cut parts out to make fully customisable inserts. Shadowfoam 5cm thick.

Links below for the Decathlon and customisable foam from Shadowfoam UK (Links below) https://www.decathlon.mt/p/10513-183144 ... rifle.html https://shadowfoam.com/products/shadow- ... gle-sheets

The shadowfoam proved as easy to use and cut as they described in their videos and on the website. Just trace the outline of the slide with a scalpel and pull out the foam to the depths you need. After an hour this was the result, the foam is a tight fit for the slides and they don’t move or fallout when upside down or being transported. I already used them a couple of weeks ago when performing at the Amersfort Bach Festival.

So these two slides are now ready to travel. Total cost €75

Very nice! I'll copy that idea!

Really nice. Only thing I might add is a foam blanket to place on top of one side so that there is no chance of contact when you handle the closed case.

BGuttman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:22 am Really nice. Only thing I might add is a foam blanket to place on top of one side so that there is no chance of contact when you handle the closed case.

Yeah, I had the same thought. I am trying to source one now (or thin leather) to go between them.

Thanks Bruce!

Steal away Daniel!

The Bonna standard tenor case can be a decent solution for German trombones. Because it's meant to carry a mute inside the bell AND has a bit of extra at the back too, it is extra long and the German slide length is therefore no problem. The issue is fitting the wider bell, and having the bell not conflict with the slide. But because the receiver on the bell is also typically further back than on modern trombones (because of the longer tenon), I found that some of my German bells also fit, if the receiver is flush against the accessories compartment and the bell flare past the ring where it is supposed to rest, into the area actually meant for the mute. I had to add a block of foam to fill the rest of the mute area and support the bell, but it worked in a pinch.

I thing asking Bonna to make this case with the same shell but removing the ring separating the mute area, and moving the accessories compartment down towards the bottom of the case, so that the bell actually goes all the way down, would solve the problem for carrying German trombones. This is the kind of custom modifications that he's normally more open to making.

I sold mine with my modern trombones so I can't check, but someone should measure the maximum diameter at the bottom of the case to see how wide a bell could fit in there (it's a bit wider than where the bell is supposed to rest with the normal design, but I don't know how much wider)

Yes exactly Max!!!

I have seen a few colleagues that use the long MB tenor case and the slides do fit in, up to about 91 / 92 cm long. was thinking of going that route as well, but for 3 German trombones I didn't want to have to buy 3 new MB cases and my longest slide would not have fit. So I have a double case that the bells go in and this gun case for the slides. Not perfect but it is what it is.