A custom bass trombone like a Shires is an investment.  At $5,080-$5,440, plus case, you're putting out some serious cash compared to other brands on the market.  However, we've found that no one misses the money.  These are the best trombones, carefully made, artfully executed, beautifully engraved.  They are designed for the professional player who's tried a few horns, has been around a bit, and wants to customize their new axe to respond at the highest efficiency for their playing style.  This is a long page with a lot of text about the Shires options, so start here with a few things to think about when designing your own custom bass trombone.

Choose single if you're a tenor trombone doubler, if you like a more commercial sound, or if you want the classic dimensions and an efficient horn.  Choose dual bore if you want the modern wide orchestral sound and like an open feel. Yellow brass outer tubes is the most popular, giving a centered powerful sound. We've also had great success with nickel silver slides, especially dual bore. Nickel darkens the sound a bit and responds very quickly.

Stacked or inline valves

Stacked valves are the classic setup, and offer a more open feeling horn but have fewer technical fingering options.  Inline valves offer more technical facility.  Shires oversize valves have few if any negative effects on your sound in the inline version.

Rotary, axial flow, or Tru-bore valves

New oversize rotary valves are the fastest responding with the shortest throw and least maintenance.  Axial flow valves (Thayer) have a longer throw, more lubrication and cleaning requirements, possible neck interference, but have a very open, even feel.  New Tru-bore valves have the most open feel and an effortless response, with a short throw, but they come at a premium price.

Medium or large crook

Think regular or very open.  It's a minor detail, and mostly we stock the "C" open in yellow brass.

Bell taper, weight, and color

We prefer the larger Bach style taper for reliable response, and most players choose standard weight yellow or gold, or lightweight rose brass.  Yellow brass offers the best projection, gold brass offers a warmer soloistic sound, and lightweight rose is a classic Conn-style fast responding sound that is warm at soft volumes, but can be snappy and sizzling at higher volumes.  All bells are 9.5".  Other diameters are available by special order.

Examples of Shires Bass Trombones:

Conn Aficionado:  .562" slide, stacked rotary valves, medium gold brass crook, lightweight rose bell

Bach Bazooka: .562" slide, inline axial valves, large brass crook, BII 1Y standard yellow brass bell

Bob Sanders Pacific Symphony Cannon: .562/.578" dual bore slide, stacked axial valves, large brass crook,  BII 1YHW heavyweight yellow brass bell

Terry Cravens L.A. Opera Model: .562/.578" dual bore slide, inline Tru-bore valves, dependent axial valves, large gold brass crook, standard BII 1G gold brass bell

Conservatory Soloist: .562/.578" dual bore slide, inline rotary valves, large gold brass crook, standard gold brass bell. 1GT7 small bell rim

B62 - the standard slide, .562" bore, brass outer tubes with nickel over sleeves, nickel end crook, in wide Bach width. This is a very fast responding slide, with a great hot sound, I prefer it for the more commercial style playing I often do.

B62YC - same as above with a wide Bach style yellow brass end crook. Adds stability and a little darker sound.

B6278 - the dual bore slide, the similar to the B62, but the upper tube is .562" and the lower tube is .578", for a more modern orchestral style sound. It takes a little more air, but is very open down low. It can feel like stepping off a curb to the uninitiated. It's very popular among symphony players.

B6278N - dual bored slide, standard weight nickel silver. Yields a focused, quick responding feel.

B6278YC - same as above, but with a wide Bach style yellow brass end crook. It makes a slightly darker and more stable sound.

The above slides are also available in lightweight versions, which eliminate the nickel over sleeves at the hand brace, and are also available in all nickel.

Model 1 - Smaller taper, fast responding, Bach style

Model 2 - Most popular, more open

Model 3 - Very open

Model 2.5 - In between 2 and 3, good pipe, works well with B tuning crook

Taper:

B I - standard Conn 62H style taper.  Some of the bells made with this taper have a ring to them, so we prefer to offer the BII bells, below, to avoid numerous returns.

B II - larger Bach 50 style taper, faster taper, larger throat

Rim:

1 - soldered bell rim, like Bach 50, better projection, smoother articulation sound

2 - unsoldered bell rim, like Elkhart Conn 62H, more diffused sound, faster responding, clear sounding attacks, snappier

Color:

Y - yellow brass, clear, good projection

G - gold brass, warmer sound

R - rose or red brass, very warm sound, less projection

Weight:

LW - lightweight

M - medium weight

( ) - standard weight (no letter)

HW - heavyweight

Here are some examples of favorite bell choices, but others are available, just ask.

BII 1Y - the standard yellow brass orchestra bell, soldered rim, Bach taper. A very loud slap-me-in-the-face sound, with great projection to the back of the hall, big full sound

BII 1YHW - same but in heavyweight brass, slightly slower responding, better sound at loud volumes, for players who like to blow! Played by Bob Sanders, Pacific Symphony.

BII 1G - popular gold brass bell, soldered rim, Bach taper, less projection than the yellow bells, but has a warmer, prettier sound, more soloistic

BII 2R- big, warm creamy bass trombone sound, we love it

BII 1GT7 - same as the above 1G, but with a smaller rim wire, making the sound a bit snappier and faster responding

BI 2G- excellent commercial bell, you will love the phat sound and response, picks up well on microphones

BI 2RLWT7 or BII 2RLWT7- the classic Conn 62H style bell, in light weight rose brass, with the unsoldered bell rim, small bead, warmer, snappier, more commercial sound

B - standard medium size, faster responding, may feel tighter down low

C - larger taper, more open, most popular here

* seamed crooks are available on special order. They are made in the old style. Sheet brass is formed into a tuning taper and then brazed together. Very nice playing crook. Available in yellow, gold or red brass and in B and C tapers. We particularly like the Red brass crooks. They are $460

Color:

Y- Yellow brass for clearer sound, the standard, can work well with gold bells for more clarity

G - Gold brass for warmer sound, less harshness during loud playing when used with a yellow bell, works well with the 62H style bell (2RLWT7)

R - Red brass for the creamiest bass trombone sound. Only available in a seamed crook