MY FIRST BASS TROMBONE
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For those who may (or may not) be interested, here are some pics of my first bass trombone. It is presently owned by my college pal, Bob Hunt, who took these pics. It is a Yamaha YBL-321 I bought, ca. 1970, at Downey Music Center, at the urging of my teacher at the time, Jeff Reynolds – for the princely sum of $240. He had play-tested it and thought it was an excellent instrument. The second valve was added shortly thereafter, by master craftsman, George Strucel, based on a similar mod he had done for Jeff. He may have charged me $100, parts included.
I have seen the 321 described as based on the Conn 72H. Jeff thought it was an amalgam of the 72H and the Bach 50B. Given Renold Schilke's involvement with Yamaha, and the bell flare, I suspect 50B. I’m sure Yamaha felt it was a unique design.
The 321 has been referred to as a "student" or "intermediate" instrument. That's not accurate. These days the 300 series are student instruments, but from 1969 to 1976, it was the only bass trombone Yamaha offered. It would appeared to have been designed by Renold Schilke in consultation with Frank Crisafulli. In any event, they are very good, underrated, instruments. I was lucky to have mine – and probably should not have sold it – oh well . . .
George Strucel worked at the Miraphone facility in Sun Valley, CA and had been the repair tech at Lockie Music Exchange (who imported Miraphone) in downtown LA. He was the go-to-guy for custom brass builds before master craftsmen Larry Minick and Robb Stewart got started.
George had added a second valve to one of Jeff Reynolds’ Bach 50Bs, with a single “trigger” operating both valves. It worked great! Forward for the first valve, then down for the second, and 45° simultaneously for both. Jeff’s horn used the stock Bach ball and socket joints.
I asked George to make the same modification my Yamaha. He did, using nylon ball and socket joints; perhaps the first to do so. He had a box full of nylon glockenspiel beaters and turned them down on his lathe. Miraphone adopted them and added a set-screw. As I recall, Roger Bobo shattered a few of the stock Miraphone sockets, which lead to Larry Minick's beefier nylon sockets and ultimately, widespread use of metal miniballs. Also, I play on the low side, so George cut the main and F slides – Bob apparently needs to pull farther than I. So it goes.
George also experimented with my horn, putting teflon bearings in the rotor posts. They worked GREAT – for one day. The teflon "cold-flowed" overnight and went out of round, freezing the valves. He rebuilt the rotors while I waited. He built Roger Bobo’s F Contrabass Trumpet and did preliminary work on the CC Bass [“French”] Horn Minick later completed. He also built a Double-Bell Tuba for Tommy Johnson.
Robb Stewart, wrote of George here.
George moved to Sweden ca. 1976 and I lost track of him. He was an amazing craftsman!
I have seen the 321 described as based on the Conn 72H. Jeff thought it was an amalgam of the 72H and the Bach 50B. Given Renold Schilke's involvement with Yamaha, and the bell flare, I suspect 50B. I’m sure Yamaha felt it was a unique design.
The 321 has been referred to as a "student" or "intermediate" instrument. That's not accurate. These days the 300 series are student instruments, but from 1969 to 1976, it was the only bass trombone Yamaha offered. It would appeared to have been designed by Renold Schilke in consultation with Frank Crisafulli. In any event, they are very good, underrated, instruments. I was lucky to have mine – and probably should not have sold it – oh well . . .
George Strucel worked at the Miraphone facility in Sun Valley, CA and had been the repair tech at Lockie Music Exchange (who imported Miraphone) in downtown LA. He was the go-to-guy for custom brass builds before master craftsmen Larry Minick and Robb Stewart got started.
George had added a second valve to one of Jeff Reynolds’ Bach 50Bs, with a single “trigger” operating both valves. It worked great! Forward for the first valve, then down for the second, and 45° simultaneously for both. Jeff’s horn used the stock Bach ball and socket joints.
I asked George to make the same modification my Yamaha. He did, using nylon ball and socket joints; perhaps the first to do so. He had a box full of nylon glockenspiel beaters and turned them down on his lathe. Miraphone adopted them and added a set-screw. As I recall, Roger Bobo shattered a few of the stock Miraphone sockets, which lead to Larry Minick's beefier nylon sockets and ultimately, widespread use of metal miniballs. Also, I play on the low side, so George cut the main and F slides – Bob apparently needs to pull farther than I. So it goes.
George also experimented with my horn, putting teflon bearings in the rotor posts. They worked GREAT – for one day. The teflon "cold-flowed" overnight and went out of round, freezing the valves. He rebuilt the rotors while I waited. He built Roger Bobo’s F Contrabass Trumpet and did preliminary work on the CC Bass [“French”] Horn Minick later completed. He also built a Double-Bell Tuba for Tommy Johnson.
Robb Stewart, wrote of George here.
George moved to Sweden ca. 1976 and I lost track of him. He was an amazing craftsman!