Haag F Contrabass Trombone by Franz Monschau, Used

Item Details

This is a beautiful contrabass trombone built by Franz Monschau in Switzerland.  Now retired, Franz was building instruments absolutely at the top of the guild.  There is no finer.

This instrument was one of a set of four built for Hollywood studio trombonist George Thatcher and three other Hollywood players. 

The Haag is used but in fabulous condition.  The slide is clean with perfect action, the rotors are fast and quiet, the finish is in nearly perfect shape.  A Schwengel is included for longer positions, or perhaps a convincing Bartok glissando if you use this instrument for that.  It's nimble enough.  You don't need it though - the C/Db/A rotor setup means all positions should be more easily accessible than the traditional German tuning of C/D/Bb.

The hand slide originally included a remote water key; that has been removed and replaced with a long traditional-style water key.  Some evidence of the former remote housing is seen in the lacquer.

Two leadpipes are included.  Includes hard case, new 2A mouthpiece, Schwengel, and heavy duty trombone stand.

Since the photos were taken I polished the silver plated hand rest hardware - it looks new now.

This is a very rare, spectacular instrument, in beautiful condition, one that won't be repeated.  It's ready to ship and to play, it's had a full cleaning and adjustment by Charles Hargett at Brass mavens.  No dents, no dirt, no problems.

If you'd like to make an offer for the Haag contrabass trombone, please send us a note.

Features

• Key of F
• gold brass construction
• gold lacquer finish
• .578" hand slide
• dual axial rotors in C/Db/A
• bass trombone size 12.5 mm receiver
• hand rest
• new Josef Klier 2A mouthpiece
• 2 leadpipes
• Schwengel
• hard case

Biography of George Thatcher

George Thatcher, 1953-2024, trombonist, performed as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician, whose career has transverses a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemption. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra. Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and @the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet companies. His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas. Thatcher records for Raptoria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles. He also appeared as soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber George Thatcher Orchestra at St. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals nationwide. On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. While residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's later compact discs include "Even Call Girls Get the Blues" and "Terrorist".

-Rene Laanen