S.E. Shires Artist Custom Small Bore Tenor Trombone, Used
$2,500.00
Item Details
This is a custom tenor trombone made by the S.E. Shires Company in Hopedale, MA, USA. When ordered new, the Artist Custom Small Bore trombones can be configured with various bell and hand slide options. This particular Shires has the most popular setup, like this:
- .500" all nickel lightweight hand slide
- 1.5 brass tuning slide
- S-7 lightweight brass bell, 7-3/4" diameter, soldered rim
A half inch bore hand slide will do most everything you like with a good center. The tuning slide bow is long like a Williams 6, putting more length of the instrument there instead of the neck pipe, and it feels larger. Think King 3B, but with a more efficient blow and more malleable. The smaller-than-8" bell has a fairly large throat and its size is to reflect fewer highs of the sound back into the horn and more into the room than a larger bell. Crisp without brightness. Both Shires and Getzen/Edwards, separated at birth, have promoted this size of bell.
Includes balance weight, 3 removable leadpipes, Marcus Bonna fiberglass case. The seller has the Shires mouthpiece if you would like it. We found the sheet music pocket for the case (not pictured). Looking for the shoulder straps...
Condition is very good with some wear to the lacquer at the neckpipe and hand braces. Some tarnish is seen at the bell rim. This is what Shires do; their lacquer tends to wear like this. Slide action is A++. The ornate engraving on the bell is simply stunning.
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Not yet having played this one yet...this writer can say that I play the exact same instrument but with the minimally larger 8" bell. For two decades my small bore Shires has been my favorite trombone. It's different because it's very nimble: slurring between partials is lighter than other horns. It's also larger and velvety and less direct than a compact King. The Shires feel is captivating - I sold 3 other trombones when I bought my Shires. No need for them anymore.
This trombone is owned by a colleague who's made a career playing at the top of the guild in the Hollywood studios and show scene. He normally plays a King 2B and bought this Shires brand new as a spare. Now having too many horns...you know how it goes.
Pictured as received. The Shires will visit Brass Mavens for an ultrasonic cleaning before sale.
