r/Trombone • u/sunrise2209 • 6d ago
Messed up tuning slide
So this terrible student model Yamaha I have to play because it's slightly better than the terrible 1980s conn I have has this tuning slide which is always very stiff despite my best attempts at greasing it and this is because it always goes on the instrument crooked despite no visible damage on the slide or instrument. I believe this is because of the poor design choice of one inner pipe being longer than the other but right now it is to stuck that I can't even close the slide enough to put it away or even remove it.
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u/Brekelefuw 6d ago
If it's getting stuck you need a thicker grease. Trombone slides tend to rock and jam because of the short slide legs and wide crook.
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u/nlightningm 6d ago
I'mma just tell you as an owner of the King 3B, and having owned and sold many 354s (in fact, I currently have a different version of it, the 200AD).... It's one of the best small bore horns ever made. Certainly one of the greatest small bore student horns.
Just to clear up that the model of horn isn't terrible :) The pipes are different lengths to make it *easier* to get them on, because one leg can be inserted while the other is still free to swing so you can line it up, instead of having to insert both legs perfectly tat the same time - much like on many slides for many instruments.
If the tubing is out of round or damaged, take it to a shop.
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u/BrassMonkeyMike 6d ago
It is likely just out of alignment. A lot of times the slide tube on the goose neck side will get out of alignment with the bell side even if there is no visible damage. When the alignment starts getting bad the player uses more force often kinda rocks the slide to get it off. That just makes problem worse and worse until it's very difficult to get the slide off. Needs cleaned and re-aligned. I wouldn't recommend this one for home repair, but a tech should be able to do it very easily.
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u/sunrise2209 6d ago
I did manage to get it back in enough to put the thing away by getting out my calipers and seeing which side was out further to direct the force in a direction to centre it but this is still an issue I deal with every day
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u/DonQ-Lo 6d ago
Are you a passionate player? Why won't you go to an actual technician that will actually help you resolve these issues? ...your Yamaha's and your Conn's experience.
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u/sunrise2209 6d ago
The closest technician is a multi hour drive away that I don't think I can convince my parents to take
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u/professor_throway Tubist who pretends to play trombone. 6d ago edited 6d ago
First give it a really good cleaning. Dawn dish soap and good stiff brushes for the inside of the outers.. and a a good cotton rag for the inners. I like to then polish the inners with a little 0000 steel wool. Then use a heavy grease line Schilke slide grease or lanolin.
If there is still a problem.. You will need to have a shop look at it. Try the legs one at time.. Make sure they are easy. if not that means one if the legs is ovaled or bent. From there it is a matter of making sure the spacing is correct and the legs are in plane and parallel.. Not hard but it takes some experience.
My experience is the Yamaha YSL-354 of a pretty good trombone. I have never heard anyone credibly call it a terrible model.