Cimbassina?
Actually, there is no question that this is the name of this instrument,
because it was given by the trombone player, Russell Yoon, whose
idea it was. In case it's not obvious, the name indicates a diminutive
cimbasso, the popular name for contrabass valve trombones, most
often with vertical valve sections. There's not much new in this
instrument, trombones with a vertical valve section in the
tenor/baritone range have been made by many makers for 150 years
and I would guess that a few were made with large bores. Larry
Minick made bass valve sections, intended for use with bass
trombone bell sections with two valves, for Tommy Johnson, Jim
Self and others. Those, like this one, utilize valve sections from
three valve American style baritone horns. In this case it was a three
valve compensating Besson with a bore of approximately .580". The
loop of tubing that leads from the valve section to the bell receiver is
.595" (the same as through the rotary valves in the bell section. The
desire was to make this as large a valve trombone as possible. It
works surprisingly well, especially in the low register. The angle of
the valves, like on front action euphoniums, is quite comfortable in
playing position. Larry Minick had also made several cimbassi with
valve sections from front action tubas for the same reason and
adding the fifth valve in the bell section. So while unusual, you can
see that the form of this trombone is not unique.
because it was given by the trombone player, Russell Yoon, whose
idea it was. In case it's not obvious, the name indicates a diminutive
cimbasso, the popular name for contrabass valve trombones, most
often with vertical valve sections. There's not much new in this
instrument, trombones with a vertical valve section in the
tenor/baritone range have been made by many makers for 150 years
and I would guess that a few were made with large bores. Larry
Minick made bass valve sections, intended for use with bass
trombone bell sections with two valves, for Tommy Johnson, Jim
Self and others. Those, like this one, utilize valve sections from
three valve American style baritone horns. In this case it was a three
valve compensating Besson with a bore of approximately .580". The
loop of tubing that leads from the valve section to the bell receiver is
.595" (the same as through the rotary valves in the bell section. The
desire was to make this as large a valve trombone as possible. It
works surprisingly well, especially in the low register. The angle of
the valves, like on front action euphoniums, is quite comfortable in
playing position. Larry Minick had also made several cimbassi with
valve sections from front action tubas for the same reason and
adding the fifth valve in the bell section. So while unusual, you can
see that the form of this trombone is not unique.
Click on image for larger view.