Superbone
The superbone is a hybrid tenor trombone pitched in B♭ that combines the traditional handslide of a slide trombone with three piston valves akin to those on a valve trombone, allowing performers to alternate between the two mechanisms for glissando effects via the slide and rapid note changes via the valves.[1] Typical specifications include a dual bore ranging from 0.500 to 0.525 inches (12.7 to 13.33 mm) and an 8.5-inch (215 mm) bell made of yellow brass, with the valves often constructed from cupronickel for durability and smooth action.[1] This design provides enhanced versatility, particularly in jazz and big band settings where quick technical passages and expressive slides are essential.[2] The superbone's development traces back to earlier hybrid concepts, such as the valide trombone invented by jazz musician Brad Gowans in the 1940s, but the modern instrument emerged in the 1970s through a collaboration between the Holton Company and renowned jazz trumpeter and bandleader Maynard Ferguson.[2] Holton's TR395 model, introduced around 1974, was specifically tailored to Ferguson's needs, reviving the duplex slide-and-valve principle to suit his high-energy performances and enabling him to play both trumpet-like agility and trombone expressiveness on a single instrument.[2] Ferguson prominently featured the superbone on recordings like his 1974 album Chameleon, where it contributed to the fusion of jazz, rock, and pop elements in his big band sound.[2] Since its inception, the superbone has been adopted by other multi-instrumentalists, including Australian jazz artist James Morrison, who inspired a dedicated model from Schagerl in the 2010s with a lacquered yellow brass bell and nickel-silver slide for a focused, resonant tone.[3] Modern manufacturers like Wessex Tubas and Focustyle continue to produce affordable superbones, often priced under $1,100, making the instrument accessible to students and professionals alike while maintaining its niche appeal in jazz improvisation and orchestral experimentation.[1] Despite its specialized nature, the superbone remains a symbol of innovation in brass design, bridging traditional and contemporary playing techniques.[2]History
Origins and Early Development
Early precursors to the superbone, such as the duplex trombone, originated in the mid-19th century as a hybrid brass instrument designed to combine the slide mechanism of a traditional tenor trombone with valve controls for enhanced pitch variation. In 1864, French instrument maker Gustave Besson introduced this innovation in Paris, creating a tenor trombone pitched in B♭ that integrated a slide with three piston valves, allowing players to alternate between slide-based intonation and quicker valve-actuated changes. This design aimed to address limitations in both slide and valve trombones, offering greater flexibility for performers in ensembles.[4] Early production of the duplex trombone was limited, with one of the first commercial examples emerging from the American firm C.G. Conn in 1884, a rare valve-slide hybrid tenor model that exemplified the instrument's dual functionality through basic piston valves mounted parallel to the slide section. These valves, typically three in number, connected to auxiliary tubing that bypassed the slide, enabling rapid chromatic passages while preserving the trombone's characteristic slide glissandi. Under the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, the superbone is categorized as 423.232, an aerophone sounded by lip vibration with a sliding mechanism, though its valve integration aligns it closely with hybrid variants in 423.23.[5][6] In the 1940s, jazz musician Brad Gowans invented the valide trombone, a hybrid instrument combining three piston valves and a short slide, which served as a direct predecessor to later designs but saw limited adoption. Despite its ingenious features, the duplex trombone saw limited adoption in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily due to the technical challenges of manufacturing precise valves that maintained intonation comparable to single-mode slide trombones, as well as musicians' established preference for the pure tone and expressive control of traditional slides. These early models appeared sporadically in experimental brass ensembles, such as innovative military and civilian bands in Europe and America, where their versatility supported novel harmonic explorations in group settings. However, the complexity of dual mechanisms often led to reliability issues, restricting widespread use until later revivals.[7][8]Revival and Popularization
The Superbone underwent a significant revival in the 1970s through the efforts of Larry Ramirez, a designer at the Holton Musical Instrument Company, who collaborated closely with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson to refine and promote the instrument. Ferguson, inspired by a prototype demonstrated by Ramirez, coined the name "Superbone" and became its most prominent early advocate, integrating it into his performances and recordings starting in 1974. This revival culminated in the introduction of the Holton TR-395 model in 1974, a hybrid tenor trombone featuring both a traditional slide and three piston valves, along with a slide lock mechanism that allowed players to secure the slide in place for valve-only operation.[9] The TR-395 was manufactured by Holton from 1974 until 2004, marking a three-decade production run that established the Superbone as a recognized specialty instrument in professional circles.[10] The instrument gained traction during the 1970s and 1980s through its adoption in jazz and big band contexts, where performers like Ferguson and composer Don Ellis utilized its versatility for dynamic solos and ensemble work, blending the expressive slide technique with the precision of valved playing. This period saw increased visibility in jazz ensembles, contributing to broader awareness among musicians despite its niche appeal. In the early 2010s, the Superbone received further momentum through Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison's collaboration with the Austrian manufacturer Schagerl, resulting in a custom model introduced around 2013 that emphasized enhanced playability and tonal range.[3] The discontinuation of Holton's TR-395 line in 2004 reflected evolving market dynamics, including a shift toward more specialized or digital alternatives in brass instrumentation, though custom and limited-production models like Schagerl's have sustained interest among contemporary jazz performers.Design and Construction
Components and Mechanisms
The superbone is constructed as a duplex tenor trombone pitched in B♭, integrating a traditional handslide for glissando effects with a valve section typically comprising three inline piston or rotary valves to facilitate rapid chromatic navigation. This hybrid design allows independent or simultaneous operation of the slide and valves, enabling players to alternate between legato slide articulations and agile valve-based phrasing without compromising intonation, as the valves are positioned parallel to the slide path to avoid mechanical interference.[1][11] Central to its functionality is the slide lock mechanism, a spring-loaded or thumb-operated latch that secures the outer slide in a fixed position—often first or home position—during valve-only play, preventing unintended movement and ensuring stability for trumpet-like technique. The valve system also incorporates an F-attachment equivalent through the combination of the first and third valves, which lengthens the instrument's tubing to lower the fundamental pitch by a perfect fourth, mimicking the rotary trigger on standard tenor trombones and extending the range downward to facilitate bass register access. Bell section integration occurs via a seamless crook that merges the slide and valve branches into a single flared terminus, typically 8.5 to 9 inches in diameter, optimizing resonance and projection.[12][10] Standard construction employs yellow brass for the body and bell to achieve a bright, projecting tone with good response, paired with nickel-silver or cupronickel for the inner and outer slides to enhance durability and reduce friction during extension. A clear lacquer finish is commonly applied over the brass components for corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal, while valves feature monel pistons with nylon guides for smooth, quiet action. Bore dimensions generally range from 0.484 to 0.525 inches, with narrower bores promoting quicker articulation and brighter timbre through restricted airflow, and wider bores supporting fuller volume and darker resonance for ensemble blending.[10][1][11]Variations by Manufacturer
Post-revival, the Holton TR-395 stands as a seminal modern model, produced from the 1970s through 2004 and tailored for jazz performance. It features a 0.484-inch (12.29 mm) bore, a 9-inch yellow brass bell, and three monel piston valves with nylon guides for smooth action, all in a lightweight build that facilitates agile playing in improvisational settings.[10][12] This design, developed in collaboration with jazz icon Maynard Ferguson, prioritizes tonal flexibility and reduced weight for extended sessions.[13] In the early 2010s, Austrian maker Schagerl introduced the "James Morrison" superbone model, optimized for multi-instrumentalists through ergonomic enhancements like a closed-wrap F attachment and simultaneous slide-valve operation. With a 0.525-inch (13.33 mm) bore, an 8.66-inch (220 mm) yellow brass bell, and three rotary valves, it offers a fuller sound projection and balanced handling for versatile repertoire.[3][11][14] The Wessex Tubas PB930 represents a contemporary, budget-friendly iteration, emphasizing accessibility without sacrificing core functionality. Produced as a modern option, it employs a dual bore progressing from 0.500 inches (12.7 mm) to 0.525 inches (13.33 mm), an 8.46-inch (215 mm) bell, and three piston valves, enabling rapid valve passages alongside traditional slide glissandi for diverse musical demands.[1][15]| Model | Bore Size (inches) | Valve Type | Production Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holton TR-395 | 0.484 | 3 Piston | 1970s–2004 |
| Schagerl James Morrison | 0.525 | 3 Rotary | Early 2010s–present |
| Wessex PB930 | 0.500–0.525 (dual) | 3 Piston | 2010s–present |
| Besson Duplex (ca. 1864) | N/A | 3 Piston (simple) | Mid-19th century |
| Conn Hybrid (late 19th) | N/A | 3 Piston (simple) | Late 19th century |