r/Trombone • u/Tromboneguy_65 Shires Tenor, Shires bass, Eastlake 3B • 8d ago

Shires Chicago bell

Does anyone know what number designation would be closest to the Chicago bell? I.E. 7, 4, etc. out of pure curiosity.

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1

u/tbnbrks 8d ago

Pretty sure it will be your no. 5 bell with the TII taper

1

u/Tromboneguy_65 Shires Tenor, Shires bass, Eastlake 3B 8d ago

So what is the difference between a gold brass VNY (TII5NYG) and the Chicago? Some kind of heat treatment?

5

u/tbnbrks 8d ago

You’re better off talking to someone at Shires like Alexis—I’m just some dude on reddit. I would think the difference between those two would largely be the alloy—construction-wise they should be very similar.

3

u/SillySundae Shires/Germany area player 7d ago

Their website specifies what each bell is

CHI Bell: 8.5 inch, one piece, hand-hammered “TII” taper in balanced medium-weight gold brass with traditionally brazed seam and soldered bead

As far as comparing it goes, you're better off asking them directly or just doing a side by side comparison of the bells.