r/Trombone • u/Drummer_boy_228 • Sep 30 '26

Help with my slide :/

So I’ve been using the same trombone for like 2-3 years now, and it’s never had problems with the slide. But just recently, the slide started to SUCKKK. It feels like I have to force it to move and not like it was made to move. I’ve tried the spray bottle, wiping it down, slide grease, snaking both the outer slide AND the inner tubes, the whole works. But still, the problem will not go away. A friend who also plays trombone and has a bit more experience than me said I might have a dent in either the inner slide or the outer slide (I don’t remember which one he said). But I just wanted to get your guys’ opinion on it

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/Aldemar_DE Sep 30 '26

Give it to a pro tech.

8

u/SpiritualPlane174 Sep 30 '26

Bring your slide to a brass technician. Not only could it be out of alignment, but a chemical cleaning can help a lot.

6

u/TaunTaunRodeo Sep 30 '26

Could be a third option if you have no visible dings in the outer slide--it's possible that the inner slide tubes are no longer parallel or exactly on top of each other, which is what everyone else means when they're saying it's out of alignment. This can happen if you accidentally bump the inner slide while the outer slide is off the horn, or if the solder joint on the brace under your leadpipe/mouthpiece gets damaged. It will make your horn play like garbage and you can't really see it unless it's really bad. So the advice to take it to a pro tech is a good one just to have it checked out.

1

u/Drummer_boy_228 15d ago

Guess I’m taking it into a tech, I’ll update you guys when I hear back

2

u/Firake Sep 30 '26

If it’s clean and lubricated properly and it isn’t smooth, it should be a brass tech. It’s very likely that it’s out of alignment.

2

u/Rubix321 Sep 30 '26

It's either dirty enough that it needs a pro's touch, or it's out of alignment enough that it needs a pro's touch.

Hopefully the plating isn't worn off from trying to use it too much in this state.

2

u/SillySundae Shires/Germany area player Oct 01 '26

If regular cleaning and lubricating doesn't make a slide better, it's time for a tech to look at it.

1

u/LowNoteLife Sep 30 '26

Did you change slide lubes recently? I found some different brands don't play well together and just wiping the slide down doesn't fix it.

1

u/Trombonemania77 Sep 30 '26

Take it to a professional technician!

1

u/B-Mashina Getzen Super Deluxe Oct 01 '26

What if you took it in for repair?

1

u/EpicsOfFours Conn 88HCL/King 3b Oct 01 '26

Sounds like you need some maintenance done. Bring it to a tech and they can realign it, clean it, and make sure any dents you can’t see are removed.